Jock Stein
Encyclopedia
John 'Jock' Stein CBE
(5 October 1922 – 10 September 1985) 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
. Stein also guided Celtic to nine successive Scottish League championships between 1966 and 1974.
During his managerial career he won the European Cup
once, ten Scottish League Championships
, nine Scottish Cup
s, and six Scottish League Cup
s. All but one of these honours (the 1961 Scottish Cup with Dunfermline
) were won with Celtic. After a brief stint with Leeds United
, Stein managed the Scottish national side
from 1978 until his death in 1985. Stein was voted the greatest Scottish football manager in a 2003 poll by the Sunday Herald
newspaper.
, South Lanarkshire
, Stein saw football as his escape from the Lanarkshire coal mines. In 1937 he left Greenfield school in Hamilton and after a short time working in a carpet factory went down the pits to become a miner. The next year he joined Blantyre Victoria
junior football club. He started out as a professional player with Albion Rovers
in 1942 and continued to work as a miner during the week, while playing as centre-half on Saturday. He made a name for himself as a no nonsense centre-half and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Coatbridge club, which also included a brief loan spell to Dundee United
in 1943. Rovers won promotion to the First Division in 1948.
In 1950 Stein signed for non-league Welsh club Llanelli
. For the first time in his career, he became a full-time professional footballer on the sum of £12 per week. Llanelli played in the Southern League
, but had ambitions to secure election to the Football League which led them to sign several professionals. He was soon desperate to return to Scotland as he had left his wife and young daughter behind and his house had been broken into twice in his absence. In 1951, on the recommendation of Celtic reserve team trainer Jimmy Gribben, Celtic bought him for £1,200.
He was signed as a reserve but injuries incurred by first team players resulted in him being elevated to the first team. In 1952 he was appointed vice-captain and when captain Sean Fallon broke his arm the full captaincy was passed to Stein. He was club captain until his Celtic playing career ended due to injury in 1956.
In 1953 he captained Celtic to Coronation Cup
success when they unexpectedly beat 1–0, 2–1 and 2–0 to become unofficial champions of Britain and in 1954, he captained Celtic to their first League championship since 1938 and first League and Scottish Cup double since 1914. As a reward for their achievement the club paid for the players to go Switzerland
to watch the World Cup
. During Scotland's performances in the 1954 Finals, Stein learned from the shambles of Scotland’s preparations and also about the continentals' tactics, being particularly impressed by the Hungarians
.
Stein was forced to retire from football in 1956 after suffering persistent ankle injuries. After playing in a friendly in Coleraine
he landed awkwardly and had an operation on his ankle, which became infected, causing him to walk with a permanent limp. He had played 148 league games for Celtic and scored two goals. He was given the job of coaching the reserve and youth players and was responsible for persuading the board to purchase Barrowfield as a training ground. In 1958, he led the reserves to the second XI Cup with an 8–2 aggregate triumph over . This was Stein’s first success as a manager. His squad included a number of young players who would later play under him in the first team.
. After only six weeks in charge, Stein led them clear of relegation. He built Dunfermline into a powerful force and guided them to their first Scottish Cup
in 1961
, via a 2–0 replay victory over Celtic. In 1962 they defeated in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and only lost to Valencia in a third game play-off after retrieving a four goal first leg deficit.
in 1964, and within months of becoming manager he led them to victory in the Summer Cup. The testimony of his contemporaries was that he was already “miles” ahead of everyone else in his understanding of the game, and in studying how the investment of energy could be tailored to maximum effect. Stein was immersing himself in the structure of the game while the rest simply went out and played. He invited Real Madrid
for a friendly game in Edinburgh, which Hibernian won 2-0 in front of a crowd of 32,000, further boosting his prestige.
During his time at Easter Road
, he was able to get excellent performances out of Willie Hamilton
which helped take Hibernian to the top of the league. His success with the club led to an approach from Wolves
, who wanted him to replace Stan Cullis
as manager. Stein approached Celtic chairman Bob Kelly, obstensibly to ask his advice about the Wolves job, but in the hope that he would be offered the Celtic manager's post.
Statistically Stein is to date the best ever manager of Hibs, with a win rate of 62%.
has observed that the reluctance to make him sole manager was due his being a Protestant.
He returned to Celtic in March 1965, becoming the club's first Protestant manager and the fourth manager in club history. Following a barren period of eight years without a trophy for Celtic, he revitalised the team. Just six weeks after becoming manager, he led Celtic to Scottish Cup success
in a 3–2 victory over his old club Dunfermline. The next year Celtic were crowned Scottish champions for the first time since 1954. They also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, only to be knocked out on the away goals rule
by Liverpool
.
In the following season
, Stein managed Celtic to a domestic treble
for the first time in the club's history. His greatest triumph, however, was in guiding Celtic to victory in the 1967 European Cup Final
against previous champions, Italian
giants Inter Milan
. Despite initially falling behind to an Italian penalty, his team triumphed 2–1, winning much admiration for the positive attacking quality of their football.
In winning club football's most prestigious trophy, Stein became the first man not only to guide a Scottish club to champions of Europe, but also the first to achieve this honour with a British club. He also became the first manager in history to win all competitions entered. The feat was done with a team
all born within 30 miles of Glasgow
. In a conversation with Bill Shankly
shortly afterwards, Shankly famously told him "John, you're immortal now".
The following season, Celtic won the League and League Cup for the third season in a row. In 1969 they won another domestic treble, their second in three years. In 1970, Stein led Celtic to a League and League Cup double; they also finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup. He also guided them to their second European Cup Final
, but they lost to Dutch
side Feijenoord
in Milan
.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1970. Stein would have been knight
ed instead if not for an infamous Intercontinental Cup
final match against Racing Club
where four Celtic players were sent off.
The 1970s brought continued success on the domestic front. During this time Stein's Celtic completed a record of nine consecutive Scottish Championships - it was not matched until Rangers
won a ninth successive league title in 1997. Stein was badly injured in a car crash in 1975; he nearly died but eventually recovered. For most of season 1975–76, Sean Fallon assumed control as manager. Stein returned to his position at the start of the following season.
Celtic's fortunes at this point went into decline and Stein was persuaded to stand down to make way for a younger man. Billy McNeill
was appointed as manager in 1978, but Stein was not offered a seat on the Celtic board. He was instead offered a position with responsibility for the Celtic Pools. Stein rejected this offer as he felt he still had something to offer football and left Celtic in less than amicable circumstances.
for the 1978-79 season
. It was not the first time he had been approached about a managerial job in England, having been offered the Manchester United
job in 1971 and again at the end of 1972, but rejected it both times.
After just 45 days in charge at Elland Road
, Stein resigned, accepting the position of Scotland
manager.
, where they were eliminated in the group stage on goal difference by the Soviet Union
. Scotland had beaten New Zealand
, lost to Brazil
and then drew 2–2 with the Soviet Union in a must-win match.
On 10 September 1985, Scotland drew 1–1 with Wales
at Ninian Park
in Cardiff
, securing a play-off against Australia which would lead to qualification for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
. Triumph turned to tragedy, however, as Stein suffered a heart attack
at the end of the game. Stein, who was 62 years old, died shortly afterwards in the stadium's medical room. He was cremated at Linn Crematorium in Glasgow, at a private ceremony at which many past and present football figures were in attendance.
His death had a profound effect on Stein's assistant, and Aberdeen
manager, Alex Ferguson
. Ferguson regarded Stein as a mentor and was horrified by his sudden death. Ferguson led the team to the 1986 World Cup, but they were unable to progress from the group stage.
and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame
. He has been voted the greatest ever Scottish manager, and in 2002 he was voted the greatest ever Celtic manager by the club's fans. When Celtic Park
was rebuilt in the 1990s, the traditional Celtic fans' end of the stadium was named the Jock Stein Stand. A bust of Stein was presented to Celtic by a supporters' group and now sits in the foyer of the stadium.
On 5 March 2011 a statue of Stein was unveiled outside Celtic Park.
Celtic chairman John Reid said;
Jock will undoubtedly be remembered as one of world football's greatest ever managers - a man of immense stature and someone who gave so much to Celtic, Scotland and the game of football in general.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(5 October 1922 – 10 September 1985) was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup
European Champion Clubs' Cup
The European Champion Clubs' Cup, also known as Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens, or simply the European Cup, is a trophy awarded annually by UEFA to the football club that wins the UEFA Champions League...
, with Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in 1967
1967 European Cup Final
The 1967 European Cup Final was a football match between Italian team Inter Milan and Scottish team Celtic. It took place at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967 in front of a crowd of 45,000. It was the final of the 1966–67 European Cup, the premier club competition run by...
. Stein also guided Celtic to nine successive Scottish League championships between 1966 and 1974.
During his managerial career he won the European Cup
European Champion Clubs' Cup
The European Champion Clubs' Cup, also known as Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens, or simply the European Cup, is a trophy awarded annually by UEFA to the football club that wins the UEFA Champions League...
once, ten Scottish League Championships
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....
, nine 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...
s, and six Scottish 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...
s. All but one of these honours (the 1961 Scottish Cup with Dunfermline
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....
) were won with Celtic. After a brief stint with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Stein managed the Scottish national side
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...
from 1978 until his death in 1985. Stein was voted the greatest Scottish football manager in a 2003 poll by the Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
newspaper.
Playing career
Born in BurnbankBurnbank
-Location & governance:Burnbank, previously an independent settlement, then part of Hamilton Burgh and then Hamilton District is now a district of Hamilton within the South Lanarkshire Unitary Council...
, 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....
, Stein saw football as his escape from the Lanarkshire coal mines. In 1937 he left Greenfield school in Hamilton and after a short time working in a carpet factory went down the pits to become a miner. The next year he joined Blantyre Victoria
Blantyre Victoria F.C.
Blantyre Victoria Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. Nicknamed the Vics, they were formed in 1890 and play at Castle Park where their record attendance is 6,000...
junior football club. He started out as a professional player with Albion Rovers
Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland)
Albion Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football team from the North Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who are currently playing in the Scottish Football League Second Division...
in 1942 and continued to work as a miner during the week, while playing as centre-half on Saturday. He made a name for himself as a no nonsense centre-half and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Coatbridge club, which also included a brief loan spell to 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...
in 1943. Rovers won promotion to the First Division in 1948.
In 1950 Stein signed for non-league Welsh club Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
. For the first time in his career, he became a full-time professional footballer on the sum of £12 per week. Llanelli played in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, but had ambitions to secure election to the Football League which led them to sign several professionals. He was soon desperate to return to Scotland as he had left his wife and young daughter behind and his house had been broken into twice in his absence. In 1951, on the recommendation of Celtic reserve team trainer Jimmy Gribben, Celtic bought him for £1,200.
He was signed as a reserve but injuries incurred by first team players resulted in him being elevated to the first team. In 1952 he was appointed vice-captain and when captain Sean Fallon broke his arm the full captaincy was passed to Stein. He was club captain until his Celtic playing career ended due to injury in 1956.
In 1953 he captained Celtic to Coronation Cup
Coronation Cup (football)
The Coronation Cup was a one-off football tournament to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, between four English and four Scottish clubs, held in Glasgow in May 1953...
success when they unexpectedly beat 1–0, 2–1 and 2–0 to become unofficial champions of Britain and in 1954, he captained Celtic to their first League championship since 1938 and first League and Scottish Cup double since 1914. As a reward for their achievement the club paid for the players to go Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to watch the World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
. During Scotland's performances in the 1954 Finals, Stein learned from the shambles of Scotland’s preparations and also about the continentals' tactics, being particularly impressed by the Hungarians
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
.
Stein was forced to retire from football in 1956 after suffering persistent ankle injuries. After playing in a friendly in Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
he landed awkwardly and had an operation on his ankle, which became infected, causing him to walk with a permanent limp. He had played 148 league games for Celtic and scored two goals. He was given the job of coaching the reserve and youth players and was responsible for persuading the board to purchase Barrowfield as a training ground. In 1958, he led the reserves to the second XI Cup with an 8–2 aggregate triumph over . This was Stein’s first success as a manager. His squad included a number of young players who would later play under him in the first team.
Dunfermline
On 14 March 1960 he accepted the job of manager at DunfermlineDunfermline 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....
. After only six weeks in charge, Stein led them clear of relegation. He built Dunfermline into a powerful force and guided them to their 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...
in 1961
Scottish Cup 1960-61
The 1960–61 Scottish Cup was the 76th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Dunfermline Athletic who defeated Celtic in the replayed final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:...
, via a 2–0 replay victory over Celtic. In 1962 they defeated in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and only lost to Valencia in a third game play-off after retrieving a four goal first leg deficit.
Hibernian
Stein was appointed manager of HibernianHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1964, and within months of becoming manager he led them to victory in the Summer Cup. The testimony of his contemporaries was that he was already “miles” ahead of everyone else in his understanding of the game, and in studying how the investment of energy could be tailored to maximum effect. Stein was immersing himself in the structure of the game while the rest simply went out and played. He invited Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
for a friendly game in Edinburgh, which Hibernian won 2-0 in front of a crowd of 32,000, further boosting his prestige.
During his time at Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
, he was able to get excellent performances out of Willie Hamilton
Willie Hamilton (footballer)
William Murdoch Hamilton was a professional footballer with Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian and Aston Villa, and gained one cap for Scotland. He became known for his wild lifestyle which overshadowed his playing ability...
which helped take Hibernian to the top of the league. His success with the club led to an approach from Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, who wanted him to replace Stan Cullis
Stan Cullis
Stanley Cullis was a professional footballer and manager, most notably for Wolverhampton Wanderers. During his term as manager between 1948 and 1964 Wolves became one of the strongest teams in the British game, winning the league title on three occasions, and playing a series of high-profile...
as manager. Stein approached Celtic chairman Bob Kelly, obstensibly to ask his advice about the Wolves job, but in the hope that he would be offered the Celtic manager's post.
Statistically Stein is to date the best ever manager of Hibs, with a win rate of 62%.
Celtic
Kelly was prepared initially to offer Stein the position of assistant manager to Sean Fallon, and then offered him a position as joint manager. Stein rejected both suggestions, insisting on full control, and stating he would take the Wolves job instead if he was not offered it. Eventually Kelly agreed to make Stein manager with full powers over team selection. Billy McNeillBilly McNeill
William "Billy" McNeill MBE is a former Scottish footballer and manager. He is best known for captaining Celtic to the European Cup triumph in 1967 and he later went on to manage the club. He is now the official Club Ambassador at Celtic....
has observed that the reluctance to make him sole manager was due his being a Protestant.
He returned to Celtic in March 1965, becoming the club's first Protestant manager and the fourth manager in club history. Following a barren period of eight years without a trophy for Celtic, he revitalised the team. Just six weeks after becoming manager, he led Celtic to Scottish Cup success
Scottish Cup 1964-65
The 1964–65 Scottish Cup was the 80th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Dunfermline Athletic in the final.-Preliminary round 1:-Replays:-Preliminary round 2:-Replays:...
in a 3–2 victory over his old club Dunfermline. The next year Celtic were crowned Scottish champions for the first time since 1954. They also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, only to be knocked out on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
by Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
In the following season
1966-67 in Scottish football
The 1966–67 season was the 70th season of Scottish League football.-Overview:A number of significant events occurred during the season...
, Stein managed Celtic to a domestic treble
Wiktionary
Wiktionary is a multilingual, web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in 158 languages...
for the first time in the club's history. His greatest triumph, however, was in guiding Celtic to victory in the 1967 European Cup Final
1967 European Cup Final
The 1967 European Cup Final was a football match between Italian team Inter Milan and Scottish team Celtic. It took place at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967 in front of a crowd of 45,000. It was the final of the 1966–67 European Cup, the premier club competition run by...
against previous champions, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
giants Inter Milan
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. Despite initially falling behind to an Italian penalty, his team triumphed 2–1, winning much admiration for the positive attacking quality of their football.
In winning club football's most prestigious trophy, Stein became the first man not only to guide a Scottish club to champions of Europe, but also the first to achieve this honour with a British club. He also became the first manager in history to win all competitions entered. The feat was done with a team
Lisbon Lions
The Lisbon Lions is the nickname given to the Celtic team that won the European Cup at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967, defeating Internazionale 2–1. All the members of this team were born within 30 miles of Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic's style was the antithesis of the...
all born within 30 miles of 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...
. In a conversation with Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
shortly afterwards, Shankly famously told him "John, you're immortal now".
The following season, Celtic won the League and League Cup for the third season in a row. In 1969 they won another domestic treble, their second in three years. In 1970, Stein led Celtic to a League and League Cup double; they also finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup. He also guided them to their second European Cup Final
1970 European Cup Final
The 1970 European Cup Final was a football match held at the San Siro, Milan, on 6 May 1970, that saw Feyenoord of the Netherlands defeat Celtic of Scotland 2-1 after extra time. Ove Kindvall's goal in the 117th minute meant the trophy was going to a Dutch club for the first time. It remains...
, but they lost to Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
side Feijenoord
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1970. Stein would have been knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed instead if not for an infamous Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
final match against Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
where four Celtic players were sent off.
The 1970s brought continued success on the domestic front. During this time Stein's Celtic completed a record of nine consecutive Scottish Championships - it was not matched until 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...
won a ninth successive league title in 1997. Stein was badly injured in a car crash in 1975; he nearly died but eventually recovered. For most of season 1975–76, Sean Fallon assumed control as manager. Stein returned to his position at the start of the following season.
Celtic's fortunes at this point went into decline and Stein was persuaded to stand down to make way for a younger man. Billy McNeill
Billy McNeill
William "Billy" McNeill MBE is a former Scottish footballer and manager. He is best known for captaining Celtic to the European Cup triumph in 1967 and he later went on to manage the club. He is now the official Club Ambassador at Celtic....
was appointed as manager in 1978, but Stein was not offered a seat on the Celtic board. He was instead offered a position with responsibility for the Celtic Pools. Stein rejected this offer as he felt he still had something to offer football and left Celtic in less than amicable circumstances.
Leeds United
Shortly afterwards he became manager of Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
for the 1978-79 season
1978-79 in English football
-FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline...
. It was not the first time he had been approached about a managerial job in England, having been offered the Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
job in 1971 and again at the end of 1972, but rejected it both times.
After just 45 days in charge at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, Stein resigned, accepting the position of Scotland
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...
manager.
Scotland
Stein, who had been Scotland manager on a part-time basis in 1965, took the job on a full-time basis in 1978. He led Scotland to the 1982 FIFA World Cup1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, where they were eliminated in the group stage on goal difference by the Soviet Union
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
. Scotland had beaten New Zealand
New Zealand national soccer team
The New Zealand national football team, nicknamed the All Whites, is the national association football team of New Zealand and is governed by New Zealand Football . The team plays in an all-white strip rather than the traditional New Zealand sporting black due to a former FIFA regulation that...
, lost to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
and then drew 2–2 with the Soviet Union in a must-win match.
On 10 September 1985, Scotland drew 1–1 with Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, securing a play-off against Australia which would lead to qualification for the 1986 FIFA 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...
. Triumph turned to tragedy, however, as Stein suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the end of the game. Stein, who was 62 years old, died shortly afterwards in the stadium's medical room. He was cremated at Linn Crematorium in Glasgow, at a private ceremony at which many past and present football figures were in attendance.
His death had a profound effect on Stein's assistant, and Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
manager, 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...
. Ferguson regarded Stein as a mentor and was horrified by his sudden death. Ferguson led the team to the 1986 World Cup, but they were unable to progress from the group stage.
Tributes
Since his death, Stein has been inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of FameScottish Sports Hall of Fame
The Scottish Sports Hall of Fame is the national sports hall of fame in Scotland, initiated on St Andrew's Day 2001. It is a joint project organised by sportscotland, the national governmental body for Scottish sport, and the National Museums of Scotland. It is also funded by BBC Scotland and...
and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame
Scottish Football Hall of Fame
The Scottish Football Hall of Fame is located at the Scottish Football Museum. Inductees are picked each year by fans and a committee selects the eight finalists who are inducted at an annual dinner....
. He has been voted the greatest ever Scottish manager, and in 2002 he was voted the greatest ever Celtic manager by the club's fans. When Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
was rebuilt in the 1990s, the traditional Celtic fans' end of the stadium was named the Jock Stein Stand. A bust of Stein was presented to Celtic by a supporters' group and now sits in the foyer of the stadium.
On 5 March 2011 a statue of Stein was unveiled outside Celtic Park.
Celtic chairman John Reid said;
Jock will undoubtedly be remembered as one of world football's greatest ever managers - a man of immense stature and someone who gave so much to Celtic, Scotland and the game of football in general.
Honours
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe 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...
(1) 1961Scottish Cup 1960-61The 1960–61 Scottish Cup was the 76th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Dunfermline Athletic who defeated Celtic in the replayed final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:...
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe 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...
(1) 1967 - Scottish League Championships (10) 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe 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...
(8) 1965Scottish Cup 1964-65The 1964–65 Scottish Cup was the 80th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Dunfermline Athletic in the final.-Preliminary round 1:-Replays:-Preliminary round 2:-Replays:...
, 1967Scottish Cup 1966-67The 1966–67 Scottish Cup was the 82nd season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Aberdeen in the final.-Preliminary round 1:-Preliminary round 2:-Replays:-First round:...
, 1969Scottish Cup 1968-69The 1968-69 Scottish Cup was the 84th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the final.-Preliminary round 1:-Replays:-Preliminary round 2:-Replays:-First round:...
, 1971Scottish Cup 1970-71The 1970–71 Scottish Cup was the 86th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the replayed final.-First round:-Second round:-Third round:-Replays:...
, 1972Scottish Cup 1971-72The 1971–72 Scottish Cup was the 87th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Hibernian in the final.-First round:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:-Replays:...
, 1974Scottish Cup 1973-74The 1973-74 Scottish Cup was the 89th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Dundee United in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:-Replays:...
, 1975Scottish Cup 1974-75The 1974–75 Scottish Cup was the 90th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Airdrieonians in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replay:-Third round:...
, 1977Scottish Cup 1976-77The 1976–77 Scottish Cup was the 92nd staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the final.-First round:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:-Replays:... - Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe 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...
(6) 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975
External links
- Full Managerial Stats for Leeds United from WAFLL
- Jock Stein, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database