CELTIC captain Callum McGregor has always insisted Tommy Burns was “a massive influence” in his career.
The Hoops legend was born on this day in 1956 and would have celebrated his 67th birthday today.
Burns served the Parkhead club as a gifted left-sided midfielder and he also as manager when he took over from Lou Macari in July 1994 before leaving in May 1997.
GLASGOW BELONGS TO ME…Tommy Burns slides in a classy finish during the dramatic 4-4 draw at Ibrox on March 22 1986. Goalkeeper Nicky Walker and left-back Stuart Munro are helpless.
He also had a stint as a coach during the reign of Gordon Strachan before his far-too-early passing at the age of only 51 on May 15 2008.
Hoops skipper McGregor, who had just signed a new four-year deal at the time, spoke to CQN in a report in September 2017 about the impact the icon had on him from the very start of his Celtic journey.
The 30-year-old Scotland international anchorman said: “Tommy was a massive influence for me coming all the way through.
“He would be at first-team training during the day then come to supervise us at 6pm.
“We would still be there at 10pm practising free-kicks. He wouldn’t let us go home.
“He was just that kind of guy, he loved football dearly.
GLASGOW BELONGS TO ME…Callum McGregor races away in triumph after netting in the 4-0 Scottish Cup semi-final trouncing of the Ibrox side at Hampden on April 15 2018.
“Actually, when I signed the new contract, I signed it in the little room just off the boardroom and that was the first time I had been in there since the day I sat there with Tommy and my parents to sign my first pro-youth contract at the age of 13.
“Because it was the first time I had been back in the room and it was a nice feeling. I felt a bit emotional at the time.
“I texted my mum and mentioned it to her and she said it was nice to see how far I have come in the years since.”
