 McLeish asAston Villa manager in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander McLeish[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1959-01-21)21 January 1959 (age 66)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Glasgow United | |||
| 1976–1978 | Aberdeen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1994 | Aberdeen | 493 | (25) |
| 1976 | →Lewis United | ||
| 1994–1995 | Motherwell | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 496 | (25) | |
| International career | |||
| 1978–1987 | Scotland U21[2] | 6 | (0) |
| 1980–1993 | Scotland[3] | 77 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994–1998 | Motherwell | ||
| 1998–2001 | Hibernian | ||
| 2001–2006 | Rangers | ||
| 2007 | Scotland | ||
| 2007 | Scotland B | ||
| 2007–2011 | Birmingham City | ||
| 2011–2012 | Aston Villa | ||
| 2012–2013 | Nottingham Forest | ||
| 2014–2015 | Genk | ||
| 2016 | Zamalek | ||
| 2018–2019 | Scotland | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alexander McLeishOBE (born 21 January 1959[4]) is a Scottish professionalfootball manager and formerplayer. He played as adefender forAberdeen during their 1980s glory years, making nearly 500 League appearances for the club, and won 77caps forScotland.
McLeish started his managerial career with spells atMotherwell andHibernian, before guidingRangers to two championships and five cup wins in five years. McLeish spent ten months as manager of the Scotland national team which narrowly failed to qualify for the finals of the2008 UEFA European championship. He then resigned this post in November 2007 to become manager ofBirmingham City, who were in thePremier League at the time. Though Birmingham wererelegated at the end of the season, McLeish guided them back to the Premier League in 2009. Birmingham then won the2011 Football League Cup Final, but were relegated again from the Premier League at the end of the 2010–11 season.
Following this relegation he resigned his post at Birmingham to become manager at their city rivals,Aston Villa. This made him the first manager to move directly from Birmingham City to Aston Villa, and only the second manager afterRon Saunders to manage both clubs. Having only narrowly avoided relegation in the 2011–12 Premier League season, his contract was terminated by Villa at the end of his first season. McLeish was appointed manager of Championship clubNottingham Forest in December 2012, but left after 40 days by mutual consent.[5] He managedBelgian Pro League clubGenk in the 2014–15 season, andZamalek of theEgyptian Premier League in 2016. He then had a second stint asScotland national team manager.
In recognition of his distinguished service to Scottish sport, in 2008 McLeish was awarded an honorary doctorate by theUniversity of Aberdeen.[6]
McLeish was born in Duke Street Hospital, Glasgow to parents Alex, a shipyard worker, and Jean.[7] He has younger siblings Angela and Ian. After living in theParkhead andKinning Park districts of the city, the family moved toBarrhead,Renfrewshire soon after McLeish had reached school age. He attended Springhill Primary,Barrhead High School – where he was one year below future Aberdeen and Scotland teammatePeter Weir – andJohn Neilson High School inPaisley.[7]
As a juvenile he played for Barrhead Youth Club, alongside Weir, and Glasgow United as well as training for a short period withHamilton Accies. After a local cup final with Glasgow United in 1976 which was watched by a delegation from Aberdeen, including then managerAlly MacLeod, McLeish signed for the Pittodrie club the following day.[7]
McLeish spent the majority of his first two seasons atAberdeen in the reserves and also had a loan spell at local Junior sideLewis United.[8] McLeish won the Scottish 2nd XI Cup with theDons in 1978.[9] He made his competitive debut underBilly McNeill in a New Year fixture againstDundee United on 2 January 1978.[7] His first major final appearance was under the management ofAlex Ferguson as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Rangers in the1978–79 League Cup and most of his appearances during the 1970s were as amidfielder, withWillie Garner andDoug Rougvie preferred in defence.[8] However McLeish eventually made the centre-back position his own, and over the next seven seasons he enjoyed great success, winning eight domestic and two European trophies. Highlights included scoring in a 4–1 victory over Rangers in the1982 Scottish Cup Final on his 200th Dons appearance, and a vital goal againstBayern Munich during the campaign leading to theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup win overReal Madrid in1983.[10][11]
During this period, McLeish formed a formidabledefensive triumvirate withWillie Miller andJim Leighton for both club and country.[12] Even after he had won his firstScotland cap, McLeish's father asked then Aberdeen boss Alex Ferguson to persuade him to continue training as anaccountant. When Ferguson left in 1986 to go toManchester United, he tried to get McLeish to sign, but it did not work out; he also had talks withTottenham Hotspur. Atestimonial match was arranged for McLeish in December 1988, with the club's 'Gothenburg' (Cup Winners' Cup) squad taking on an 'International legends' team.[13][14] He won theScottish player of the year in 1990,[10] aftera season in which Aberdeen won both domestic cups.
He became captain of Aberdeen after the retirement of Willie Miller. His 692 competitive appearances for the club ranks as thesecond-most in its history (100 behind Miller, but almost 100 more thanBobby Clark).
McLeish is Scotland's sixth most capped player, having gained 77 international caps between 1980 and 1993.[15] He was first capped for theScotland under-21 team while still a reserve player at Aberdeen by his former club manager Ally MacLeod, eventually gaining six caps at that level. His full international debut came on 26 March 1980 againstPortugal, managerJock Stein playing him in midfield alongsideArchie Gemmill andGraeme Souness.[7] He played in threeWorld Cups withScotland, in1982,1986 and1990.[10] He is a member of theScottish Football Hall of Fame, theScotland national football team roll of honour[15] andScottish Television's fan pollScotland's Greatest Team.[16] On the occasion of his 50th cap, againstLuxembourg in 1987, McLeish was appointed team captain for the game.[7] His final cap came on 17 February 1993 in a 3–0 win overMalta atHampden Park during the1994 World Cup qualifiers.[17]
After his successful playing career he quickly went into footballmanagement withMotherwell in 1994, one year before he retired as a player.[10] Hisfirst season at Motherwell saw him take the Lanarkshire club to second in the Premier Division behindWalter Smith'sRangers.[10] However, he failed to build on this success and the next two seasons were spent in relegation battles. He resigned as manager to take over atHibernian in 1998.[10]
McLeish took over a struggling Hibernian side, which was relegated from theScottish Premier Division in1998 despite a slight upturn in fortunes under McLeish. He then guided theEdinburgh team back to theScottish Premier League at the first attempt by winning theFirst Division championship.[10]
Hibernian consolidated in their first season back in the top division, finishing mid-table and reaching theScottish Cup semi-final.[10] In the 2000–01 season, Hibs started very strongly. Eventually they had to settle for third place and aScottish Cup final appearance.[10] This performance attracted the attention of bigger clubs, includingWest Ham United and Rangers.
McLeish attracted players such asRussell Latapy and formerFrench internationalFranck Sauzée to Hibs. He also helped develop young strikerKenny Miller, who would later go on to play 69 games for Scotland.
During this period McLeish worked towards and was awarded aUEFA Pro Licence.[18][19]
His work at Hibs was noticed, and he was linked with several moves to England, before he was appointed asRangers manager in December 2001[20] after outgoing Rangers managerDick Advocaat recommended McLeish to chairmanDavid Murray.[21]
McLeish was an instant success at Rangers, winning both theScottish Cup[22] andScottish League Cup[23] in hisfirst season, but the big prize of the league title was essentially lost before his arrival. Hissecond season saw him go one better when he won thedomestic treble, with the help of players such asRonald de Boer andBarry Ferguson.[24]
Rangers' worsening financial state saw many of his top players leave in the summer of 2003.Celtic won the league comfortably inseason 2003–04, and Rangers failed to win any trophies.[25] McLeish was consequently put under pressure from fans after his poor signings and a record run of seven consecutiveOld Firm derby losses to Celtic.[26]
The high-profileBosman signings ofJean-Alain Boumsong andDado Pršo in the close season of2004–05 gave Rangers renewed hope of regaining the title from Celtic's grasp.[27] McLeish's team won the2005 league title on a dramatic last day, an outcome that had looked highly unlikely after Rangers fell five points behind leaders Celtic with just four games remaining.[28]
After this unexpected success, McLeish and his Rangers team headed into the2005–06 SPL campaign as favourites to retain the championship. McLeish made a number of signings, includingJulien Rodriguez andIan Murray, despite having little money to spend. After a reasonable start to the season, including a win over Celtic,[29] Rangers suffered a series of poor results between September and November. This period included a club record of 10 games without a win. However the tenth match of this run, a 1–1 draw withInter Milan in theChampions League, took Rangers into the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time.[30]
Despite the poor domestic form, McLeish guided Rangers to thelast 16 of the Champions League, where they were defeated on theaway goals rule byVillarreal.[31] They became the first Scottish team to progress this far in theEuropean Cup since 1993, and the first Scottish team to progress through a European group stage.[30] In December, chairmanDavid Murray publicly announced his support for McLeish.[32] Rangers then went on a good run of results in December and January.
This run of good results came to a sudden halt when they were defeated 3–0 by Hibernian in the Scottish Cup,[33] prompting protests outside Ibrox against both McLeish and David Murray.[34] On 9 February 2006, it was announced by chairman David Murray that McLeish would be standing down as manager at the end of that season.[35]
It was later announced that he would be succeeded by formerOlympique Lyonnais managerPaul Le Guen. Rangers beatHearts 2–0 atIbrox Stadium in his final match as manager.[36]
McLeish said after leaving Rangers that he would not manage another Scottish club, because he felt that he had achieved everything in the Scottish game.[37] He was linked in the media with a number of managerial positions in England while he worked as a television pundit for theBBC andSetanta Sports.
McLeish took charge of theScotland national team on 29 January 2007.[38] His assistants in the job wereRoy Aitken andAndy Watson.McLeish's first game in charge of the national team was aUEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match, a 2–1 victory againstGeorgia on 24 March 2007 atHampden Park.[39] His second game was an away fixture againstItaly on 28 March 2007 which ended in a 2–0 defeat.[40]
McLeish's Scotland side then went on to defeat theFaroe Islands away in June,[41]Lithuania at home in September[42] before recording a historic victory in Paris four days later by defeatingFrance 1–0 in theParc des Princes.[43]James McFadden's 64th-minute strike from 30 yards was enough to earn Scotland the win and returned them to the top ofGroup B with three games to play. This result has been hailed as one of the Scotland national team's greatest victories.[44] Scotland's next success was at home toUkraine, winning 3–1 at Hampden on 13 October. McLeish suffered his second defeat as manager, away in Georgia on 17 October. This result left Scotland facing a decider against the World Champions, Italy. Scotland lost the game 2–1, McLeish's last, and Italy qualified for the finals.
Premier League clubBirmingham City's approach to theSFA for permission to speak to McLeish about their managerial vacancy was refused,[45]but on his return on 27 November 2007 from attending the draw for2010 FIFA World Cup qualification in South Africa, he resigned his post as manager of Scotland[46] and was announced as Birmingham's new manager the following day. His assistants with Scotland, Roy Aitken and Andy Watson, were to accompany him. McLeish said he wanted to return to working with players on a daily basis and had "always harboured a desire" to manage in the Premier League.[47]
He enjoyed a positive managerial debut with Birmingham, winning 3–2 away toTottenham Hotspur.[48] In the January 2008transfer window, McLeish strengthened Birmingham's squad, buyingDavid Murphy andJames McFadden and signingArgentina under-20 internationalMauro Zárate on loan, while generating funds by allowing fringe players to leave.[49] He was unable to save Birmingham from relegation, despite the team recording an impressive 4–1 victory overBlackburn Rovers on the last day of the season.[50]
McLeish changed the club's backroom staff and training procedures, appointedDavid Watson as goalkeeping coach, and overhauled the scouting setup, bringing in Paul Montgomery – the scout who recommended a relatively unknownDidier Drogba toWest Ham United – to oversee player recruitment.[51]
On the final day of the 2008–09 season, McLeish secured Birmingham's return to the top flight of English football at the first attempt with a 2–1 away victory overReading.[52] By mid-January 2010, he had guided them to a 12-game unbeaten run, a club record in the top division,[53] set a Premier League record by selecting the same starting eleven for nine consecutive games,[54] and been namedPremier League Manager of the Month for December 2009, the first Birmingham manager to receive the award.[55] By the end of the season McLeish had led Birmingham to ninth place, their highest finish for more than 50 years.[56]
Following Birmingham's success during the 2009–10 season, McLeish agreed a new three-year deal with the club in September 2010.[57]In February 2011, McLeish led Birmingham to victory in theLeague Cup, defeating favouritesArsenal 2–1 inthe final atWembley in what he described as "relatively speaking, ... [his] greatest achievement".[58]However, a poor run of form followed the League Cup win, and Birmingham were relegated to theChampionship on the last day of the 2010–11 season.[59][60] The directors confirmed that McLeish would keep his job, and would be expected to return the club to the Premier League at the first opportunity.[61] McLeish however opted to quit Birmingham City on 12 June 2011 by email.[62]
On 17 June 2011,Aston Villa appointed McLeish as manager, just five days after leaving their local rivals Birmingham City.[63] There was much controversy surrounding his appointment as Birmingham City claimed McLeish was still under contract and filed a complaint against Aston Villa to the Premier League while Villa claimed McLeish was a free agent.[64] Aston Villa fans protested outsideVilla Park and anti-McLeish graffiti had to be removed from outside Villa's training ground.[65] McLeish made out of favourManchester City goalkeeperShay Given his first signing,[66] and then recruited wingerCharles N'Zogbia.[67] McLeish's first competitive game as Villa manager ended in a 0–0 draw withFulham atCraven Cottage.[68] He gained his first Premier League win as manager of Villa in a 3–1 win overBlackburn Rovers. Following victory over Blackburn, Villa drew their next four Premier League games until winning against Wigan 2–0.[69] Aston Villa finally ended their unbeaten start with a 4–1 defeat away at Manchester City. McLeish's side secured a surprise win overChelsea just before signingLA Galaxy strikerRobbie Keane on loan.[70] Keane helped to secure Villa a crucial win against rivals Wolves in a 3–2 victory. McLeish led the 2011–12 Villa team to 16th place in the Premier League, avoiding relegation by two points, and set an unwanted club record of only four home wins.[71] McLeish's contract was terminated on 14 May, the day after the season ended. The reasons cited for his termination were the poor results and style of play used throughout his term as manager.[72]
McLeish was appointed manager ofFootball League Championship clubNottingham Forest on 27 December 2012.[73] His first game in charge was on 29 December 2012, a 2–2 draw againstCrystal Palace at theCity Ground, withBilly Sharp scoring an injury-time equaliser for Nottingham Forest.[74] McLeish earned his first win as Nottingham Forest manager on 12 January 2013, a 2–1 victory againstPeterborough at home.[75] McLeish took charge of his onlyEast Midlands derby againstDerby County on 19 January 2013, drawing 1–1 atPride Park.[76]
On 2 February 2013, after a 2–1 defeat to former club Birmingham City on his first return toSt Andrew's, he refused to commit his future to Nottingham Forest and claimed he was unhappy. This came after the Nottingham Forest board pulled out of a deal to signGeorge Boyd on the final day of the January transfer window.[77] On 5 February 2013, he left the club by mutual consent.[78]
McLeish stated in November 2013 that he would like to re-enter football management in some capacity, in England, Scotland or abroad.[79] In August 2014, he was appointed manager of Belgian clubGenk.[80] McLeish made his managerial debut on 30 August, in which Genk drewOostende 1–1 away.[81] It was reported in March 2015 that McLeish would leave Genk at the end of the2014–15 Belgian Pro League season, as the club had failed to qualify for the Championship play-offs, although they did reach Europa League play-offs.[82]
McLeish was appointed manager ofEgyptian Premier League clubZamalek on 28 February 2016.[83] After a series of poor performances from the team, he was sacked on 2 May with ten matches of the season remaining.[84]
McLeish was reappointedScotland manager on 16 February 2018, on a two-year contract.[85] Scotland won their2018–19 UEFA Nations League group under McLeish, but he was sacked on 18 April 2019 following a 3–0 defeat byKazakhstan.[86] Scotland's Nations League success under McLeish contributed to Scotland qualifying forUEFA Euro 2020, their first major tournament in 22 years. During his tenure, McLeish also convincedScott McTominay to play for Scotland.[87]
McLeish had a cameo appearance in theLaurel and Hardy biopicStan & Ollie, after a chance meeting with director and Aberdeen FC fanJon S. Baird on a flight. In the film, McLeish can be briefly seen reading a newspaper in the lobby of theSavoy Hotel behindSteve Coogan.[88][89]
During the2014 Scottish independence referendum McLeish was a supporter of theBetter Together campaign againstScottish independence.[90]
McLeish was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2024 New Year Honours for services to charity.[91]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aberdeen | 1977–78 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978–79 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| 1979–80 | 35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 3 | |
| 1980–81 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 3 | |
| 1981–82 | 32 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 6 | |
| 1982–83 | 34 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 54 | 3 | |
| 1983–84 | 32 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 59 | 2 | |
| 1984–85 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 1985–86 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 52 | 4 | |
| 1986–87 | 40 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 3 | |
| 1987–88 | 36 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| 1988–89 | 34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
| 1989–90 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| 1990–91 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| 1991–92 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1992–93 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 1993–94 | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 1 | |
| Motherwell | 1994–95 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Career total | 496 | 25 | 68 | 2 | 74 | 2 | 55 | 1 | 695 | 30 | |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland[93] | 1980 | 7 | 0 |
| 1981 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1983 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1984 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1985 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1988 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1989 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 77 | 0 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Motherwell | 13 July 1994 | 10 February 1998 | 156 | 48 | 45 | 63 | 030.8 |
| Hibernian | 11 February 1998 | 11 December 2001 | 164 | 77 | 42 | 45 | 047.0 |
| Rangers | 13 December 2001 | 8 May 2006 | 235 | 155 | 44 | 36 | 066.0 |
| Scotland | 29 January 2007 | 27 November 2007 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 070.0 |
| Scotland B[95] | 7 February 2007 | 20 November 2007 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 000.0 |
| Birmingham City | 28 November 2007 | 12 June 2011 | 168 | 62 | 51 | 55 | 036.9 |
| Aston Villa | 17 June 2011 | 14 May 2012 | 42 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 021.4 |
| Nottingham Forest | 27 December 2012 | 5 February 2013 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 014.3 |
| Genk | 22 August 2014 | 22 June 2015 | 35 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 051.4 |
| Zamalek[96] | 28 February 2016 | 2 May 2016 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 060.0 |
| Scotland[97] | 16 February 2018 | 18 April 2019 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 041.7 |
| Total | 841 | 388 | 215 | 238 | 046.1 | ||
Aberdeen
Scotland
Individual
Hibernian
Rangers
Birmingham City
Individual
Scotland squads | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
