Tommy Burns

Celtic

Burns grew up supporting Celtic and began playing football with St.Mary's Boys Guild. He went on to play for Eastercraigs Boys Club and then Celtic Boys Club. After receiving offers to go to England to play professionally, he signed for Celtic in 1973, and was then farmed out to Maryhill Juniors in order to gain experience. Burns made his debut against Dundee United on 19 April 1975 under manager Jock Stein, and by the end of the 1976–77 (which ended with Celtic as champions) had become a regular in the team. His best personal output was in 1983–84 with 13 goals from 55 appearances in all competitions, although Celtic finished as runners-up to Aberdeen in both the League and the Scottish Cup, and lost the League Cup final to Rangers. Burns was a vital part of the side managed by Billy McNeill which won the league and cup double in 1987–88, the club's centenary season, participating in 37 matches in the campaign. In total, he made 353 league appearances for Celtic over 15 years and scored 52 goals, won six Scottish League titles and four Scottish Cups. In December 1989, just prior to his 33rd birthday, he received a testimonial match against Ajax in which he threw his boots to the crowd at Celtic Park. The club would later officially describe him as "a true Celtic legend" while the player himself stated that he was merely "a supporter who got lucky".

Kilmarnock

Immediately following his testimonial, Burns moved to third-tier Kilmarnock for a fee of…

Club

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Managerial

As of 27 November 2013

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Burns was born in the Calton area of Glasgow, where he was brought up with his two sisters. He was educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic School and at St Mungo's Academy.

Burns met his wife Rosemary Smith when they were both 17, and they married in 1980. The couple had four children. A devout Roman Catholic, Burns attended Mass and took Communion every morning. Burns said of his faith: "It does not embarrass me to discuss my Faith in public because I'm not doing so to impress anyone or to have people think of me as what would be called a goody-goody. I turn to God at every opportunity because I am not different from anybody else and because I accept that I am sufficiently frail to need His help and guidance more than most."