Tributes flood in for Celtic legend Burns

Alex Ferguson, Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell and ex-Celtic captain Paul Lambert were among those to offer tributes.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond also paid their respects to the man who served Celtic as a player for 15 years, then returned to the club as manager and coach.

Manchester United manager Ferguson said: "It's very sad. He was a real good man."

Burns, who was 51, was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2006. Although he received treatment, the disease returned in March this year.

European Cup winner Gemmell added: "I don't think you will find anyone on this earth who will say a bad word about him."

Burns joined Celtic as a teenager in 1973 and played 352 league games for the club, scoring 52 goals. He also won eight Scotland caps.

Burns's former Hoops team-mate Frank McGarvey said: "He was one of Celtic's greatest servants. He was one of the good guys, a winner, with a great sense of humour and he will be badly missed by everyone."

In 1989, Burns moved to Kilmarnock and he was given his first managerial job three years later.

Current Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies said: "I'm devastated.

"Tommy did a terrific job at Kilmarnock as player and manager. He is held in very high esteem.

"He was a true gentleman. He always got his teams to play football in the right way."

Burns left Kilmarnock to take the Celtic reins in 1994 and later managed Reading.

He brought current Royals captain Graeme Murty to the club in 1998 and the Scotland international, who comes from a Celtic supporting family, recalled the day that he first discussed moving to Reading with his father.

Murty said: "My dad asked who the manager was and, as soon as he found out it was Tommy Burns, he didn't want to know about the money or anything else, he just told me to sign because Tommy Burns would see me right."

Burns returned to Celtic as first-team coach in 2000, shortly before Martin O'Neill's arrival.

He operated as youth development officer under O'Neill and regained his first-team role when Gordon Strachan took over, while also taking the job of head of youth.

Burns became Scotland number two in 2002 under Berti Vogts and later held the same part-time position when Walter Smith came in.

Burns cut his ties with the Scotland team in January 2007 when he was not interviewed for the manager's job after Smith resigned.

The Scottish FA called Burns "a true gentleman and a magnificent ambassador for Scottish football."

Former Hoops skipper Lambert, who knew Burns well, told BBC radio: "His enthusiasm for the game was terrific. He was a very funny man. It was a privilege knowing him."

Prime Minister Brown said that Burns's death "robs Scottish football of one of its most inspirational figures of modern times and one of the nicest people in football."

And his Scottish counterpart Salmond told MSPs that Burns had been "an outstanding servant" for club and country.

After the news of Burns's death, Rangers abandoned plans for a bus ride through Glasgow after their appearance in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final.

Rangers said: "The club would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family of Tommy Burns at this very sad time."