Brendan Rodgers leads Tommy Callaghan tributes as Celtic boss dubs 9 in a row hero 'real legend' of Parkhead

Brendan Rodgers dubbed Tommy Callaghan a “real Celtic legend” as he led tributes to the former Hoops hero following his death at 78.

Callaghan won six league titles in eight years at Parkhead after signing in 1968 and was part of Jock Stein’s iconic side that clinched nine-in-a-row in 1974. Stein signed the elegant midfielder twice - the only player ever to lay claim to that honour - having first taken him to Dunfermline as a teenager in 1962 before then luring him to Celtic Park six years later.

The Fifer was to become a key figure for both clubs as he racked up the half dozen of league titles at Celtic Park to add to two League Cup triumphs and four Scottish Cup winners’ gongs, the first of which was landed with the Pars. He was renowned for his powerful let foot and long, surging runs. And paying tribute, Rodgers said: “I had a message this morning from young Tommy, his son, to say his dad had passed away so all our thoughts and condolences are with Tommy.

“Any player who's been signed twice by Jock Stein, well that tells you how good a player he was. It's sad. I bumped into Tommy a few weeks only back. So yeah, it's a sad day. He was a real legend of the club and all our thoughts are with his family."

Callaghan played alongside his big brother Willie for Dunfermline before moving onto Celtic, gaining the Pars a record transfer fee of £35,000 in the process. In total he pulled on the Hoops more than 250 times and scored 34 goals before joining Clydebank and latterly Galways Rovers in Ireland.

But it was always Celtic who were closest to his heart and after retiring from playing he remained a regular at Parkhead often working as a match day host. The club paid tribute saying: "We are saddened to hear that former