Former Celtic player, manager, and Hoops legend Tommy Burns’ family has become the latest to call for Burns to be canonised as a saint by the Catholic Church.
With Burns’ family submitting a bid to the Bishop of Paisley for Burns to be recognised as a saint.
On the pitch, Burns was a football legend, winning six league titles and five Scottish Cups from 1975 until 1989 as a player, before winning Celtic’s first trophy in six years as a manager in 1995 when the Hoops won the Scottish Cup.
However, it is off the pitch that has led to the former Celtic boss being remembered not only for his footballing achievements but also for his deep faith, kindness, and commitment to his community.
His personality toppled football divides, with his friendship with Walter Smith and Ally McCoist being the strongest of any to play for Celtic and Rangers. This bond led to Burns being Smith’s assistant alongside McCoist at Scotland from 2004 until 2007.
The pair attended his funeral in 2008 after Burns sadly passed away from melanoma, a form of skin cancer. However, in the years since, McCoist and Smith have spoken so highly of him, showing just how much his kind heart as a human stood out.
However, the one moment that epitomises the saint that Burns was is when he talked someone out of suicide, without anyone knowing until his family was informed. Chris McLaughlin, a member of the Tommy Burns Cause for Canonisation Co-ordinating Team, recently revealed the story.
He said: (STV), “On one occasion, someone approached a member of the Burns family and said ‘Tommy saved my life’.
“This man was suicidal, and somehow Tommy found out about this and talked him out of it.”
Burns is clearly a legend to all that support Celtic, but his work off the pitch is a testament to the incredible human being he was.
Working up until his death at the Hoops, Burns, a devout Catholic, if canonised, would be the first footballer to be so and the first Scotsman since John Ogilvie in 1976.
Why not. St Tommy Berns. He believed in tha Godhead, they should recognise he???
Up tae them. He’s a saint of lost causes. He made people smile.
Tha guys a saint in ma eyes. And he signed ma (actually his) bubblegum card.
He said tae me ‘ Hey gimme that, wow could’ve picked a better wan son’ We were the similar age.
Tommy a true great in every way