George Connelly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Connelly (born Fife, March 1, 1949) was a footballer, most famously with Celtic.
George Connelly was a technically accomplished footballer, who could play with distinction anywhere in the outfield. As a teenager he was noted for his fine ball control which was first displayed publicly when he was sent out to entertain the crowd at Parkhead before a 1966 European tie. He was considered by many to have the potential to be a world class player - as influential in British football as Beckenbauer was in the German game.[citation needed]
That he did not live up to his potential, depriving Celtic, and football in general in the process, is still cause for regret amongst his many admirers. He left football through personal problems that have never been fully publicised.
Having broken into the first team in 1968, he is remembered primarily for two goals. Just before half time in the 1969 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers, he coolly dispossessed John Greig on the edge of the box, evaded the Rangers' skipper's recovery attempt, rounded the goalkeeper before slipping the ball into the empty net. Squashing any hopes of a Rangers revival George made it 3-0 to Celtic.
In what was commonly referred to at the time as the football "Battle of Britain" he scored the opening, and only goal, against the great English Leeds United team with a first-minute strike in the first leg of the Champions' Cup semi final at Elland Road in 1970, paving the way for Celtic's second European Cup final against Feyenoord.
Connelly was earmarked as the natural successor to Billy McNeill at the heart of the Celtic defence and most likely as captain too. In all probability, the same destiny beckoned in the Scottish international team.[citation needed]
George Connelly made 254 appearances for Celtic, he scored 13 goals. He won 2 caps for his country.
Though long since retired from the game, the fame of George Connelly's football skills still prompts articles in the press lamenting the loss to Scottish football of such a talent and contrasting how he lives now to what might have been on the international football stage.
