Brian McLean
Encyclopedia
Brian Stuart McLean is a Scottish
born Northern Ireland international
footballer, who plays for Preston North End.
. However, a lack of first team opportunities prompted him to join Motherwell
on loan during the 2005–06
season. Motherwell signed him on a permanent basis after he impressed during his loan spell at Fir Park
.
On 18 July 2008 he suffered significant damage to his knee in a tackle by Argentinian striker Diego Ruiz during an ill-tempered preseason 'friendly' against CFR Cluj
. He resumed a first team place on 28 March 2009, in a 2–1 win over Inverness CT
.
On 1 July 2009 he signed a two year contract with Scottish Premier League side Falkirk
. He became Eddie May
's first signing, but Falkirk were relegated to the First Division
in 2010. McLean left Falkirk at the end of the 2010–11 season.
McLean was signed by Football League One
club Preston North End on a two year contract, after a trial period, on 2 August 2011. Mclean scored his first goal for Preston North End against Notts County from a Paul Parry
corner' he headed the ball from about six yards out.
through his family. However he had previously appeared for Scotland Under 17's
in a UEFA
competition in 2002, and was required to state his change of allegiance prior to his 21st birthday. Unfortunately, due to an administration error McLean was not registered before this deadline and is now ineligible to represent Northern Ireland, effectively ending his international career. During his short international career McLean did not appear in any competitive games, although he was due to play in the European Under-21 Championship qualifying game against Liechtenstein before being ruled ineligible.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
born Northern Ireland international
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
footballer, who plays for Preston North End.
Club career
McLean is naturally a centre back, but he can also play at right back. He started his career as a youth player with RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. However, a lack of first team opportunities prompted him to join Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
on loan during the 2005–06
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
season. Motherwell signed him on a permanent basis after he impressed during his loan spell at Fir Park
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
.
On 18 July 2008 he suffered significant damage to his knee in a tackle by Argentinian striker Diego Ruiz during an ill-tempered preseason 'friendly' against CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002...
. He resumed a first team place on 28 March 2009, in a 2–1 win over Inverness CT
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
.
On 1 July 2009 he signed a two year contract with Scottish Premier League side Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. He became Eddie May
Eddie May (Scottish footballer)
Eddie May is a Scottish association football former player and manager.-Playing career:He played as a midfielder and full back for several clubs, including Hibernian, Falkirk and Motherwell during the 1980s and 1990s.-Coaching career:...
's first signing, but Falkirk were relegated to the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
in 2010. McLean left Falkirk at the end of the 2010–11 season.
McLean was signed by Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Preston North End on a two year contract, after a trial period, on 2 August 2011. Mclean scored his first goal for Preston North End against Notts County from a Paul Parry
Paul Parry
Paul Ian Parry is a Welsh professional footballer and former Wales international who currently plays for Football League One side Preston North End...
corner' he headed the ball from about six yards out.
International career
Despite being born in Scotland, McLean was eligible to play for Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
through his family. However he had previously appeared for Scotland Under 17's
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in a UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competition in 2002, and was required to state his change of allegiance prior to his 21st birthday. Unfortunately, due to an administration error McLean was not registered before this deadline and is now ineligible to represent Northern Ireland, effectively ending his international career. During his short international career McLean did not appear in any competitive games, although he was due to play in the European Under-21 Championship qualifying game against Liechtenstein before being ruled ineligible.