Bertie Auld


Robert Auld is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is a member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions, which won the 1967 European Cup Final.
As a player, he made more than 200 appearances in the Scottish League playing for Celtic, Dumbarton and Hibernian, and more than 100 in the Football League in England with Birmingham City. He also earned three caps for Scotland early in his career.
He is also well known as a former manager at Partick Thistle, where he spent six seasons and is still held in high regard, being appointed to the club's hall of fame. He also had managerial stints at Hibernian, Hamilton Academical and Dumbarton.

Early life and playing career

Auld was born in Maryhill, Glasgow. He first joined Celtic in March 1955 from local side Maryhill Harp, where he was converted from a fullback into a winger. However, his headstrong character and poor discipline impeded his progress and after spending a season on loan to Dumbarton, he was sold to Birmingham City in 1961 for £15,000. With the Midlands club he won a League Cup medal in 1963, as well as appearing in the final of the 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, in which Birmingham were beaten 4–2 on aggregate by A.S. Roma.
In 1965 Auld returned to Celtic in a £12,000 deal, possibly on the initiative of Jock Stein, who had not yet been appointed Celtic manager. No longer considered a winger, Auld formed a midfield partnership with Bobby Murdoch. He became an integral part of the side that won nine League titles, as well as the 1967 European Cup Final. Prior to that match, against Italian giants Internazionale, Auld instigated a rendition of The Celtic Song in the tunnel, much to the bemusement of the Inter players. Auld left Celtic again in 1971 this time joining Hibernian on a free transfer. While at Easter Road he combined his playing role with one as a trainer, eventually focusing solely on the latter role.

Management

He started a career as a manager in 1974, when appointed by Partick Thistle, where he would stay for six seasons. He returned to Edinburgh as Hibs manager in 1980, in an attempt to revive the club following their relegation in the 1979–80 season. Auld guided Hibs to promotion by winning the 1980-81 Scottish First Division, but was replaced by Pat Stanton in 1982. He then spent a year in charge of Hamilton Academical before returning to manage Thistle for a brief second spell in 1986. His final appointment was with Dumbarton F.C.

Media work

The former midfielder is a regular guest on Celtic TV, the official television channel of Celtic FC.

Honours

In November 2009 Auld was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

Player

Celtic
Birmingham City
Partick Thistle
Hibernian