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Celtic immersed in history before final

Posted: Tuesday May 20, 2003 7:20 PM

SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) -- Celtic will be buoyed by the club's famous European history rather than weighed down by it when they take on FC Porto in the UEFA Cup final, manager Martin O'Neill said on Tuesday.

It is 36 years since Celtic were crowned European champions after a heroic 2-1 win over Inter Milan, when a team managed by Jock Stein, all born within 30 miles of Glasgow, were dubbed the Lisbon Lions for their victory in the Portuguese capital.

Three years later they were beaten in the final by Feyenoord and Wednesday's game will be the club's first appearance in a European final since.

Celtic's victory in 1967 made them the first British club to win the European Cup and O'Neill's team will think of that with pride as they take to the field on Wednesday against Porto.

"It was an extraordinary achievement and that history is always there," O'Neill said on the eve of the game.

"The important thing is that we embrace the club's history and not be frightened of it.

"We might be a million miles off that European Cup winning team but we've reached a final and we've done it with some terrific players who have a terrific spirit.

"I think the spirit we've shown has been similar to 1967."

Celtic and Glasgow rivals Rangers have one of the most bitter rivalries in soccer, with support divided on religious lines, but O'Neill is not interested that facet of history.

"We embrace the good side of it," O'Neill said. "We don't have anything to do with the sectarianism."

The current Celtic side has a much more cosmopolitan look about it than in 1967, with players from France, Sweden, England and Bulgaria all likely to figure in the starting line-up and coached by Northern Ireland's O'Neill.

The team have a direct link from the past, though, in John Clark, a member of the European Cup winning side who now acts as Celtic's kit man.

"He reminisces about 1967 and 1970 wonderfully and it's great to hear him," said O'Neill, himself a European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest.

"He'll never let us get carried away.

"The game has changed and British football has welcomed some fantastic world talent.

"Bobo Balde [of France] and some of the other players might not know the history when they sign for Celtic but they soon become immersed in it."


 
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