Name: Alexander "Alec" McNair
Signed: May 1904
Games 604 games (club record number of games)
Years with club: 21 years (longest run of any one player)
Goals: 11
Caps (Scotland): 15
Nickname: "The Icicle"
Position: Right Back/Defence
Trophies: 12 Lge championships/6 Scottish Cups

No player in the history of the club played as many games as the legendary Alec McNair.

Signed from Stenhousemuir in May 1904 McNair was to begin his remarkable career as a Bhoy in a 3-0 Glasgow Cup victory at Parkhead over Queen's Park on September 10th. It was to be another 21 years and 604 games before McNair would leave the Celts.

There are few players to have ever walked onto a football pitch who were as cool and considered as the man the Hoops faithful christaned 'The Icicle'. Played mostly at right-back McNair was a model of consistancey and a steadying influence during a a stunning prolonged period of Celtic dominance.

His excellent judgment coupled with fine ball skills and wonderful athleticism made McNair a formidable opponent for any forward and there were very few occasions when rivals ever got the better of The Icicle.

McNair's quiet confidence had a steadying effect on his more flamboyant team-mates and off the field the player was a dedicated trainer who possesed phenomenal levels of fitness and stamina. Incredibly such dedication was shown by McNair despite him having to cope with the most tragic of circumstances in his private life. In August 1915 his wife died and the player had to bring up five children by himself while carrying out wartime work on a 12 hour shift.

Capped 15 times for Scotland Alec McNair was 41 when he finally left Celtic and retired from football. This incredible man and footballer played a record 604 time for the Bhoys and scored 11 goals on his way to winning 12 championships and six Scottish Cups. He is Celtic's most faithful servant and a much loved character in the club's folklore.




Pictures

• Player Pictures