Tributes have been paid to Celtic great Tommy Gemmell after his death at the age of 73.

The club announced on Thursday he had died after a long battle with illness.

Gemmell was a significant figure in one of Celtic and Scottish football's finest hours, when the Lisbon Lions, led by Jock Stein, won the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967 after defeating Inter Milan in the final.

The full-back, who scored the equaliser in the 2-1 win over the Italian giants, won 14 trophies in his time with Celtic and also lifted the League Cup with Dundee in 1973.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: "Everyone at Celtic is deeply saddened by the loss of Tommy, a true Celtic giant and a man who gave the club so many years of his life in an illustrious football career.

"Firstly, I would like to send our sincere condolences to Tommy's family, our thoughts and prayers are with them all. They will have every support from the club at this most difficult of times.

"Tommy was a Celtic great, one of football's greats and I know he will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

"He was a man of huge stature in the game and someone who made such an important mark on Celtic Football Club."

A spokesperson for Dundee FC said: "Everyone at Dundee Football Club was saddened to hear of the death of former player and manager Tommy Gemmell at the age of 73.

"Tommy signed for the club in July of 1973 and later that year went on to captain Dundee to a League Cup victory over his former club Celtic.

"On the road to the final he scored the only goal of the game in the semi-final win over Kilmarnock at Hampden. He remains the last man to lift a major trophy for the club."

They added: "Tommy spent four seasons at Dens as a player before hanging up his boots and becoming manager of the club.

"The highlight of his three years in charge at Dens was promotion back to the Premier League in 1978/79 as champions.

"The thoughts of everyone at Dens are with Tommy's family and friends at this sad time."

Celtic's city rivals Rangers released a tribute, saying: "The club would like to send our sincere condolences to the family of Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell.

"He was one of the great Celtic and Scotland players and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Tommy's family and friends at this very difficult time."

Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster also paid his respects.

He said: "On behalf of everyone at the SPFL, we were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Tommy Gemmell. Our immediate thoughts are with his family and close friends.

"Tommy is one of the most significant figures in Scottish football history having scored in two European Cup finals, including the famous 1967 victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon.

"Today's news is particularly poignant with this year being the 50th anniversary of Celtic's achievement in becoming the first British club to win that special trophy."

He added: "As well as serving both Celtic and Scotland as a player with such distinction, Tommy played for and managed Dundee and was also manager of Albion Rovers in two different spells.

"The SPFL passes on its condolences to the staff and supporters of those three clubs but we know that all SPFL clubs and football fans across the country will share in their sadness today."

Current Celtic captain Scott Brown led the tributes to social media with a post on Instagram.

Former Celtic strikers Frank McAvennie, Chris Sutton and John Hartson were among those who posted tributes on Twitter.