Hundreds of Celtic supporters applauded Walter Smith and Ally McCoist yesterday when they arrived at Parkhead to lay a wreath in honour of Tommy Burns.

Their unheralded arrival with other Ibrox backroom staff, and the conspicuous number of Rangers scarves among the sea of tributes round the entrance to the stadium, were a mark of the respect and affection in which Burns was universally held.

The Rangers manager and his deputy spent around an hour at the ground, first inside the stadium offering condolences to Celtic directors and staff, then out among the throng of supporters.

Smith and McCoist placed the handsome wreath of red roses at the entrance, before making a tour of the flowers, strips and scarves laid out on the ground. Among them were Rangers-Zenit scarves, souvenirs of Wednesday night.

The strain of the past few days was etched on their faces as they passed along, pausing here and there to examine a farewell poem or shake hands with onlookers.

However, the pain of defeat and the shame of the events in Manchester had given way to a grief they could at least share with the whole country, and the mood lightened as they made their way back to their coach. The Rangers party were greeted by Celtic fans and staff like old friends, with McCoist much in demand to be photographed with admirers.

He and Burns had been Old Firm rivals for many years and worked together under Walter Smith in the Scotland set-up, until Smith and McCoist returned to Rangers in January last year. They heard the news of Burns's death on Thursday morning as they prepared to fly home after their Uefa Cup final defeat.

"I was absolutely distraught. I don't mind saying that there was a tear in my eye," said McCoist. "I loved Tommy. We all did. It's hard to think of anything else right now."

Smith said: "You can't help but feel the disappointment of losing the final, but there are aspects outside of football that put all that into perspective and Tommy Burns's death is one of those - it helps in many ways in showing what the true focus should be.

"I've been fortunate enough to get to know him well over the last four or five years and he is one the best people I have met." Among the members of the public, some had their own personal memories of Burns. Paul Agnew, from Coatbridge, recalled him dropping by a pub owned by a friend of Burns 10 years ago after an Old Firm game.

He said: "It was full of drunk Celtic fans. He could easily have put his head round the door and left, but he came in and sat talking to them for an hour. Then he shook everyone's hand, mine included, and left."

During the day, the Celtic players, some in tears, had come out to mingle with fans and, two days after his death from malignant melanoma at the age of 51, Burns's footballing achievements and human qualities continued to attract widespread tributes from round the world.

The Herald's website carried tributes from Manila, Brussels, Colombia, Australia, New York, Connecticut, Botswana and Egypt, as well as throughout Scotland. Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith added his own tribute.

"Tommy Burns was a football man and a gentleman," he said. "He was not just a Celtic legend, he was one of the most well-liked and well-respected men in Scottish football. He transcended the usual footballing rivalries we have here in Scotland, with supporters from all clubs and from all walks of life full of admiration for the teams he built and the careers he helped shape.

"Scotland has lost a giant and so many people have lost a friend. My thoughts are with Rosemary and the rest of Tommy's family at this terrible time." Motherwell manager Mark McGhee, who played alongside Burns at Celtic in the 1980s, said: "He was very, very serious about his football but always a guy who had an encouraging word and time for anybody.

"Sometimes it's a bit cliched, when someone passes away he becomes the nicest guy in the world. But the fact is Tommy was one of the nicest guys in the world. I remember him as someone who demanded more of you as a player; was very serious about football but loved a laugh."