Full Name: Robert Murdoch
Born: 17 August 1944
Place of birth: Rutherglen, Scotland
Died: 15 May 2001, aged 56


Bobby Murdoch was born on 17 August 1944 in Rutherglen. He was a vital part of the Lisbon Lions team who won the European Cup in 1967. It was from Murdoch's shot that Stevie Chalmers deflected in the winner.

Murdoch signed for Celtic in August 1959 as a £3-a-week part-timer while working as a sheet metal worker. He gained experience playing for junior side Cambuslang Rangers before joining the Parkhead club permanently in 1961. Soon after he took over as manager, Jock Stein made the inspired decision to move Murdoch from inside-right to right-half, where he became the midfield brain of the side throughout the 1960s.

During his time at Celtic, he won eight Scottish League titles, four Scottish Cups
and five League Cups, as well as the European Cup medal. He also played in the 1970 European Cup Final, when Celtic lost 2-1 to Feyenoord.

He was voted Scottish Player of the Year in 1969 and was a key player in the success throughout the 1960's for Celtic FC. Jock Stein once said that Bobby Murdoch was the best player he ever managed.

He left Celtic in 1973. He made nearly 500 appearances for Celtic and scored around 100 goals before transferring to Middlesborough, for whom he made 125 appearances before his retirement in 1976. He then took up the role of juniors' coach.

He had a brief, unsuccessful, spell as manager of Middlesbrough between 1981 and 1982, ending with his departure shortly after the club were relegated to Division Two.

Murdoch then had an unsuccessful spell as a publican that ended in debt but in his last years he had a role helping at Celtic Park with match-day hospitality.

He died on 15 May 2001, aged 56, following a stroke, in the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.





Jim Craig on Murdoch



"Bobby was a strange guy in many ways. Up front he was a big, brash, confident-looking lad but on the other hand he was a great introvert at times and a real family man.

"He was not a confident person. We always had to push him before the game, when you thought with his talent he would have just come out and got on with it.

"A lot of that stemmed from the fact Bobby knew how much we relied on him and the pressure came from that responsibility."

"He had two great feet, a powerful shot and terrific vision. There can be no higher compliment than to say when Bobby played, the team played.

"You name it, he could do it. He was just superb to play behind.

Articles

• "Bobby Murdoch - Driving heart of the Lions" (Hugh McIlvanney)
• Obituary

Pictures

• Photo Gallery

KStreet

• Memories and stories thread on Murdoch
  

Links

• Lisbon Lions