Kenny Dalglish paid tribute to Stiliyan Petrov and Celtic fans after a Celtic XI lost 5-3 to a Petrov XI in a charity match at Parkhead.
Celtic Park was almost full to its 60,000 capacity for the match arranged for the former Hoops and Aston Villa midfielder, who is in remission from acute leukaemia.
The Stiliyan Petrov Cancer Charity Foundation and the Trussell Trust, which runs foodbanks across the UK, were the main benificiaries.
Afterwards former Celtic player and manager Dalglish, who was in charge of the Petrov XI, said: “The support he has had, first and foremost from his family, but also from the footballing family, at Aston Villa and Celtic, has been unbelievable.
“The reception they gave him was a fitting tribute to a very strong man who is an example to everyone else who gets a bit of bad news.”
He added: “The turnout was fantastic and a fitting tribute to a really brave man.”
Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov helped himself to a hat-trick with further goals arriving through Martin Petrov and Westlife singer Nicky Byrne.
Henrik Larsson scored from the spot for the Celtic XI with another former Hoops striker Pierre van Hooijdonk and actor Warren Brown also on the scoresheet.
Comedian John Bishop had a penalty saved by Rab Douglas and there were also appearances from One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Chelsea defender John Terry and Hoops manager Neil Lennon, among others.
Afterwards Petrov said: “Thanks very much. You showed the world how special this place is.
“Thank you for standing by me when I had the hardest time in my life.”
Former Celtic and Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill took charge of the Celtic XI. When asked about the condition of One Direction star Tomlinson, who looked in distress as he was substituted after being tackled by Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor, O’Neill said: “He has rushed off now but I think he is fine he doesn’t know where he is but I think he is fine.”
Agbonlahor, who received death threats on Twitter after the challenge, said he would apologise.
“It was one of those things,” he said. “I’ll apologise to Louis when we meet up with everybody after the game.”