Former Celtic star Burns loses cancer battle

(CNN) -- Former Celtic player and manager Tommy Burns has died aged 51 after losing a long fight with cancer.

The ex-Scotland international midfielder spent much of his football career at Parkhead, earning a special place in the hearts of the fans of the Glasgow giants.

He made 352 appearances for Celtic between 1975 and 1989, scoring 52 goals and managed the club for three seasons between 1994 and 1997, winning the 1995 Scottish FA Cup.

He also managed Reading in the English league before spells as assistant manager in the Scotland international set up before returning to the Celtic fold to be first team coach under manager Gordon Strachan.

He was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2006. Although he received treatment, the disease returned in March.

"It is with great sadness that Celtic Football Club confirmed this morning that Tommy Burns has passed away," said a statement on the official Celtic Web site..

"Tommy, a true Celtic legend and wonderful man will be sadly missed by us all."

Burns played eight times for Scotland between 1981 and 1988.

Celtic's arch-rivals Rangers reacted to the sad news by saying that they would no longer hold a parade to welcome the team home after their UEFA Cup final defeat to Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday night.

The Rangers players had been expected to take part in a parade of honor through Glasgow on an open-top bus, but a club spokesman said it would be "wholly inappropriate."

A stream of tributes followed news of Burns' death with British prime minister Gordon Brown sending condolences.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Tommy Burns, and my thoughts are with his family and friends," he said.

"His death robs Scottish football of one of its most inspirational figures of modern times and one of the nicest people in football.

"He will go down as one of the all-time great players for Glasgow Celtic."