Jim McLean
Encyclopedia
James Yuill McLean (born 21 April 1937 in Larkhall
) is a Scottish former football player and manager
. He is best known for his 22-year spell as manager of Dundee United
; the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, he led them to three major honours and established them as a force in European competitions. He became the club's chairman in the 1980s while still manager, but resigned in 2000. He is now semi-retired, writing a weekly column for the Daily Record
.
, South Lanarkshire
in 1937, and grew up in the nearby village of Ashgill
. He served his time as an apprentice joiner
, a career he pursued part-time while playing league football, not unusual amongst footballers in the 1950s and 1960s.
as an inside forward, making over 125 league appearances before leaving 1960 to join Clyde
. McLean spent a similar length of time with The Bully Wee, and had featured in over 100 league games before joining Dundee
in 1965. McLean's debut for Dundee
came in the Dundee derby
at Dens Park on 11 September 1965 when Dundee suffered their heaviest ever defeat (5–0) to rivals Dundee United. After just under 100 league games, McLean moved on to his final club, Kilmarnock
, where he played until 1970. Although never achieving the same playing success as his brother Tommy
, he made a total of 474 appearances, scoring 170 times. He retired from his playing career in 1970, returning to Dundee
as a coach in July of that year.
for 18 months, Dundee's rivals Dundee United
offered him the position of manager to replace the retiring Jerry Kerr
in December 1971. Jim accepted the offer and made the trip over the road to start his managerial career at Tannadice Park
at the age of 34.
McLean immediately started a co-ordinated youth policy which was to produce many fine young players over the two decades which followed. In the short term, he used his knowledge of the Scottish scene to buy experienced players who would allow him to re-shape both the squad and the style of play in line with his approach to coaching.
Initially, the club's league form was average, remaining mostly mid-table for the next few years. McLean's first hint of the success he would later achieve was leading the club to its first Scottish Cup
final in 1974 and, despite defeat, it proved an important psychological step in McLean's and the club's development. The success of the Cup run was built upon the following season with a finish of fourth place, the club's best finish in the First Division
before league restructuring.
As McLean's youth policy began to bear fruit, the first of a number of talented young players began to emerge. McLean decided that his team should mount a challenge for the League championship in 1978–79, something of which the club, who had long lived in the shadow of McLean's former employers and rivals Dundee
, had never previously proved capable of but after a poor finish in the first season of the new Premier Division, United started to prove that they were serious contenders for domestic honours.
In December 1979, McLean guided his team to triumph in the League Cup
and retained it a year later. At the same time as the club was enjoying a high standing Scottish football, McLean was gradually building the club’s reputation in Europe, with wins over sides like AS Monaco
, Borussia Mönchengladbach
, PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht
and Werder Bremen.
Aberdeen
at that time were an emerging force in addition to the Old Firm. But in 1983, profiting from a late run which left those clubs in their wake, that is precisely what McLean’s largely home-grown side did, playing exhilarating attacking football in the process. At this time he additionally acted as No. 2 to Jock Stein
as Scotland Manager.
Rangers
, who had seen a decline in their fortunes over the previous few years, offered McLean the job as manager at Ibrox
. McLean engaged in early negotiations with the Glasgow
giants, one of his main problems with the job offer was Rangers' policy of not signing Roman Catholics, a policy McLean found a ridiculous restriction for any employer as well has having signed many talented Catholics with Dundee United. Despite the Rangers chairman assuring him that this policy would be scrapped if he accepted the job, McLean decided that he was happy at Dundee United; his family were happily settled in the Broughty Ferry
area of Dundee
. McLean turned down another offer from Newcastle United
in June 1984.
Following his team's League success in 1983, Dundee United made their debut in the European Cup
. McLean's counter-attacking tactics paired with a pressuring style brought some memorable results in that year's European campaign. McLean inspired United to the semi-finals of that year's competition, a penalty-kick denying them a place in the final. Three years later McLean took the team to a European final, this time in the UEFA Cup
. For the rest of his managerial career McLean continued to secure United's high standing in domestic football, finishing outside the top four clubs only once, and taking the team to a further five Scottish Cup finals, though he was unable to manage his team past the final hurdle of the competition.
early exit from the World Cup
in Mexico
, McLean's name was linked with the national team manager's job. There had been no permanent manager since the sudden death of Jock Stein
at a World Cup qualifying game on 10 September 1985, as Stein's assistant Alex Ferguson
had taken interim charge and decided against taking the job on a permanent basis after the World Cup. However, the job went to Andy Roxburgh
instead.
The Dundee United board made McLean a director in 1984; four years later he became chairman and managing director, while still remaining the manager. He retained those joint responsibilities until stepping down as manager in July 1993, after a reign of 21 years and seven months. He remained as chairman throughout the 1990s, departing in October 2000 following an attack on BBC Scotland
reporter John Barnes. McLean returned briefly in January 2002 as a director but departed a month later. Still a majority shareholder, McLean sold his 42% stake to Eddie Thompson
in October 2002, severing his Tannadice ties permanently.
McLean's "privileges" were withdrawn in October 2006 following an attack on Thompson in his weekly newspaper column. McLean had said that Thompson had been a "disaster for the club".
's John Barnes in October 2000. His attack followed persistent questioning by the reporter on whether McLean would sack manager Alex Smith. McLean apologised unreservedly for his actions. McLean remained owner of the club for another two years, after which he sold his controlling interest to Eddie Thompson
.
He may be best remembered by fans as the man who took an average club, with no major silverware and little experience in Europe to a Scottish League Championship
, 10 domestic cup finals, a UEFA Cup final and many seasons of European football.
Since his retirement he has written a football column in the Daily Record
, drawing from his 50 years in Scottish football to comment on current events in the game. He has also written Jousting With Giants: The Jim McLean Story with Ken Gallagher (ISBN 1-85158-088-3), an autobiography and account of his time with Dundee United.
Larkhall
Larkhall is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and is around southeast of Glasgow. It is twinned with Seclin in northern France.Larkhall sits on high ground between the River Clyde to the East and the Avon Water to the West...
) is a Scottish former football player and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
. He is best known for his 22-year spell as manager of 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...
; the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, he led them to three major honours and established them as a force in European competitions. He became the club's chairman in the 1980s while still manager, but resigned in 2000. He is now semi-retired, writing a weekly column for the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
.
Early life
Jim McLean was born into a working-class family in LarkhallLarkhall
Larkhall is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and is around southeast of Glasgow. It is twinned with Seclin in northern France.Larkhall sits on high ground between the River Clyde to the East and the Avon Water to the West...
, South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
in 1937, and grew up in the nearby village of Ashgill
Ashgill
Ashgill is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland....
. He served his time as an apprentice joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, a career he pursued part-time while playing league football, not unusual amongst footballers in the 1950s and 1960s.
Playing career
In 1956, he started his football career with Hamilton AcademicalHamilton 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...
as an inside forward, making over 125 league appearances before leaving 1960 to join Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
. McLean spent a similar length of time with The Bully Wee, and had featured in over 100 league games before joining 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...
in 1965. McLean's debut for 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...
came in the Dundee derby
Dundee derby
The Dundee derby refers to a football match between Dundee and Dundee United. Both clubs are based yards apart in the city of Dundee, the fourth-largest city in Scotland.-History:...
at Dens Park on 11 September 1965 when Dundee suffered their heaviest ever defeat (5–0) to rivals Dundee United. After just under 100 league games, McLean moved on to his final club, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
, where he played until 1970. Although never achieving the same playing success as his brother Tommy
Tommy McLean
Thomas "Tommy" McLean is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Kilmarnock and Rangers....
, he made a total of 474 appearances, scoring 170 times. He retired from his playing career in 1970, returning to 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...
as a coach in July of that year.
Managerial career
After coaching at Dens ParkDens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
for 18 months, Dundee's rivals 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...
offered him the position of manager to replace the retiring Jerry Kerr
Jerry Kerr
Jasper Jerald 'Jerry' Kerr was a Scottish football player and manager, best known as manager of Dundee United from 1959 to 1971...
in December 1971. Jim accepted the offer and made the trip over the road to start his managerial career at Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
at the age of 34.
McLean immediately started a co-ordinated youth policy which was to produce many fine young players over the two decades which followed. In the short term, he used his knowledge of the Scottish scene to buy experienced players who would allow him to re-shape both the squad and the style of play in line with his approach to coaching.
Initially, the club's league form was average, remaining mostly mid-table for the next few years. McLean's first hint of the success he would later achieve was leading the club to its first Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final in 1974 and, despite defeat, it proved an important psychological step in McLean's and the club's development. The success of the Cup run was built upon the following season with a finish of fourth place, the club's best finish in the First Division
Scottish Football League Premier Division
The Scottish Football League Premier Division was, from 1975 until 1998, the top division of the Scottish Football League and the entire Scottish football league system...
before league restructuring.
As McLean's youth policy began to bear fruit, the first of a number of talented young players began to emerge. McLean decided that his team should mount a challenge for the League championship in 1978–79, something of which the club, who had long lived in the shadow of McLean's former employers and rivals 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...
, had never previously proved capable of but after a poor finish in the first season of the new Premier Division, United started to prove that they were serious contenders for domestic honours.
In December 1979, McLean guided his team to triumph in the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and retained it a year later. At the same time as the club was enjoying a high standing Scottish football, McLean was gradually building the club’s reputation in Europe, with wins over sides like AS Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
, PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
and Werder Bremen.
1980s success
Despite the progress he had made, few believed that McLean and United were potential Premier Division champions, Alex Ferguson'sAlex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
at that time were an emerging force in addition to the Old Firm. But in 1983, profiting from a late run which left those clubs in their wake, that is precisely what McLean’s largely home-grown side did, playing exhilarating attacking football in the process. At this time he additionally acted as No. 2 to Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
as Scotland Manager.
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...
, who had seen a decline in their fortunes over the previous few years, offered McLean the job as manager at Ibrox
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...
. McLean engaged in early negotiations with the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
giants, one of his main problems with the job offer was Rangers' policy of not signing Roman Catholics, a policy McLean found a ridiculous restriction for any employer as well has having signed many talented Catholics with Dundee United. Despite the Rangers chairman assuring him that this policy would be scrapped if he accepted the job, McLean decided that he was happy at Dundee United; his family were happily settled in the Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry is a suburb on the eastern side of the City of Dundee, on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland...
area of Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
. McLean turned down another offer from Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in June 1984.
Following his team's League success in 1983, Dundee United made their debut in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. McLean's counter-attacking tactics paired with a pressuring style brought some memorable results in that year's European campaign. McLean inspired United to the semi-finals of that year's competition, a penalty-kick denying them a place in the final. Three years later McLean took the team to a European final, this time in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. For the rest of his managerial career McLean continued to secure United's high standing in domestic football, finishing outside the top four clubs only once, and taking the team to a further five Scottish Cup finals, though he was unable to manage his team past the final hurdle of the competition.
Later years
In June 1986, after Scotland'sScotland 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...
early exit from the World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, McLean's name was linked with the national team manager's job. There had been no permanent manager since the sudden death of Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
at a World Cup qualifying game on 10 September 1985, as Stein's assistant Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
had taken interim charge and decided against taking the job on a permanent basis after the World Cup. However, the job went to Andy Roxburgh
Andy Roxburgh
Andy Roxburgh is a former Scottish football player and coach. He has been UEFA Technical Director since 1994.- Playing career :...
instead.
The Dundee United board made McLean a director in 1984; four years later he became chairman and managing director, while still remaining the manager. He retained those joint responsibilities until stepping down as manager in July 1993, after a reign of 21 years and seven months. He remained as chairman throughout the 1990s, departing in October 2000 following an attack on BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
reporter John Barnes. McLean returned briefly in January 2002 as a director but departed a month later. Still a majority shareholder, McLean sold his 42% stake to Eddie Thompson
Eddie Thompson
Edward Henry "Eddie" Thompson, OBE was a Scottish businessman, he was the chairman of Scottish football club Dundee United and a well known figure in the Scottish retail industry....
in October 2002, severing his Tannadice ties permanently.
McLean's "privileges" were withdrawn in October 2006 following an attack on Thompson in his weekly newspaper column. McLean had said that Thompson had been a "disaster for the club".
Retirement
McLean remained as chairman until forced to resign after a widely televised physical attack on BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
's John Barnes in October 2000. His attack followed persistent questioning by the reporter on whether McLean would sack manager Alex Smith. McLean apologised unreservedly for his actions. McLean remained owner of the club for another two years, after which he sold his controlling interest to Eddie Thompson
Eddie Thompson
Edward Henry "Eddie" Thompson, OBE was a Scottish businessman, he was the chairman of Scottish football club Dundee United and a well known figure in the Scottish retail industry....
.
He may be best remembered by fans as the man who took an average club, with no major silverware and little experience in Europe to a Scottish League Championship
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, 10 domestic cup finals, a UEFA Cup final and many seasons of European football.
Since his retirement he has written a football column in the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
, drawing from his 50 years in Scottish football to comment on current events in the game. He has also written Jousting With Giants: The Jim McLean Story with Ken Gallagher (ISBN 1-85158-088-3), an autobiography and account of his time with Dundee United.