Former Celtic striker Ian Wright admits he knew he was in the presence of someone special as soon as Billy McNeill walked into the room.
Arsenal legend Wright has paid tribute to McNeill after the former Hoops captain, who became the first Briton to lift the European Cup in 1967, died at the age of 79 on Monday.
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Despite a disappointing season at Celtic during the 1999/2000 campaign for Wright, the ex-England internationalist admits he fondly remembers his encounters with McNeill.
Wright said: “I was fortunate enough to have met him and I remember him telling me how much it means to play for Celtic up in the boardroom, and how special the place is and how you’ll respond to it; soak it up and love it.
“He gave me that speech and I have to say there is an aura about him when he comes into a room, there is something else happening there, you feel something.
Walking the footsteps of history. 🦁
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 24, 2019
Billy McNeill talking about that famous day in Lisbon at the Estádio Nacional. pic.twitter.com/f1yO6AtSpF
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“I only met him a couple of times but when you look at what he’s done and the leadership qualities he showed, and being the first British man to lift the European Cup, then you can see it and feel it when he walks into the room. It was amazing.”
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