Tommy Burns

Scottish football is in mourning after it emerged that former Celtic FC midfielder Tommy Burns has died at the age of 51 after a long battle with cancer.

Playing career
Capped eight times by Scotland, the Glasgow-born player first joined Celtic as a teenager in 1973, making his debut for the club against Dundee United FC in April 1975. He would win six league titles and five Scottish Cups with the clubs, and would be most remembered for the part he played in claiming a league and cup double in 1987/88, the Glasgow club's centenary season.

Celtic comeback
Burns moved on to Kilmarnock FC in 1989, becoming the club's player-manager in 1992. He returned to Celtic Park as manager in the 1994/95 season, winning the Scottish Cup in his first campaign, but was dismissed in 1997. He was later Reading FC manager and assistant Scotland manager under both Berti Vogts and Walter Smith before returning to Celtic to work in their youth development department.

Strachan tribute
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: "Tommy was simply one of the best friends anyone could ever hope to have. I can only consider myself fortunate not only to have worked with him on a daily basis for the past three years, but to have been able to count on him as a friend in that time. His bravery throughout his illness was an inspiration, and right to the end he was checking everyone else was OK, never giving a thought for himself or his situation. The fact that he has now gone will take a long time to sink in, and my thoughts are with Rosemary and his family."