A member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions team, who became the first British side to win the European Cup when they beat Inter Milan in 1967, right winger Jimmy Johnstone was the epitome of the tanner ‘ba player and an icon of the game.
A flawed genius who was truly world class, the little red haired wing wizard, who was nicknamed ‘Jinky’ because of his dazzling dribbling skills, scored over 100 goals for Celtic, won 23 caps for Scotland and in 2002 was voted Celtic's greatest player by supporters of the club.
Born in Viewpark, Lanarkshire, he signed for Celtic as a teenager opting for the Parkhead side over Manchester United and made his debut for Celtic in 1963. Idolised by the Celtic fans, he was an integral part of Jock Stein’s remarkable nine-in-a-row team, with Stein, who died of a heart attack in 1985 declaring Johnstone - with whom he had several run-ins - "better than Stanley Matthews".
A box-office draw and entertainer famed for his lightning quick speed and immaculate close control - Jimmy had practiced his skills as a youngster by lining up milk bottles in his living room at home and slaloming around them - Jinky was also incredibly brave.
At just 5ft 4in and nine-and-a-half stones he often found himself targeted for rough treatment from rival defenders who tried to kick him off the park. Nowhere more so than in infamous matches against Atletico Madrid and Racing Club of Argentina in the Intercontinental Championship where he had to pick the spittle out of his hair and was sent off in the second half. Undeterred, he would simply pick himself up and keep coming back for more.
| Name | Scotland Caps | Goals | Club appearances | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Johnstone | 23 | 4 | 498 | 9 Scottish League title, 4 Scottish Cups, 5 League Cups, 1 European Cup |
As Lisbon Lion team mate Tommy Gemmell said of Jinky: “On the pitch he had the heart of a lion and the ability of a maestro. He was an unbelievable player, as good as any you will see.”
Recognition of his sublime talent wasn’t only confined to the terraces of Parkhead. On the road to Lisbon, Jimmy was in irresistible form in the first leg of the second round tie against Nantes and the French press nicknamed him the Flying Flea. "Jimmy must have kept the ball for an hour that night," said his colleague and great friend, Bobby Lennox.
Immediately following the 1967 European Cup win Celtic were chosen to provide the opposition in the testimonial match for Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano. Once again Jinky was in irresistible form with the Real fans in the Bernabeau crowd chanting “Ole” every time he dribbled past one of their own defenders. Celtic won 1-0 with Di Stefano escribing the match as "The Jimmy Johnstone show."
Leeds United defender Terry Cooper could also testify to Jinky's amazing skills. Cooper described Johnstone as “my nightmare” after Jinky ran the show for Celtic as they tormented Leeds, regarded at the time as one of the best club sides in Europe during both legs of the 1970 “Battle of Britain” European Cup semi-final. The Hoops would go on to lose in the final aginst Dutch side Feyenoord.
A colourful character who liked a drink, Johnstone’s sometimes unreliable temperament wasn’t the only source of frustration for the Celtic management. There was also the wee man’s massive fear of flying which Stein used to Celtic’s advantage in beating Red Star Belgrade of Yugoslavia in a European Cup match.
Big Jock promised Johnstone that he would excuse him from playing in the second leg if the winger helped create enough of a lead in the home leg in Glasgow. True to form, Jinky played out of his skin in Glasgow, scoring twice and making three of the five goals that would render his trip abroad unnecessary.
Jinky made his Scotland debut for the full national side against Wales in October 1964, displacing the usual incumbent, another clever right winger, Rangers' Willie Henderson. Yet his Scotland career proved sporadic, with highlights including scoring two goals against England in season 1965-66.
He became immortalised in Tartan Army folklore, when, in May 1974, just days before a game with England, Johnstone and other Scotland players embarked on a drinking session at their hotel in Largs, Ayrshire, that saw them head down to the edge of the sea at 5am, with Johnstone deciding to go out in a rowing boat. Soon he was adrift in the Atlantic.
Scotland manager Willie Ormond, wasn’t impressed when Johnstone's jaunt hit the headlines after the coastguard had to be called out to rescue him and just weeks later, Jinky went to the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany, but never played a game.
Given a free transfer at the end of the 1974-75 season by Celtic he went on to play for San Jose Earthquakes, Sheffield United, Dundee, Shelbourne and Elgin City. He was diagnosed in November 2001 with motor neurone disease and in 2005, inspired by his battle with the disease and fund raising efforts, 19 new diamond studded Faberge eggs were created in aid of Johnstone - the only living person since the Czars and Czarinas of Russia to be immortalised that way each of which were sold for £10,000.
Jinky died on March 13, 2006. Thousands of Celtic fans and fans from other clubs paid tribute to his memory outside Celtic Park on St Patrick’s Day, the day of his funeral. In 2007 the entire Celtic squad sported the number seven in his honour before the League Cup final and in 2008 a statue of Johnstone commissioned by Celtic was unveiled in Kerrydale Street, near the Celtic ticket office.
The plinth features images relevant to Jimmy’s life including his famous number seven, a Lion in relation to Lisbon, a heart signifying Jimmy’s courage both on and off the field and images of wings, relating to his gracefulness as a player and his reputation as ‘Lord of the Wing’. It also features a rowing boat, symbolising Jimmy’s infamous nautical excursion while on Scotland duty.
