Celtic legend Johnstone has life-threatening disease

Former Scotland and Celtic star Jimmy Johnstone has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, it was confirmed tonight.

Former Scotland and Celtic star Jimmy Johnstone has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, it was confirmed tonight.

The 57-year-old, one of Celtic's famous Lisbon Lions who were the first British side to win the European Cup in 1967, was diagnosed last week after visiting the club doctor.

Johnstone, a father of three who lives in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, is still involved with Celtic on a day-to-day basis, meeting and greeting fans on match days.

A spokeswoman for Celtic said tonight: "Everyone at the club is shocked to hear this news. Our thoughts are with Jimmy and his family at this time and we hope that we can be of some support to him."

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Johnstone scored more than 100 goals for Celtic and won 23 international caps for Scotland.

After leaving Parkhead he had spells with San Jose Earthquakes, Sheffield United, Dundee, Shelbourne and Elgin City before retiring from football.

In May this year Bobby Murdoch became the first member of the Lisbon Lions team to die after suffering a stroke.

Motor neurone disease affects the nerve cells which send electrical signals from the brain, causing the muscles to waste away.

About 1,200 people are diagnosed in the UK each year and sufferers have a life expectancy of two to five years.

PA