BRENDAN RODGERS has paid tribute to Billy McNeill at his Leicester press conference this afternoon.

The former Celtic manager spoke about the legacy of McNeill and how the club are fantastic at dealing with the families of these legends.

“It is a sad day when you are aware of Billy’s history as a player and a manager.” Rodgers told RecordSport.

“He was an iconic symbol for Celtic supporters growing up who played for the team and went on to manage them.

“He was the spirit and heartbeat of an iconic team – the Lisbon Lions, the first team in Britain to win the European Cup and he was the leader of that team.

“Like Celtic do, the football club are absolutely brilliant looking after the families of the legends.

“I was fortunate to have met Billy when I was there and his legacy was pretty clear.”

Brendan Rodgers willingly tarnished his own Celtic legacy to make an early switch back to the Premier League in February instead of doing the honourable thing and seeing out the season.

Billy lived and breathed Celtic and will be known as one of the greatest men to come through the doors at Parkhead.

As for Rodgers, time will heal some of the hurt feelings but he’ll unlikely be mentioned in the same breath as some of the icons our club have created over the years.

The club will be honouring their fallen Celtic Legend on Saturday when the Bhoys host Kilmarnock and again during the Scottish Cup Final in May.