The hope was that his presence would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale and Parish retired.

Bird retired from the NBA three months later after winning a gold medal on the USA basketball Olympic team.

Birds left Nelson in the summer of 1924 and subsequently retired from professional football.

Bird retired from RTÉ on 26 August 2012.

Bird retired after last summer's Olympics because of chronic back problems that plagued him for several seasons.

Yet like so many Celtic seasons since Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish retired, the Ping-Pong balls went awry.

"I think I can play at least five more years" - though, he adds, it would make a difference if Bird retired sooner.

One day Bird will retire, too.

Bird retired as chairman and managing director of the company in 1905.

Bird retired in August; Johnson, after retiring last year and then coming back, apparently retired for good last week.