Celtic Legend Jim Craig Opens Up About His Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Celtic legend Jim Craig, a key figure in the club's historic 1967 European Cup victory, has publicly announced his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Now 83 years old, Craig is one of the last three surviving members of the renowned ‘Lisbon Lions’, who achieved remarkable success in Lisbon 59 years ago. In an interview with The Herald, Craig revealed that he received the diagnosis for this irreversible brain disorder in 2022. Reflecting on the diagnosis, he expressed, "I was pleased that they diagnosed something wrong, because I thought I was just ageing. But I was a bit surprised to hear what it was, and I find it very frustrating." Craig shared insights into his memory struggles, stating, "I’m OK with the old days and the football and family memories. I’m Ok with them. It’s the recent, modern things I have trouble with." While many former footballers have faced similar brain conditions linked to heading heavy footballs, Craig remains skeptical about a direct connection to his playing career. He noted, "I heard about that in other people and thought, ‘No, I’m not sure that’s to do with playing football.’" His wife, Elisabeth, commented on the support they've received, saying, "I think a lot of people know now (about the diagnosis) and have been very understanding and very caring. It’s something that we manage and we navigate our way around." Despite Celtic's dominance in domestic football over the decades, they have not added to their European Cup titles since that iconic triumph in 1967. In that final against Inter Milan, Celtic came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory, with Stevie Chalmers scoring the decisive goal six minutes before the end.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-05-21