Willie McLean (born 2 April 1935) is a Scottish former association footballer and manager.[1] He managed two of the clubs he had played for, Queen of the South and Raith Rovers.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 April 1935 | ||
| Place of birth | Ashgill, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1956 | Larkhall Thistle | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1956 | Hamilton Academical (trialist) | 1 | (0) |
| 1956–1958 | Airdrieonians | 20 | (2) |
| 1958–1960 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | (0) |
| 1960–1961 | Alloa Athletic | 34 | (18) |
| 1961–1962 | Queen of the South | 46 | (10) |
| 1962–1964 | Clyde | 20 | (1) |
| 1964–1965 | Alloa Athletic | 6 | (1) |
| 1965–1968 | Raith Rovers | 81 | (5) |
| Total | 208 | (37) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1973–1975 | Queen of the South | ||
| 1975–1978 | Motherwell | ||
| 1978–1979 | Raith Rovers | ||
| 1979–1983 | Ayr United | ||
| 1984–1985 | Greenock Morton | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Brothers
Willie is the elder brother of Jim McLean and Tommy McLean, who also played and managed for senior Scottish clubs.
Queen of the South
McLean was part of the 1961/62 George Farm managed Queen of the South side that won promotion to the top division of Scottish football. As well as player/manager Farm, McLean was a teammate of Neil Martin, Jim Patterson and Iain McChesney.[2]
McLean returned to Dumfries in the 1970s, this time as manager. In 1975 his second-place finish was only denied promotion to the top division of Scottish football by league reconstruction.[3] He left Palmerston Park that summer and was replaced by Mike Jackson.