(CNN) Billy McNeill, the first Briton to lift the European Cup when Celtic won the competition with a team of homegrown players in 1967, has died at the age of 79.

Nicknamed "Cesar" by the clubs fans, McNeill captained the Celtic team that defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon in 1967, the first and only time a Scottish team has won European football's most coveted club prize.

He appeared 790 times for the Glasgow club, winning nine league titles, seven Scottish cups and six league cups. McNeill also had a successful managerial career during two spells as Celtic boss. He managed Manchester City, Aston Villa and Aberdeen as well, where he was replaced by Alex Ferguson in 1978.

Rest in peace, Cesar. You'll Never Walk Alone. pic.twitter.com/FLCdURfuox — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 23, 2019

statement on Celtic's website Tuesday read: "The Celtic Family is mourning the death of Billy McNeill, the club's greatest ever captain and one of the finest men to have played and managed the Hoops."

"Billy McNeill was a Celtic player, manager and ambassador. First and foremost, however, he was always a Celtic supporter and his love for the club was evident throughout his life.

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