CELTIC legend Tommy Gemmell has died, aged 73.

The club announced the Lisbon Lion’s passing, following a long illness, on its official website.

4 Tommy Gemmell has passed away Credit: Scottish News & Sport

A statement paid tribute to the defender - who scored Celtic's first goal in the club's historic 1967 European Cup final win over Inter Milan - and his wife Mary.

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It read: “It is with great sadness that Celtic Football Club announces the sad passing of Lisbon Lion and Celtic great Tommy Gemmell after a long illness.

“Our thoughts are with Mary and Tommy’s family and friends at this very difficult time.

“Funeral details will be announced in due course.”

Gemmell's passing comes just days after Billy McNeill's family revealed the Lisbon Lions captain was battling dementia.

Celtic fans and players past and present - including captain Scott Brown - told of their sadness at the Hoops icon's death on social media.

Very sad news about Tommy Gemmell. He was a true Lion. A legend. https://t.co/fThNHEuzGG — Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) March 2, 2017

Very sad to hear about the passing of Tommy Gemmell. A Celtic great. Scored in Lisbon. Thoughts are with his family. — Murdo Macleod (@murdomacleod06) March 2, 2017

Just heard that a @celticfc legend Tommy Gemmell has just passed away, it was a pleasure to know you big man, #RIP #Lion — Frank McAvennie (@MaccaFrank) March 2, 2017

Sad news hearing Tommy Gemmell has passed away.. Celtic great thoughts are with his family and close friends, RIP Tommy. 🍀🙏 — John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) March 2, 2017

God bless you Tommy Gemmell 🙏🏻🍀 #Lisbonlion — Dylan McGeouch (@DMcGeouch) March 2, 2017

RIP Tommy Gemmell 🍀 — colin staffieri (@shoutinballin) March 2, 2017

God Bless Tommy Gemmell...another legend leaves Paradise but will always be immortal to us🍀 — chris munro (@chrisbhoy77) March 2, 2017

Chief executive Peter Lawwell called Gemmell - who leaves a son and a daughter - a "true Celtic giant".

He also told of the club's sadness at mourning the loss of one of its greatest ever players just three months before the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions' famous triumph.

Lawwell said: “Everyone at Celtic is deeply saddened by the loss of Tommy, a true Celtic giant and a man who gave the club so many years of his life in an illustrious football career.

“Firstly, I would like to send our sincere condolences to Tommy’s family, our thoughts and prayers are with them all. They will have every support from the club at this most difficult of times.

4 Tommy with the European Cup at Celtic Park in 2006 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

“Tommy was a Celtic great, one of football’s greats and I know he will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

“He was a man of huge stature in the game and someone who made such an important mark on Celtic Football Club.”

He added: “Tommy will forever hold his rightful place as one of the true Celtic legends.

“In this particular year it is so very sad to lose such an important figure - while we mourn his loss, I am sure all our supporters will also celebrate the life and the wonderful achievements of the great Tommy Gemmell.”

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said Gemmell was "one of the most significant figures" in the history of Scottish football.

He said: “On behalf of everyone at the SPFL, we were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Tommy Gemmell. Our immediate thoughts are with his family and close friends.

“Tommy is one of the most significant figures in Scottish football history having scored in two European Cup Finals, including the famous 1967 victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon.

"Today’s news is particularly poignant with this year being the 50thanniversary of Celtic’s achievement in becoming the first British club to win that special trophy.

“As well as serving both Celtic and Scotland as a player with such distinction, Tommy played for and managed Dundee and was also manager of Albion Rovers in two different spells.

"The SPFL passes on its condolences to the staff and supporters of those three clubs but we know that all SPFL clubs and football fans across the country will share in their sadness today.”

4 Tommy and Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill parade the European Cup at Parkhead in 2003 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Supporters remembered Motherwell-born Tommy, capped 18 times by Scotland, by sharing videos of his strike against Inter Milan.

It was that thunderbolt which set Jock Stein's Celtic side on the way to becoming the first British club to lift the European Cup.

The Thai Tims saluted the full-back with a poignant song about his journey from humble beginnings at his grandmother's house in the Lanarkshire town to his unforgettable Lisbon adventure.

R.I.P. Lisbon Lion legend, Tommy Gemmell. pic.twitter.com/nheY2CqAPN — Thai Tims (@thaitims) March 2, 2017

Others from inside and outside of the world of sport hailed Gemmell, who also scored for the second time in a European Cup final in 1970 as Celtic lost 2-1 to Dutch giants Feyenoord.

The Club would like to send our sincere condolences to the family of @CelticFC legend Tommy Gemmell: https://t.co/2OmpkvsbWN — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 2, 2017

Sad to hear the passing of @celticfc legend Tommy Gemmell, thoughts and prayers with all the family #RIPTommy 🙏 — Shay Given (@No1shaygiven) March 2, 2017

Sad to hear of the passing of Celtic great Tommy Gemmell this morning #lisbonlion — Jim White (@JimWhite) March 2, 2017

A hugely sad loss. Our thoughts are with Tommy's family and friends. https://t.co/0yRTRJMG8s — Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) March 2, 2017

Everyone at Albion Rovers FC, fans and staff would like to pass on our condolences to The Gemmell Family. RIP Tommy https://t.co/AlpT0TiHb8 pic.twitter.com/IpuVoqQ7QX — Albion Rovers FC (@albionrovers) March 2, 2017

Sad to hear the news about Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. — The Well Society (@TheWellSociety) March 2, 2017

Sad news about Tommy Gemmell. Scored in TWO European Cup Finals & won League Cup with Dundee AGAINST Celtic. Had great tales to tell. RIP — Jim Delahunt (@JimDelahunt) March 2, 2017

Tommy Gemmell RIP. A lion. pic.twitter.com/eIpeDMxGR0 — Nicky Campbell (@NickyAACampbell) March 2, 2017

Gemmell spent a decade at Parkhead, making 418 appearances and scoring 63 goals.

He went onto to play for Dundee and captained the Dens Park side to League Cup glory against Celtic in the final in 1973.

The Bhoys legend - who suffered from Type 2 diabetes and circulation problems - then managed the Dark Blues from 1977 to 1980 and later enjoyed two spells as Albion Rovers boss.

We told last August how Tommy, who lived in Dunblane, was taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital after injuring his hip in a fall.

Celtic finished its touching tribute with the words: "Tommy Gemmell is a true Celtic legend, part of the greatest side in the club’s history and a man who played a pivotal role in our greatest ever triumph when, in Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional, 11 men all born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park, beat Inter Milan to win the European Cup.

4 Tommy and the Lisbon Lions show off club football's biggest trophy Credit: Scottish News and Sport

"The legend of the Lisbon Lions was created that night, and Tommy and his team-mates were assured their place in the pantheon of Celtic greats.

"And, like the rest of the Lions, Tommy remained humble about his incredible football achievements.

"The whole Celtic Family is mourning his passing, and everyone associated with the club sends their thoughts and prayers to his family, his fellow Lions and his many friends at this desperately sad time.

"Our thoughts are with Mary and Tommy’s family and friends at this very difficult time."

Read our tribute to a true Celtic great including a look back at all of his outstanding achievements.

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