«A Year and a Day: How the Lisbon Lions Conquered Europe» by Graham McColl

Celtic’s greatest side became European champions in 1967, but if you think you know their history – think again. This is their tale as never told before.

The remarkable story of how Jock Stein brought together a group of local lads, engaging on their first European Cup campaign, and led them all the way to the top will never be repeated. As they progressed, they continued to challenge on four fronts, giving new pride to the city of Glasgow, and creating a legend that resonates still, fifty years on.

A Year and a Day provides unprecedented detail on the twelve months that brought such unique success. Discover which Clyde player almost became a Lisbon Lion and who he would have replaced. Learn how Jock Stein got his prediction for the final horribly wrong and even what the Lions had for breakfast on the great day. Find out who spirited away the match ball – and keeps it to this day – at the end of Celtic’s tumultuous quarter-final with Vojvodina.

The book includes an excruciatingly honest interview with Jimmy Johnstone, Celtic’s greatest player, previously unpublished in full. The other Lisbon Lions also have their say, and here too, for the first time, are extensive interviews with representatives of all of the opponents that Celtic faced on the way to Lisbon, providing frank and shocking insights. Teeming with fresh material, this book scrutinises every step Celtic took on the way to winning the European Cup. Even the players who won the great trophy will discover in these pages new revelations about how they emerged triumphant.

It is the last word on their magnificent achievement.