 McNamara playing in a charity match in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jackie McNamara[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1973-10-24)24 October 1973 (age 51)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender[2] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cumbernauld Colts | |||
| –1991 | Gairdoch United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1995 | Dunfermline Athletic | 79 | (3) |
| 1995–2005 | Celtic | 256 | (10) |
| 2005–2007 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 29 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Aberdeen | 17 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Falkirk | 42 | (0) |
| 2010 | →Partick Thistle (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Partick Thistle | 15 | (0) |
| Total | 442 | (13) | |
| International career | |||
| 1994–1996 | Scotland U21 | 12 | (1) |
| 1996 | Scotland B | 1 | (0) |
| 1996–2005 | Scotland | 33 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011–2013 | Partick Thistle | ||
| 2013–2015 | Dundee United | ||
| 2015–2016 | York City | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jackie McNamara (born 24 October 1973) is a Scottish professionalfootballagent, and formerplayer,manager and executive. He won 33 international caps playing forScotland, and filled a variety of defensive roles in his career.
McNamara began his playing career withDunfermline Athletic before joiningCeltic in 1995. During ten years at the club he won theScottish Premier League title four times and theScottish Cup andScottish League Cup three times each. He then played in England withWolverhampton Wanderers before returning to Scotland, finishing his career with spells atAberdeen,Falkirk andPartick Thistle.
In international football, McNamara played for Scotland atunder-21 andB international levels, and made 33 full international appearances. He was a member of the Scotland squad that played at the1998 FIFA World Cup.
McNamara moved into management with Partick Thistle in April 2011, before his appointment atDundee United in January 2013. He was sacked by Dundee United in September 2015, and two months later took over as manager ofYork City. He then worked as chief executive at York City. He is currently[when?] working with Dunfermline Athletic as a consultant.
McNamara was born atGlasgow Royal Maternity Hospital inGlasgow and is the son ofJackie McNamara Sr., a former professional footballer, and Linda Houston.[4] He played youth football forCumbernauld Colts[5] and Falkirk-based Gairdoch United.[6]
McNamara joinedDunfermline Athletic from Gairdoch United on 17 September 1991.[1]
McNamara moved toCeltic for a £600,000 fee on 3 October 1995.[1] He made an impressive start to his Celtic career, being namedPFA Scotland Young Player of the Year in 1996.[7] McNamara won his first trophy with the club in the 1997–98 season when Celtic won theScottish Premier Division, preventing arch-rivalsRangers from winning ten-in-a-row,[7] which would have seen them eclipse Celtic's record of nine-in-a-row.[8] He was recognised for his performances this season by his fellow players when being named thePFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year in 1998[7] and finished runner-up toCraig Burley for theSFWA award.[9] He featured regularly in the Celtic first eleven until the arrival ofMartin O'Neill in the2000–01 season saw him become more of a fringe player,[7] although he did score the opening goal in the2001 Scottish Cup Final, a 3–0 win overHibernian atHampden Park.[10] He was suspended for their 3–0 victory overKilmarnock at Hampden Park in the2001 Scottish League Cup Final.[11]
McNamara re-established himself in the team in2003–04[7] and was awarded theSFWA Footballer of the Year in 2004, beating off competition from his teammatesHenrik Larsson andChris Sutton.[12] The following year McNamara was named captain whenPaul Lambert was injured.[7] McNamara proved himself a consistent and reliable performer on the field, playing almost every game in the league in the2004–05 season. To reward his loyalty to the club over a ten-year period, Celtic played a testimonial match against theRepublic of Ireland.[13] At the end of the 2004–05 seasonMartin O'Neill left as manager[13] and Celtic brought inGordon Strachan as his replacement.
McNamara's contract was also due to expire at the end of the 2004–05 season. Strachan assured McNamara that he wanted him at the club[14] but Celtic were slow to offer a new contract, waiting until the close season to do so. By that time McNamara had already accepted an offer fromWolverhampton Wanderers as he had assumed Celtic no longer wanted his services.[15] As he went on record saying he still wanted to play for the club, he was told he was still needed by the club by its manager, and he was offered the contract he wanted while still in a position to accept it, the incident has caused much speculation amongst supporters and the media as to who was to blame for his departure from Celtic. The club accused McNamara of being unreasonable and of moving for monetary reasons. They also blamed his agent for not encouraging negotiations and setting unhelpful deadlines.[14]
McNamara had gone on record as saying he wanted to end his career with Celtic[16] and seemed to be bemused when no new contract was forthcoming. After he had accepted the Wolves offer, McNamara felt that Celtic showed a lack of respect to him in their comments to the media and he accused them of harming his reputation for their own benefit. It also emerged that in his new contract at Wolves, he was earning the same wages as his previous contract with Celtic.[17]
McNamara agreed with managerGlenn Hoddle that he would joinWolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2005 on afree transfer.[18] After a promising start to his Wolves career, the player sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in the home match withLeicester City in September 2005.[19] He came back in the penultimate game of the 2005–06 season at home toBrighton & Hove Albion. McNamara was a regular fixture in the2006–07 Wolves team who finished 5th in theFootball League Championship, reaching theplay-offs.[20]
McNamara joinedAberdeen from Wolves on a two-year contract in May 2007,[21] but he leftPittodrie before the end of the season, with managerJimmy Calderwood citing "travelling and injuries" as the reasons for his departure.[22] Three weeks later, it was revealed that McNamara would joinFalkirk for the2008–09 season.[23]
McNamara signed a two-year contract at Falkirk in May 2008.[24]
McNamara signed a one-month loan deal withPartick Thistle in February 2010, making him available to debut the following day against Dundee if selected.[25] The terms of the deal allowed it to be extended beyond its initial period, but McNamara suffered a leg break during a match against Ayr United, prematurely ending his 2009–10 season.[26] McNamara subsequently signed a one-year contract with Thistle for the 2010–11 season,[27] which then continued on a one-year rolling contract basis.[28]
McNamara made his debut for theScotland national under-21 team in a 2–1 away win overGreece on 13 December 1994, in a1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier.[29] His first goal came in the reverse fixture, a 3–0 home win on 15 August 1995.[30] McNamara finished his under-21 career with 12caps and one goal, earned between 1994 and 1996.[29][30]
McNamara was capped once by theB team, in a 3–0 away defeat to Denmark on 23 April 1996,[31] before making his debut for thesenior team in a 2–0 away win overLatvia in a1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 5 October 1996.[32] He was selected for the Scotland squad in the1998 FIFA World Cup.[7] He did not feature in the opening match, a 2–1 defeat against defending championsBrazil in Paris.[citation needed] His introduction from the bench in Scotland's second match, againstNorway in Bordeaux, was seen as pivotal in wiping out a one-goal deficit.[citation needed] The game finished in a 1–1 draw, leaving Scotland with a chance of qualification to the knockout stages.[citation needed] Ultimately the efforts were futile asMorocco were victorious in St Etienne with a 3–0 win in the final match and Norway managed to qualify from the group with a win against Brazil.[citation needed] McNamara earned 33 caps for Scotland between 1996 and 2005.[32][33]
McNamara began his managerial career at Partick Thistle where he was appointedcaretaker manager on 15 April 2011, afterIan McCall left his job.[34] He was then appointed manager on a one-year rolling contract a month later.[35] Thistle performed well in his second season as manager, reaching theChallenge Cup final and lying in second place in theFirst Division in late January 2013.[36] At this point he left Thistle to take the vacant position at SPL clubDundee United.[36] McNamara was replaced at Partick Thistle byAlan Archibald, a former Thistle and Dundee United defender.[37]
McNamara's first match in charge of his new club was a fifth roundScottish Cup tie with Third DivisionRangers on 2 February 2013.[38] United won 3–0, withJohnny Russell putting the home side ahead in the first minute of the match.[38] The following week United defeatedHearts 3–1 in McNamara's firstScottish Premier League match as manager of the side.[39] It was the side's first league win at home since August 2012.[citation needed] On 24 February 2014, McNamara extended his contract with Dundee United until 2017.[40]
McNamara'sfirst full season at Tannadice saw United reach theScottish Cup Final, which his side lost 2–0 toSt Johnstone.[41] The following season United lost theLeague Cup Final to Celtic, 2–0.[42] The latter few months of that season also saw a sharp dip in United's form following the sale in January 2015 ofGary Mackay-Steven andStuart Armstrong.[43]
Reports following Dundee United's 2–1 defeat toSt Johnstone on 26 September 2015 suggested McNamara had been relieved of his duties,[44][45] which was confirmed by the club two days later.[46]
McNamara was appointed manager ofLeague Two clubYork City on 4 November 2015,[47] and his first match in charge came three days later, with a 3–2 away defeat toAccrington Stanley in theFA Cup first round.[48] In April 2016, York's relegation from theFootball League was confirmed by a 3–0 defeat against Accrington.[49] In October 2016, a 6–1 defeat against the division's bottom club,Guiseley, left York in 20th place in theNational League.[50]
Following talks between McNamara and the club, York announced the manager would resign if they failed to gain a "positive result" in their next match, againstBraintree Town.[51] Following a 1–1 draw in that match, McNamara announced he would be stepping down, but had agreed to stay on as manager until a replacement was found.[52] WhenGary Mills was reappointed manager on 16 October 2016, McNamara took on the role of chief executive at the club.[53] He left this position in March 2018.[54]
In January 2019, McNamara returned to Scottish football as a consultant at previous club Dunfermline Athletic.[55]
McNamara co-wrote a television sitcom pilot with Scottish actor and comedy writer Fran Gilhooley calledThe Therapy Room, starring Jackie's actor brother, Donny. The show is based around a young footballer who is catapulted from amateur football to the English top flight, and is partly based around McNamara's own experiences as a player and manager.[56]
McNamara was taken to the intensive care unit ofHull Royal Infirmary in February 2020, after he collapsed near his home inYork, having suffered abrain hemorrhage.[57] His condition was described at one point as "critical but stable",[57] but after a few weeks of care he was able to return home.[58]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dunfermline Athletic | 1992–93[59] | Scottish First Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993–94[60] | Scottish First Division | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 1994–95[61] | Scottish First Division | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| 1995–96[62] | Scottish First Division | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 3[c] | 1 | 12 | 2 | ||
| Total | 79 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 96 | 4 | ||
| Celtic | 1995–96[63] | Scottish Premier Division | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 1996–97[64] | Scottish Premier Division | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
| 1997–98[65] | Scottish Premier Division | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6[e] | 1 | 43 | 3 | |
| 1998–99[66] | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[f] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000[67] | Scottish Premier League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2000–01[10] | Scottish Premier League | 30 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5[e] | 0 | 42 | 7 | |
| 2001–02[68] | Scottish Premier League | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[g] | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2002–03[69] | Scottish Premier League | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7[h] | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| 2003–04[70] | Scottish Premier League | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11[i] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| 2004–05[71] | Scottish Premier League | 34 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[j] | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| Total | 256 | 10 | 31 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 52 | 1 | 358 | 15 | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2005–06[72] | Championship | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[73] | Championship | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[k] | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| Aberdeen | 2007–08[74] | Scottish Premier League | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Falkirk | 2008–09[75] | Scottish Premier League | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[76] | Scottish Premier League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[l] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 0 | ||
| Partick Thistle (loan) | 2009–10[77] | Scottish First Division | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Partick Thistle | 2010–11[78] | Scottish First Division | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 442 | 13 | 45 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 72 | 2 | 589 | 19 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 1996 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 0 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Partick Thistle | 15 April 2011 | 30 January 2013 | 75 | 34 | 17 | 24 | 045.3 |
| Dundee United | 30 January 2013 | 28 September 2015 | 119 | 51 | 24 | 44 | 042.9 |
| York City | 4 November 2015 | 16 October 2016 | 48 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 016.7 |
| Total | 242 | 93 | 53 | 96 | 038.4 | ||
Celtic
Falkirk
Individual
Dundee United
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Celtic F.C captain 2004–2005 | Succeeded by |
