Bobby Murdoch

Robert White Murdoch (17 August 1944 – 15 May 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as a midfielder for Celtic, Middlesbrough and Scotland. Murdoch was one of the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team who won the European Cup in 1967. He later also managed Middlesbrough.

Club career Celtic Brought up in Rutherglen, he lived there for most of his life and attended local St. Columbkillle's Primary school (a classmate was Tommy McAvoy who went on to become the long-serving MP for the area), before moving to Our Lady's High Secondary in Motherwell. Murdoch first joined Celtic in 1959, earning £3 per week as a part-time player while also being employed as a sheet-metal worker. Murdoch also played in the 1970 European Cup Final, when Celtic lost 2–1 to Feyenoord. In total, he made over 500 appearances for Celtic and scored approximately 100 goals. Jock Stein credited Murdoch with being "just about the best player I had as a manager". He provided advice to the young Graeme Souness and the club was promoted to Division One in his first season there.

International career

Murdoch won a total of 12 caps for Scotland, having to compete for selection with Jim Baxter and then Billy Bremner among others.

Later life, death and legacy Murdoch had an unsuccessful spell as a publican that ended in debt. In his last years he had a role helping at Celtic Park with match-day hospitality. Murdoch was the first of the Lisbon Lions to die. In 2016 his contribution was recognised with the unveiling of a plaque listing his achievements at the town hall in his hometown of Rutherglen; the ceremony was attended by family members, local dignitaries and former teammates.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Murdoch goal.

Honours Celtic European Cup: 1966–67; runner-up 1969–70 Intercontinental Cup: runner-up 1967 Scottish League Championship (8): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 Scottish Cup (5): 1964–65, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72 Scottish League Cup (5): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 Glasgow Cup (5): 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70

Middlesbrough Football League Second Division: 1973–74

Scotland British Home Championship: 1966–67

Individual Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year: 1968–69 Scottish Football Hall of Fame: posthumous inductee 2004