Celtic stalwart and respected coach of the Scottish national side

League and Cup-winning Scottish footballer and manager Tommy Burns, who was held in high regard throughout the game, died on 15 May, 2008, at the age of 51, after two years fighting skin cancer.

He made over 350 appearances in midfield for Celtic during the 1970s and '80s. In this time the club won six league championships and four Scottish Cups. He also won eight caps for Scotland and spent five years with Kilmarnock where he began his management career.

After two successful seasons in charge of Killie, Celtic hired him as manager in 1994. He won praise for his team's attractive style of play but was unable to break the dominance of Rangers. He then went on to coaching roles at Newcastle United and the Scottish national team, and eventually returned to Celtic where he was coaching at the time of his death.

Thomas Burns was born on 16 December, 1956, in Glasgow and he began his career with Maryhill FC. Celtic snapped up the promising youngster in 1973, he made his debut aged 19 against Dundee in 1975 and got his first start a year later.

He scored 52 goals during his 14 seasons in the Celtic first team and was a key player throughout, most notably as part of the double-winning team of 1988. He was noted for his tireless work on the pitch, an ethos he took with him when he signed for Kilmarnock for a bargain price of £50,000 in 1989.

He helped the club win promotion to the First Division in his first season. In 1992 he was made player-manager and guided the side to yet another promotion, reaching the Scottish Premiership on the final day of the season. The following year he beat the odds to keep Killie in the top flight, also taking them to the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Celtic were keen to bring their former player back to Parkhead and secured his services in 1994. Understandably Kilmarnock were reluctant to let their manager go and refused to terminate his contract, resulting in a £100,000 fine for Celtic for their illegal acquisition.

Mr Burns had some early success, winning the Scottish Cup - the club's first trophy for six years - at the end of his first season, but was unable to break Rangers' winning streak which would stretch to nine league titles by the time he was sacked in May 1997.

He coached with Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle, briefly managed Reading, and then became Berti Vogts' second-in-command with the Scotland team, a position he would retain when Walter Smith became national coach. In 2002 Martin O'Neill brought him back to Celtic where he was in charge of the youth team and later first team coach under Gordon Strachan.

Throughout his career, Tommy Burns was known as a gentleman of the game and someone who believed in playing football the right way, two factors which endeared him to supporters and those he worked with, even during his less successful periods. He was also known to be a devout Catholic.

He was diagnosed with cancer in March 2006, but treatment seemed to have been successful. However, two years later it was announced that the disease had returned. He was given leave from his duties at Celtic to get treatment in Glasgow and Paris. He was survived by his wife of 28 years, Rosemary, and four children.

After his death was announced on 15 May, 2008, people who knew him were quick to pay tribute.

Peter Rafferty, friend and secretary of the Association of Celtic Supporters' Clubs, described him as a "big family man": "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."

Celtic chairman and former home secretary John Reid said: "Tommy is someone who was loved by so many of us. He was a man of true integrity and dignity. As a Celtic player, manager and coach, Tommy served Celtic with distinction and true professionalism. He was a true gentleman and someone who had the ability to connect and engage with anyone he met."

Former Celtic team-mate Davie Provan said: "I will remember him as a very good footballer but more than that, a great human being. He was decent and honest. He embodied everything good about the club. He was a great example to everybody at Celtic Park."