Aberdeen are planning a special tribute to Billy McNeill with the cover for Saturday’s match programme produced in the style of the 1977/78 season.
McNeill only spent one season in charge of Aberdeen but is fondly remembered for the impact that he made with the signings of Gordon Strachan and Steve Archibald critical to the success that they went on to enjoy under Alex Ferguson.
**Sneaky Peek** @AberdeenFC‘s #RedMatchday programme cover design for the @CelticFC game this Saturday pays respect to former club manager Billy McNeill. pic.twitter.com/c1VXEovBSF
— ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????? (@dollydigital) April 29, 2019
During his season at Pittodrie the Dons went close in the league and lost out in the final of the Scottish Cup to Rangers while Celtic toiled through Jock Stein’s final season in charge, coming in fifth.
It was far from a certainty that McNeill would take charge of Celtic but when Jock Stein made the call he opted to return to Glasgow but never enjoyed the same level of boardroom support that he had got used to at Aberdeen.
In his first spell as Celtic manager McNeill won the league title three times in five years with the other two lost by a single point to Ferguson’s Aberdeen and Jim McLean’s Dundee United.
With Celtic’s statement on John Beaton’s display at Ibrox completely ignored he is back in charge for Saturday’s match at Aberdeen https://t.co/dAmhqtITW9
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) April 30, 2019
