FORMER Rangers star Alfie Conn did not hesitate when he was given the opportunity to join Celtic in March 1977.
The flamboyant forward had caught the eye of Jock Stein when the Hoops manager had a brief stint in charge of the Scotland Under-23 international squad.
Conn impressed Big Jock and the shock move was put in motion after the attacking midfielder had dropped out of the Spurs first team.
The London club had paid £125,000 to sign the Scotland international in 1974 after he had played in the Ibrox team’s European Cup-winners Cup triumph two years earlier when they beat Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in Barcelona.
With Rangers being tipped to bring the former fans’ favourite back to Govan, there was an outcry when Celtic made a £65,000 swoop to snatch the player for Parkhead.
PRIZE GUYS…Danny McGrain and Alfie Conn celebrate Celtic’s 1977 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Rangers at Hampden.
Years later, Conn admitted: “People all ask me the same question: ‘Why did you sign for Celtic?’
“They all get the same answer: ‘Jock Stein.’ He was the manager and he was the main reason.”
Conn ran the gauntlet of hate from his one-time adoring followers when he returned to Ibrox shortly after signing for their arch rivals. The game ended 2-2, but the talented attacker might have made all the difference with a low drive that clattered off the inside of the post and was scrambled clear.
He had better luck when he picked up a winners’ medal in the Scottish Cup Final against his old club in 1977 after Andy Lynch had sealed the destination of the silverware with a neat penalty-kick.
Conn also enjoyed title-winning success in the same season, but the following campaign was a disaster. Kenny Dalglish was sold to Liverpool, Danny McGrain sustained a long-term injury and defensive stalwart Pat Stanton was forced to retire.
ON THE BALL…Alfie Conn displays his qualities.
Billy McNeill replaced Stein as manager in the summer of 1978 and Conn responded to the change with some excellent displays as the team lifted the championship on the famous evening when 10 men won the league with a 4-2 victory over John Greig’s Ibrox side.
Conn’s second season with McNeill in charge was hampered by injury and the player was released in 1980.
He moved to Hearts – his dad’s former team – for a season and then had a brief stint in The States with San Jose Earthquakes before agreeing a short-term deal with Blackpool in 1980.
Conn had two years at Motherwell with Celtic great Davie Hay in charge for one of the seasons before the manager’s move back to Parkhead to succeed McNeill in 1983.
At the age of 32, Conn retired from playing following a succession of injury problems.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.
