Jim McLean

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City Hobgoblin

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Noted the recent passing of former Dundee United boss Jim McLean, another victim of dementia it seems.

One of the most notable Scottish bosses from that era who never tried his luck south of the Border. Maybe preferred to be a one club man, always believing in the job he had there. Produced an attractive team who achieved beyond their means, partly due to his uncompromising approach to man-management which managers really can’t get away with today. By all accounts he was an excellent coach though, developing raw talent into great professionals.
 
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Jim McLean was one of Scotlands finest coaches ever.

During the McLean era United won their first major trophies, lifting the Scottish League Cup in 1979 and 1980 and the Scottish Premier Division title in 1983. They were also successful in European competitions, reaching the European Cup semi-finals in 1984 and the UEFA Cup final in 1987.

For a club of Dundee United stature to do that is some achievement. They had some very good players. Paul Sturrock, David Narey, Maurice Malpas, Ra;ph Milne, Paul Heggarty, Eamonn Bannon to name just a few.

He was also a nippy little bugger you didnt want to get on the wrong side of.

RIP wee man.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Jim McLean was one of Scotlands finest coaches ever.

During the McLean era United won their first major trophies, lifting the Scottish League Cup in 1979 and 1980 and the Scottish Premier Division title in 1983. They were also successful in European competitions, reaching the European Cup semi-finals in 1984 and the UEFA Cup final in 1987.

For a club of Dundee United stature to do that is some achievement. They had some very good players. Paul Sturrock, David Narey, Maurice Malpas, Ra;ph Milne, Paul Heggarty, Eamonn Bannon to name just a few.

He was also a nippy little bugger you didnt want to get on the wrong side of.

RIP wee man.
Click to expand...
Ralph Milne you say?


This was a good period in Scottish football when Aberdeen and Dundee United were able to break up the dominance of the Auld Firm.
Great runs in Europe too for both. RIP Jim
 
A success in a time when authoritarian managers could wring every last drop from a player; indeed, Dundee United had employment practices that would make Nike blush. It was probably that indentured slavery that kept so many players in and around Dundee and so loyal to him, particularly in comparison to Aberdeen from where so many moved elsewhere. However, his achievements on modest budgets and with modest players cannot be denied.
 
What a great manager Jim. McLean was. To achieve what he did in Scotland with Dundee United was . Rest in peace. I enjoyed watching them.
 
My local team and was lucky enough to watch them during the ‘wee Jim’ years.

It can’t be overstated how big an achievement his success was. Not just domestically getting the upper hand on the Old Firm but also year in year out doing well in Europe. He also oversaw beating Barcelona home and away in 86/87, shutting Lineker’s and Mark Hughes pusses to boot.

He was a fearsome man manager that you wouldn’t get away with now but it certainly worked back in the day. Ahead of his time in other regards, namely training techniques and tactics that helped the Terrors punch above their weight time and again.

RIP James Yuille McLean
 
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