Celtic legend Dixie Deans passes away | OneFootball

Everyone at Celtic Football Club is deeply saddened at the news that Celtic legend and goalscoring hero, Dixie Deans has sadly passed away at the age of 79.

Born John Kelly Deans in Johnstone on July 30, 1946, the striker made his name with Motherwell in the late 1960s, and his lethal eye for goal caught the interest of the great Jock Stein who snapped him up for Celtic in October, 1971 in a move that caught the attention of the public.

He immediately made an impact in the side and quickly became a fans’ favourite amid a side that featured the majority of the Lisbon Lions and the new breed of the Quality Street Gang taking Scottish football by storm – that was no easy feat for any incoming player.

Dixie’s goalscoring became the stuff of legend, scoring hat-tricks in both the Scottish Cup final of 1972 and 1974’s League Cup final, with Hibernian being the unlucky opponents on both occasions with scorelines of 6-1 and 6-3 respectively.

He also holds the post-war record for goals in one game, scoring six in a 7-0 defeat of Partick Thistle in November 1973 – a game watched by earlier Celtic scoring legend, Jimmy McGrory who thought his all-time record of eight goals in one game was under threat.

Dixie remained at Celtic until 1976, after scoring 124 goals in 184 Celtic games, and such was his standing with the support, in his later years he was a much-valued and loved member of the matchday hospitality former players for all home games.

Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell said: “This is extremely sad news and I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Dixie’s family and friends.

“Dixie was a great Celt and one of the finest goalscorers ever to have played for the club. I was fortunate enough to have watched him play throughout his career and he played his part in the successes we enjoyed in the 1970s, not least in those unforgettable hat-tricks he scored against Hibs in two cup finals at Hampden.

“I was even more fortunate to get to know him personally over the past few years, and it was always great to meet him here at Celtic Park on a matchday.

“What was always clear was his real love of Celtic and also the love that supporters had for him too.”

Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson said: “Every Celtic supporter will be saddened by this news and I know that the thoughts of the whole Celtic Family will be with Dixie’s family at this time.

“Dixie was always a Celtic supporter, and his fellow fans recognised and loved that about him, as well as appreciating his talents as a player and what he did throughout his time wearing the Hoops.

“To say his goalscoring record was impressive is an understatement, and he will always be remembered as a true Celtic great.”

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Park are with Dixie’s family at this very sad time.