Tribute to Tommy Burns

2008-05-15

Celtic legend Tommy Burns died on Thursday morning aged 51 after losing his long battle with skin cancer. As a tribute to Tommy, we will take a look at his football career.

1975 – Burns signs a contract as a 16-year-old to join Celtic from Maryhill Juniors
1976 – Made his full Celtic debut away to Aberdeen
1977 – Won the Scottish Premier League with Celtic
1979 – Won the Scottish Premier League for the 2nd time with Celtic
1980 – Won the Scottish Cup with Celtic
1981 – Won the Scottish Premier League for the 3rd time with Celtic
1982 – Won the Scottish Premier League for the 4th time with Celtic
1983 – Won the Scottish League Cup with Celtic
1985 – Won the Scottish Cup with Celtic
1986 – Won the Scottish Premier League for the 5th time with Celtic
1988 – Won the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup Double with Celtic
1989 – Plays his final game for Celtic in a friendly against Dutch giants Ajax, before bidding an emotional farewell to the Celtic supporters to join Kilmarnock
1992 – Becomes caretaker manager of Kilmarnock following the departure of Jim Fleeting. Then given the job permanently
1993 – Leads Kilmarnock into the Premier Division
1994 – Guides Kilmarnock to the Scottish Cup semi-finals where they lost to Rangers. Then leaves Kilmarnock on July 11th before being appointed as Celtic manager by Fergus McCann the following day.
1995 – Signs Pierre van Hooijdonk from NAC Breda in January, who helps Celtic end a dry spell landing the first trophy in 6 years by scoring the winner in the Scottish Cup final against Airdrie.
1997 – Burns earns a year long touchline ban after a trackside flare-up in an Old Firm derby. The ban was later cut on appeal. Burns was released early from his contract and joins Kenny Dalglish as assistant manager at Newcastle.
1998 – Leaves Newcastle after the dismissal of Dalglish. Becomes Reading Manager.
1999 – Sacked by Reading following a poor run of results.
2000 – Burns is back at Parkhead to re-join Dalglish after head coach John Barnes’ exit. Martin O’Neill then makes him youth development officer.
2002 – Joins Berti Vogts as assistant manager of Scotland on a part-time basis
2004 – Burns appointed caretaker manager for friendly against Sweden on November 17th following Berti Vogts exit.
2005 – Named first-team coach at Celtic following the appointment of Gordon Strachan.
2006 – Celtic announce Burns faces treatment for skin cancer, however is given the all-clear by doctors after having two lumps removed from his leg.
2007 – Burns resigns as assistant manager of Scotland eight days after Walter Smith quits.
2008 – Celtic announce Burns will begin receiving treatment for skin cancer again. On May 15th Celtic announce Burns has died aged just 51.