Packie Bonner, the former Republic of Ireland and Glasgow Celtic goalkeeper, was awarded the Freedom of Donegal yesterday.
Bonner (47) made a string of superb saves as he helped the Republic to a memorable 1-0 win over England in Euro '88 as the Jack Charlton era began in earnest.
But the Donegal player is probably best remembered for his role in the 1990 World Cup finals when he saved a penalty from Romania's Daniel Timofte in a dramatic shoot-out as the Republic advanced to the quarter-finals.
The Freedom of Donegal is the highest honour that the council can give to an individual.
A previous recipient was Bonner's fellow Donegal man, Shay Given, who took over from the Celtic man as Ireland's first choice goalkeeper.
"It's a case of the pupil getting the award first and now the master is receiving it," commented Donegal Mayor Enda Bonner yesterday.
Accepting the award, Packie Bonner said that it was great to be remembered.
"Without my family I would not have achieved what I achieved," he said.
In 1978, Jock Stein made Bonner his last signing as Celtic manager when he signed the promising young goalkeeper, who had been playing with junior club Keadue Rovers near his Burtonport home in west Donegal.
Bonner went on to play 642 times for the Glasgow club, and kept 243 clean sheets. He won four league championship medals, three Scottish Cup winners' medals, and a League Cup medal.
His last appearance for Celtic was when winning the 1995 Scottish Cup final.
In 2003, he was named as technical director and goalkeeping coach for the Football Association of Ireland.
Over 100 people, including members of the Bonner family, attended yesterday's award ceremony which was held in the Donegal County Council headquarters in Lifford.