CELTIC hero Jim Brogan passed away today at the age of 74 following a lengthy battle with dementia.
The former Scotland international defender was a huge favourite with the Hoops fans and his team-mates.
John ‘Yogi’ Hughes said: “Jim was a guy you could rely on to always give 100 per cent for that green-and-white hooped jersey. He was a real Celtic man.
“He was frightened of no-one. I know it’s a cliche, but Jim Brogan was one of those guys who would have run through walls for the club.
“When he was in the team, you were always reassured things would be tight at the back. He wasn’t an elegant ball-player and he wasn’t a goalscoring defender such as Big Tommy Gemmell, but he had other qualities and he had a fan in Jock Stein.
“Trust me, that is saying something!
“My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”
Brogan joined his brother Frank, a flying left-winger, at the club in 1962, but had to wait five years to make the step up from the reserves to the first team.
However, he played his part though in the team’s successes although, unfortunately, he was a loser in the 1970 European Cup Final against Feyenoord.
He ended his career with spells at Coventry and Ayr United.
Daughter Collette – speaking on social media – said: “Dad passed away at 1.30am this morning.
“It’s a relief really. He had been in palliative care for the last five weeks.”
