Ex-Celtic and Hearts player Mike Galloway dies aged 60

Tributes have been paid to former Hearts and Celtic defender Mike Galloway who has died aged 60.

The Midlothian club announced the news on their website on Wednesday.

Galloway, who also played in midfield, joined Hearts in 1987 and scored 22 goals in 86 appearances during a two-year stint at Tynecastle.

His performances attracted the attention of Celtic and Billy McNeill signed him for the Parkhead club for a fee of £560,000 in 1989.

Galloway played 160 games for the Glasgow club over a seven-year period.

He also had a brief spell at Leicester City in February 1995 but his playing career was cut short at the age of 30 after a near-fatal crash in August that year.

He was born in Shropshire in England but earned one cap for Scotland in a Euro 92 qualifier against Romania in 1991.

David Speed, the historian at Hearts told the club’s website: “His father was a soldier with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and both he and his dad considered themselves to be Scotsmen.

“With his father being posted to several military bases, including Berlin, Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Mike learned his football in diverse places.

“He appeared for Holywood Star (Belfast), Tynecastle Boys Club and then Elphinstone Primrose after the Galloway family settled in Berwick-upon-Tweed.”

He added: “Mike had a sensational spell at Tynecastle and he brought steel to the midfield, as well as his scoring ability which saw him net 22 goals in 86 appearances.

“He helped Hearts to runners-up position in the Premier Division and also the Scottish Cup Semi-Finals in 1987-88. This earned Hearts a place in the UEFA Cup, where Mike really made his mark.

“He was particularly brilliant in Hearts’ best European campaign to date.

“Mike scored in both legs against St. Patrick’s Athletic and Velez Mostar. In addition, he scored the only goal of the famous victory against FK Austria in Vienna. Hearts subsequently played Bayern in the Quarter-Finals and narrowly lost 2-1 on aggregate.

“Our sincere condolences are extended to his family and friends at this sad time.”