Auld, who died last week at the age of 83, was described at his funeral on Friday as "one of the greatest ambassadors that Celtic Football Club could ever have wished for".

The funeral took place at St Mary's in Calton in the east end of Glasgow, the church whose hall held the meeting in 1887 that led to the establishment of the club the following year.

Postecoglou was present along with his first-team squad to pay their respects following Auld's death following a battle with dementia.

Former managers Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers were among those who joined Auld's family, including wife Liz and children Robert and Susan, while countless former Celts attended, including Dixie Deans, John Clark, George McCluskey, Frank McAvennie, Joe Miller and Tom Boyd.

Among the speakers was Auld's fellow Lisbon Lion, Jim Craig, who recounted the story of his laugh-a-minute teammate launching into song in the tunnel beside a bemused Inter Milan team ahead of Celtic's famed European Cup final triumph in 1967.

Praising Auld's perceptive powers, Craig said of their opponents: "I have to admit they looked great, by the way. Tanned and oiled, their cashmere strip a thing of beauty, their boots gleaming, they just looked the part.

"We, on the other hand, were, to use a Scottish expression, peely-wally by comparison, our three days in the Portuguese sun giving us red blotches on our cheeks and that was about it.

"It was a European Cup final, our biggest match of the season, and, like me, I suspect everyone was a bit on the apprehensive side.

"I have always thought Bertie noticed this and immediately raised his voice and launched into the Celtic Song. After a minute or two, we all joined in and it certainly helped us to cope with the big occasion.

"The Inter guys were less impressed. From the looks on their faces, I always thought that their reaction was: 'What the blazes is this we are playing?' They would soon know."

Finishing his speech, Craig fought back tears and said: "Bertie Auld was a great Celt and, equally importantly, a very nice man. May he rest in peace."

Thousands of supporters later gathered outside Celtic Park and sang the Celtic Song as Auld's coffin was driven past.

After his family thanked well-wishers and viewed tributes, a chorus of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' rang out as they got back in their cars.

There'll be more tributes to Auld at Celtic Park on Sunday before the match against Aberdeen, who will be led out by captain Scott Brown, another former Celtic hero.

Socceroo Tom Rogic could play in the match after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Australian Associated Press