Celtic's Lisbon Lions: Stevie Chalmers, who scored 1967 European Cup final winner dies aged 83

Chalmers etched his name into Celtic folklore when he scored the decisive goal in the Lisbon Lions' 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.

A statement from his family, issued via the club, read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stevie Chalmers, our loving father and devoted husband to Sadie. The Celtic legend was surrounded by family when he sadly passed away early this morning."

Chalmers had been suffering from dementia in recent years. His death comes a week after Billy McNeill, captain of the Lisbon Lions, also died.

The statement added: "In recent times Stevie endured the toughest of battles, but just as he approached every game in a green and white jersey, he tackled his long-term illness with much bravery and dignity."

Chalmers, a Glaswegian, was one of Celtic's greatest goalscorers, netting 231 times in 12 years for the club. He also won four league titles and three Scottish Cups as well as earning five caps for Scotland.

"He felt honoured and privileged to have played alongside the Lisbon Lions, and this camaraderie and friendship carried on long after their playing days as the team became lifelong friends," the statement added.

"Celtic was an integral part of Stevie's life and he devoted much of his career to the famous Glasgow club. He was adored by Celtic supporters in Scotland and around the world, especially for his passion, loyalty and integrity."

Celtic chief praises Chalmers

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: "This is such terrible news, and on behalf of the club, I would first of all like to pass on my condolences to Stevie's wife, Sadie, their children, Stephen, Carol, Paul, Ann, Martin, Clare, and their grandchildren.

"This is a particularly devastating time for the Celtic family, with the passing of Stevie Chalmers coming so soon after his friend and former team-mate, Billy McNeill.

"My condolences also go to the Lisbon Lions, already mourning the loss of their captain, and now grieving the death of another one of their own.

"Stevie Chalmers was a Celtic legend, and one of the greatest goalscorers this club has ever seen. Indeed, only three other legends in Jimmy McGrory, Henrik Larsson and Stevie's close friend, Bobby Lennox, have scored more goals.

"However, there is only one man who is able to lay claim to having scored the most important goal in Celtic's 131-year history, and that man is Stevie Chalmers."

The Lisbon Lions - Road to glory

Stevie Chalmers scored Celtic's winning goal in the 1967 European Cup final, but also had an impact on their route to the final with five goal in all for the Lisbon Lions.

First round - Celtic 5 Zurich 0 (first leg 2-0, second leg 3-0)

The Swiss champions, bossed by former Barcelona striker Laszlo Kubala, were no match for the Hoops, who were making their first appearance in Europe's premier competition. Goals from Tommy Gemmell and Joe McBride handed the Scottish side a 2-0 first-leg lead. FIFA president Sir Stanley Rous watched the return leg from the Zurich stands as Celtic gave boss Stein the perfect 44th birthday present with a 3-0 win. Gemmell helped himself to a brace either side of a Chalmers strike.

Second round - Celtic 6 Nantes 2 (3-1, 3-1)

Stein allowed his team to partake in some retail therapy on the morning of the first leg in France, and the move paid off as McBride, Bobby Lennox and Chalmers all struck in a comfortable away win. Top scorer McBride was forced to pull out of the second leg late through injury, but Celtic progressed untroubled as Jimmy Johnstone, Chalmers and Lennox each netted back at Parkhead. So convincing was their performance that Nantes midfielder Jacques Simon immediately tipped the Glasgow outfit as tournament favourites.

Quarter-finals - Celtic 2 Vojvodina 1 (0-1, 2-0)

Stein was so concerned by the Yugoslavian team that he ordered his men to stay in their beds until lunchtime on the day of the first leg in Novi Sad in order to conserve energy. His fears proved well founded as Celtic found themselves under sustained pressure and a mistake from Gemmell allowed the hosts to grab a precious lead. But it was the Hoops who fought to the end back in Glasgow a week later, with Chalmers levelling the tie on the hour mark before Billy McNeill's last-gasp winner sent the 70,000-strong Parkhead crowd wild.

Semi-finals - Celtic 3 Dukla Prague 1 (3-1, 0-0)

Striker Willie Wallace had been signed from Hearts back in November but UEFA red tape meant it was another five months before he could make his European debut. However, he proved worth the wait in the first leg at Parkhead as he repaid his transfer fee in one go with a crucial double against the Czechoslovakian side following Johnstone's opener. Dukla had knocked out an Ajax side containing a youthful Johan Cruyff in the previous round but were frustrated back in Prague as Celtic held firm for the 0-0 draw which booked their place in the final in Portugal.

Final - Celtic 2 Inter Milan 1

No British side had ever previously reached the final of the European Cup, but Stein's team were now just 90 minutes from glory. However, a line-up all born within a 30-mile radius of Glasgow were given little chance against the star-studded Nerazzurri, who had won the competition twice in the previous three years. But the Italian team's negative tactics played into the hands of Stein and his swashbuckling Hoops. After netting a disputed early penalty through Sandro Mazzola, Inter sat back and invited Celtic to come at them. And second-half goals from Gemmell and Chalmers sealed their historic triumph.