The memorial was driven by the Tommy Gemmell Project Committee with support from the local authority.
It features a plaque bearing the inscription “Tommy Gemmell, Man of Steel” in tribute to the former Ravenscraig Steelworks which dominated the area before closing in 1992.
Martin McCrum, from the committee, said the statue was a “great reminder” of Gemmell’s rise to the top of the European game from humble beginnings.
He added: “I was lucky enough to call Tommy a close friend for many years.
“We travelled together, did business together, and spent hours talking, not just about football, but about Craigneuk.
“He never forgot his roots. He cared deeply about this area and the people in it.
