Celebrating the life of John Clark, aka Mr Celtic, born on this day in 1941

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The Celtic Star

·13 March 2026

Celebrating the life of John Clark, aka Mr Celtic, born on this day in 1941

There are some people in life who seek fame and adulation, even when their efforts and abilities do not truly warrant this. Then there are those outstanding individuals who shun the spotlight, despite their achievements being genuinely worthy of celebration…

1967 European Cup Final Celtic v Inter Milan. The Celtic team line up, before defeating Inter Milan to win the European Cup. Back Row Left to Right: Jim Craig; Tommy Gemmell; Ronnie Simpson; Billy McNeill; Bobby Murdoch; and John Clark. In front, left to right: Stevie Chalmers; Willie Wallace, Jimmy Johnstone; Bobby Lennox; and Bertie Auld. 25 May 1967. Portugal Photo: Top Foto

One Celt who fell into the latter category – a true club hero but one who preferred to avoid public acclaim – was born 85 years ago today. John Clark was a Lisbon Lion and a man who truly lived a ‘Celtic life’. Over the decades, he carried out numerous important roles for the Bhoys.

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This is his story.

John Clark from Celtic FC in May 1967. Ahead of the Final of European Cup in Lisbon as Inter Milan meets Celtic Photo United Archives – Imago (The Celtic Star)

John Clark was a Lanarkshire man, born on 13 March 1941 in Bellshill. He was raised in nearby Chapelhall and Holytown. From his earliest days, Clark knew adversity; when he was a child, his father was killed in a railway accident in England.

As well as having a strong work ethic, Clark grew to be an accomplished footballer with an impressive reputation in Lanarkshire. He played for Larkhall Thistle and from here caught the attention of scouts, including from Birmingham City. However, his destination was Celtic Park. Aged just 17 years old, Clark signed for Celtic on 8 October 1958. He described this as feeling like he had “won the pools” and later appeared as a trialist. Within less than a year – on 3 October 1959 – he made his formal debut in a 5–0 win over Arbroath.

Clark quickly established himself as a dependable and capable player. However, he was not initially part of a Celtic team that was accustomed to winning. This all changed when Jock Stein arrived at Celtic in 1965. At that point, the Bhoys had not won a major trophy in eight years.

The Celtic team of 1964 Back row: Young , Thomas Gemmel , John Fallon , John Clark , Billy McNeill , Kennedy Front row: Jimmy Johnstone . Bobby Murdoch , Stevie Chalmers , Gallagher , Hughes. Photo TopFoto

Within weeks, the Celts once more celebrated major success as the Bhoys beat Dunfermline to claim the Scottish Cup. John Clark cheered as much as any other player, and had fought his way through the 90 minutes, despite receiving a serious injury during the game.

With this success achieved, life was about to change for Celtic and John Clark. Stein redeployed him from being a wing-half to a sweeper. In this role, he soon earned the nickname “The Brush” — Clark was someone who swept up danger before it could reach Celtic’s defence.

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John Clark’s rise coincided with the most successful era in Celtic’s history. Between 1965 and 1967, during Celtic’s most dominant period, he played an extraordinary 140 consecutive matches in major competitions. This was evidence not simply of his fitness but also his crucial importance to the team.

Celtic and Clark’s greatest day came one sunny afternoon in Lisbon. As the Celts defeated Inter Milan to claim the European Cup, Clark and his teammates became immortalised as the Lisbon Lions. Along with Tommy Gemmell, John played in all the Bhoys’ games that season.

John Clark, the week before Lisbon…Photo Imago, The Celtic Star

Although a quiet man, he had one notable on-pitch moment in 1967 which defied this. In the so-called Battle of Montevideo when Celtic played Racing Club for the Inter-Continental Cup, Clark was incensed by an Argentinian player’s foul and raised his fists boxing-style to challenge him.

Surprisingly, Clark was not sent off at this point, although Bobby Lennox was. It seemed that the referee mixed up the two players.

It was not simply in Celtic’s green-and-white where John Clark excelled. He also turned out for Scotland on four occasions, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Brazil in 1966. This let him face legends such as Pele and Jairzinho.

Clark also played against Wales, Northern Ireland and the USSR, the latter being the only time he lost when wearing dark blue.

Celtic players Jim Craig left and John Clark right about to take the ball off Tommy Rae the Partick Thistle forward, during the Scottish League Division 1 match here on Saturday. Celtic were bang on form again, defeating their opponents by 5 goals to 1. 16 October 1967 Photo TopFoto IMAGO

By 1971, John Clark’s time playing in green-and-white was coming to a close. Injuries had long afflicted him, and he was struggling to compete with many of the younger ‘Quality Street Gang’ players that were coming through the Celts’ ranks.

John Clark’s final Celtic match was a notable one for the entire club. On 1 May 1971, the Bhoys played Clyde at a Celtic Park that was undergoing significant renovation.

John Clark in Lisbon during the 1967 European Cup Final, Celtic 2 Inter Milan 1. Photo The Celtic Wiki

This was the final match in which the Lisbon Lions XI walked out onto the park, although Ronnie Simpson was injured and did not play. Celtic won 6-1 to officially confirm their sixth successive championship, and it was the farewell match for Clark as well as Bertie Auld and Stevie Chalmers.

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Over 13 years at Celtic, Clark made 316 first-team appearances, scored three goals. His Celtic record is hugely impressive; he is one of the club’s most decorated players and won:

• Six Scottish League Championships?• Three Scottish Cups?• Five League Cups?• One European Cup

Leaving Celtic Park did not mark the end of John’s playing career. He journeyed westwards to Greenock where he turned out for Morton. His time there included scoring again for Celtic – although unfortunately for Clark it was an own-goal!

He spent two seasons at Cappielow before finally retiring as a player. At one point, Celtic looked to re-sign him but this fell through. However, he would still have the opportunity to once more work for the Celts.

Billy McNeill, Jock Stein and John Clark outside the doors of Celtic Park, as Billy is appointed Celtic manager and John his assistant, in summer 1978 Photo The Celtic Wiki

After retiring, his first destination was a familiar one. Clark returned to Celtic as a coach, working with the reserve and youth teams. His deep understanding of the game and his ability to nurture young talent made him a trusted figure.

After this, Aberdeen came calling. In 1977, he joined his old defensive partner Billy McNeill as assistant manager at Pittodrie. The two men enjoyed a successful spell which resulted in Aberdeen finishing as League runners-up.

However, soon it was time to once more head for his true home: Celtic Park. In 1978, John Clark returned to the Bhoys as assistant manager, helping Celtic win three league titles, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup. This included the dramatic ‘Ten men won the League’ success in 1979.

After leaving Celtic, John continued his own managerial journey. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was in the hot seat at various places, working for Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Clyde, as well as junior club Shotts Bon Accord.

Scottish Youth Cup Final. 2015. Celtic versus theRangers. Scott Brown with Lisbon Lion John Clark. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

However, by 1997, Clark was again back home. He took up the role of Celtic’s first-team kit man, a position he would hold for more than twenty years. In this role, Clark helped prepare squads for matches and offered advice to young players.

Many players and managers — including Martin O’Neill — later spoke of how Clark’s stories helped them at Celtic. This was publicly recognised in 2004. At the Celtic Player of the Year Awards, Martin O’Neill presented John Clark with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to Celtic. It was well deserved, although he still had many years of work to go.

Former team mates Bertie Auld and John Clarke pay tribute to Billy McNeill at his statue outside Celtic Park on April 23, 2019. The former Celtic captain Billy McNeill who was the first Briton to lift the European Cup, has died aged 79. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Away from football, Clark was a devoted family man. He was married to his wife Eileen and was a father to his children. His son Martin followed in his footsteps into professional football, playing for clubs including Clyde, Nottingham Forest and Partick Thistle.

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John Clark’s life ended on 23 June 2025, when aged 84. Following this, there were numerous tributes to Clark from across the Celtic and footballing world. The Bhoys’ then manager Brendan Rodgers said Clark’s contribution would “forever be etched in Celtic’s proud history.”

John Clark, reminding everyone of the score in the 1967 European Cup Final in Lisbon. Photo IMAGO

The funeral mass was held at St Mary’s Church in Glasgow, the place it all began for Celtic. A priest at this service described him as a “happy and quiet man” known for “authentic kindness.” The cortege travelled down the Celtic Way, honouring a man who had given so much to the club.

Despite being part of Celtic’s greatest ever team, Clark was never comfortable with public attention. Of the Lisbon Lions XI, he was the only player that did not write a book about his time in football, despite numerous requests to do so.

Many years beforehand, another great Celt, Paddy Crerand, once said of Clark that: “John Clark is a player’s player because he’s always thinking of the team and never plays for himself. If he’s given the job, he does it without any fuss or fancy stuff.”

01.08.2015. Scottish Premiership. Celtic versus Ross County. John Clark waves to the Celtic support on flag day. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

John Clark’s decades at Celtic – in a variety of roles – means that he stands as second only to the great Willie Maley in terms of Celtic longevity. This is a true mark of his legendary status at the club, whether or not he was comfortable with such an accolade.

The years that Clark spent at Celtic led many people to refer to him as “Mr Celtic” — a recognition not just of his achievements, but also his lifelong commitment.

It is an entirely fitting tribute to the great John Clark.

Matthew Marr