Joe McLaughlin (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Joe McLaughlin is a retired professional football
er who played for Chelsea
for six seasons in the 1980s.
in 1977. During his time at Greenock he became a regular in the Scotland national under-21 football team
, winning 10 caps. In 1983 he was transferred to Chelsea for a fee of £100,000. McLaughlin began his career at Chelsea by winning the Second Division
championship in his first season. He would go onto to play for Chelsea until 1989 winning another Second Division championship as well as the Full Members Cup
.
He was then transferred to Charlton Athletic
for £650,000 which at that time made him Charlton's record transfer. After one season at Charlton, he was sold to Watford
for £300,000. He spent two seasons at Watford before returning home to Scotland to play for Falkirk
In his first season at Falkirk, the team were relegated from the Premier League. However the following season Joe would lead the team to success by securing the First Division championship. After leaving Falkirk, McLaughin was transferred to Hibernian
before going on to play for Clydebank
and then St. Mirren
.
at Millwall
. The club reached the play-offs in his first season, narrowly losing to Birmingham City
who eventually won promotion the Premiership. After leaving Millwall, McLaughlin returned to Greenock Morton for a brief stint as youth coach and also caretaker manager
.
Joe is currently Head Soccer Consultant at Soccer Icon USA, a company that specialises in scouting top young footballers to play soccer in the USA
. Joe is also a scout for Bolton Wanderers
.
Falkirk
St. Mirren
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
for six seasons in the 1980s.
Playing career
McLaughlin started his playing career with Greenock MortonGreenock 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....
in 1977. During his time at Greenock he became a regular in the Scotland national under-21 football team
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
, winning 10 caps. In 1983 he was transferred to Chelsea for a fee of £100,000. McLaughlin began his career at Chelsea by winning the Second Division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
championship in his first season. He would go onto to play for Chelsea until 1989 winning another Second Division championship as well as the Full Members Cup
Full Members Cup
The Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
.
He was then transferred to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
for £650,000 which at that time made him Charlton's record transfer. After one season at Charlton, he was sold to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
for £300,000. He spent two seasons at Watford before returning home to Scotland to play for 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...
In his first season at Falkirk, the team were relegated from the Premier League. However the following season Joe would lead the team to success by securing the First Division championship. After leaving Falkirk, McLaughin was transferred to Hibernian
Hibernian 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...
before going on to play for 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...
and then St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
.
Coaching career
In 2001 McLaughlin moved into coaching by accepting a position to work with Mark McGheeMark McGhee
Mark Edward McGhee is a former Scottish professional football player. McGhee started his career at Greenock Morton in 1975 and spent spells at clubs including Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Brage and Reading...
at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. The club reached the play-offs in his first season, narrowly losing to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
who eventually won promotion the Premiership. After leaving Millwall, McLaughlin returned to Greenock Morton for a brief stint as youth coach and also caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
.
Joe is currently Head Soccer Consultant at Soccer Icon USA, a company that specialises in scouting top young footballers to play soccer in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Joe is also a scout for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Honours
Chelsea- Full Members CupFull Members CupThe Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
: 1986 - Football LeagueThe Football LeagueThe Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
Second Division (2): 1983-84 and 1988-89
Falkirk
- Scottish Football League First DivisionScottish Football League First DivisionThe 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....
: 1993-94 - Scottish Challenge Cup: 1993
St. Mirren
- Scottish Football League First DivisionScottish Football League First DivisionThe 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....
: 1999-2000