Celtic legend Tommy Burns dies aged 51 after battle with skin cancer

The club's first-team coach originally contracted skin cancer in 2006. Although he received treatment, the disease returned in March.

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Former Scotland international Burns, who spent 15 years as a player at Parkhead and also managed the club for three seasons, had been undergoing treatment in both Glasgow and France in recent weeks.

A statement from Celtic on their official website said: "It is with great sadness that Celtic Football Club confirmed this morning that Tommy Burns has passed away.

"Tommy, a true Celtic legend and wonderful man will be sadly missed by us all.

"Clearly, our thoughts are very much with Tommy's wife Rosemary and his family at this extremely difficult time."

Burns joined Celtic as a teenager in 1973 and went on to play 352 league games for the club, scoring 52 goals, and winning eight Scotland caps.

In 1989, he moved to Kilmarnock and was given his first job in management there three years later.

He left to take the Celtic reins in 1994 but was sacked three years later.

A short spell as boss of Reading followed before Burns became Scotland number two in 2002 under Berti Vogts and later Walter Smith.

He returned to Celtic as first-team coach shortly before Martin O'Neill's arrival, a position he retained when Gordon Strachan became manager.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Rosemary, and four children.

Burns was a much-loved figure among the Celtic supporters and they paid tribute to him this morning.

Peter Rafferty, of the Association of Celtic Supporters' Clubs, said: "I knew Tommy very well both as a friend and obviously through his connections with Celtic. I got to know him over many years.

"He was a true gentleman and a big family man. I would just like to pass my condolences on to Rosemary and his family on behalf of the Celtic supporters.

"Celtic was a big part of his life but the biggest part of his life was his family. He became a grandfather a few weeks ago and that is the biggest tragedy.

"Legend is a word that is used quite a lot these days but he was. He was a great player with Celtic first and foremost.

"He was a manager who played football the way Celtic supporters like to see it.

"All these things pale into insignificance this morning. He was a very nice person, a very religious person.

"If you needed anything, Tommy Burns would always be there for you."

Former Celtic team-mate Davie Provan also sent his best wishes to the family.

"I first came across Tommy in the Scotland Under-21 team - that must be 30 years ago," Provan told Sky Sports News.

"I will remember him as a very good footballer but more than that, a great human being. He was decent and honest.

"He was hugely popular at Celtic but I'm sure his death will cause great sadness among the Rangers supporters too.

"He embodied everything good about the club. He made a terrific Celtic manager but was desperately unlucky that Rangers under Walter Smith were so powerful.

"He was a great example to everybody at Celtic Park. He was a universally popular at the ground. He was born and brought up in the Calton district of Glasgow - a stone's throw from Celtic Park - and he got to live the dream.

"But football was a poor third in his life. His great devotion was Rosemary and his family, and his faith."

Another former Celtic team-mate, Frank McGarvey, said: "I'm shattered and I think everyone is shattered.

"My thoughts go out to his wife Rosemary and the family. It's a very sad day for everyone.

"He was one of Celtic's greatest servants and was one of the players who would try and go to every event that involved the supporters.

"He was only 51 and it's very hard to understand why this happens.

"He was one of the good guys, a winner, with a great sense of humour and he will be badly missed by everyone. A good friend has been taken away."