Ian McCall
Encyclopedia
Ian Holland McCall is a Scottish
former footballer and is currently without a job having resigned as the manager of First Division
side Partick Thistle
.
, Scotland
. In his boyhood, he was a regular on the Palmerston terraces watching Queen of the South
. His hopes of playing for his home town club were dashed, though, by then chairman Willie Harkness. "I played a trial game for the club, and thought I did reasonably well," McCall recalls. "Drew Busby
was the manager, but I was told by Willie Harkness I might not make the grade. Instead I went to Queen's Park
, and then three years after that was sold to Rangers for £250,000.
McCall began his career as a midfielder for Queen's Park in 1983, then was with Dunfermline Athletic
from 1986 to 1987, and Rangers
from 1987 to 1990. He was transferred to Bradford City
for £200,000 before rejoining Dunfermline. His playing career also included spells with Dundee
, Falkirk
, Hamilton Academical
, Happy Valley in Hong Kong
and Partick Thistle
back in Scotland. His final club as a player was Clydebank
, where he became player-manager during the 1997–98 season
.
McCall never made more than 75 league appearances for one club.
In 17 games in charge at Morton, McCall achieved five wins and 9 defeats.
This was followed by a move to Airdrieonians
. Airdrie challenged for promotion to the Scottish Premier League
before the club's extinction in 2002, making McCall the last manager in the club's history. McCall won 23 of his 65 games in charge.
A spell, at Falkirk, with the best win rate of his managerial career, led to McCall twice being offered the manager's job at Dundee United
, which he finally accepted in January 2003. In McCall's first top flight managerial season the Tayside Club achieved a top-6 finish, but in the following season with the club in a relegation battle he was sacked in March 2005.
In November 2005, Ian McCall returned to management with his home town club Queen of the South. After a less than auspicious start to his reign as Queen of the South manager, the Palmerston outfit enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in the early months of 2006, finally securing eight position in the league and thus avoiding having to play-off to maintain first division status. 2006/07 provided a second relegation battle. Allan Jenkins
scored the Stranraer winner on a 2nd January South West relegation derby leaving Queens firmly in the play off spot that was ninth place. However Jenkins was sold to Gretna 10 days later. Stranraer's league form imploded immediately recording only one other league win from then until the season's end. Despite narrowly avoiding relegation, Ian McCall was sacked by Queen of the South, with his assistant Gordon Chisholm
taking over. His departure from Queen of the South was in bitter circumstances. McCall fielded an ineligible player in Jamie Adams
in a Scottish Cup run early in 2007. Queens were fined £20,000 by the SFA. Chairman Davie Rae
described the fine as, "A considerable sum". McCall's departure from Queens was at the season's end. In 70 games in charge McCall notched 19 wins.
He became manager of Partick Thistle
in May 2007. staying until 15 April 2011 when he departed after achieving little with 70 wins from 179 games in charge.
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...
former footballer and is currently without a job having resigned as the manager of 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....
side Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
.
Playing career
Ian McCall was born in DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
, Scotland
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...
. In his boyhood, he was a regular on the Palmerston terraces watching Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
. His hopes of playing for his home town club were dashed, though, by then chairman Willie Harkness. "I played a trial game for the club, and thought I did reasonably well," McCall recalls. "Drew Busby
Drew Busby
Drew Busby is a former Scottish footballer who played for Third Lanark, Airdrieonians, Hearts, Toronto Blizzard and Morton. Busby also served Queen of the South as their player-manager.-Career:...
was the manager, but I was told by Willie Harkness I might not make the grade. Instead I went to Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, and then three years after that was sold to Rangers for £250,000.
McCall began his career as a midfielder for Queen's Park in 1983, then was with Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
from 1986 to 1987, and Rangers
Rangers 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...
from 1987 to 1990. He was transferred to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
for £200,000 before rejoining Dunfermline. His playing career also included spells with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, 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...
, Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
, Happy Valley in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
back in Scotland. His final club as a player was Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
, where he became player-manager during the 1997–98 season
1997-98 in Scottish football
The 1997–98 season was the 101st season of competitive football in Scotland. Celtic halted Rangers in their bid for a record 10-in-a-row.-Scottish Premier Division:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:...
.
McCall never made more than 75 league appearances for one club.
Managerial career
His spell at Clydebank took place against the backdrop of an abortive scheme to relocate the club to Dublin.In 17 games in charge at Morton, McCall achieved five wins and 9 defeats.
This was followed by a move to Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
. Airdrie challenged for promotion to the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
before the club's extinction in 2002, making McCall the last manager in the club's history. McCall won 23 of his 65 games in charge.
A spell, at Falkirk, with the best win rate of his managerial career, led to McCall twice being offered the manager's job at Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, which he finally accepted in January 2003. In McCall's first top flight managerial season the Tayside Club achieved a top-6 finish, but in the following season with the club in a relegation battle he was sacked in March 2005.
In November 2005, Ian McCall returned to management with his home town club Queen of the South. After a less than auspicious start to his reign as Queen of the South manager, the Palmerston outfit enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in the early months of 2006, finally securing eight position in the league and thus avoiding having to play-off to maintain first division status. 2006/07 provided a second relegation battle. Allan Jenkins
Allan Jenkins (footballer)
Allan Jenkins is a Scottish professional footballer, who is currently captaining IFA Premiership side Ballymena United....
scored the Stranraer winner on a 2nd January South West relegation derby leaving Queens firmly in the play off spot that was ninth place. However Jenkins was sold to Gretna 10 days later. Stranraer's league form imploded immediately recording only one other league win from then until the season's end. Despite narrowly avoiding relegation, Ian McCall was sacked by Queen of the South, with his assistant Gordon Chisholm
Gordon Chisholm
Gordon Chisholm is a Scottish professional football former player and manager. Chisholm played as a central defender for Sunderland, Hibernian, Dundee and Partick Thistle....
taking over. His departure from Queen of the South was in bitter circumstances. McCall fielded an ineligible player in Jamie Adams
Jamie Adams
Jamie Adams is a Scottish professional association football player who currently plays for St. Johnstone.-Kilmarnock:Adams was a product of Kilmarnock's youth system, signing for the club in the summer of 2004....
in a Scottish Cup run early in 2007. Queens were fined £20,000 by the SFA. Chairman Davie Rae
Davie Rae
David 'Davie' Rae is the Scottish Chairman of Queen of the South in Dumfries. Rae is the third of three chairman to rebuild and revitalise the Dumfries club from the mid 1990s, replacing the previous regime under which the club had gone into stagnation and decline from the late 1960s.-Queens pre...
described the fine as, "A considerable sum". McCall's departure from Queens was at the season's end. In 70 games in charge McCall notched 19 wins.
He became manager of Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
in May 2007. staying until 15 April 2011 when he departed after achieving little with 70 wins from 179 games in charge.
Media work
McCall has worked for a number of years as a media pundit. McCall commented, "I can't really slag my bosses at the BBC because they're my pals."Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Clydebank Clydebank F.C. Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division... |
 |
1996 | 2000 | |||||
| Morton Greenock Morton F.C. Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs.... |
|
2000 | 2000 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 29.41 |
| Airdrie Airdrieonians F.C. Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire.... |
|
2001 | 2002 | 65 | 23 | 25 | 17 | 35.38 |
| 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... |
|
2002 | 2003 | 30 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 60.00 |
| Dundee United | |
2003 | 2005 | 92 | 28 | 24 | 40 | 30.43 |
| Queen of the South Queen of the South For other uses see Queen of the South Queen of the South is an alternative title for the Queen of Sheba. The phrase Queen of the South is used in the New Testament and is attributed to Jesus Christ.... |
|
2005 | 2007 | 62 | 18 | 19 | 25 | 29.00 |
| Partick Thistle Partick Thistle F.C. Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908... |
|
2007 | 2011 | 112 | 46 | 30 | 32 | 41.07 |
| Total | |
1996 | — | 378 | 138 | 110 | 130 | 36.50 |