Ten managers passed through the doors at Pittodrie in the twenty-two seasons Jim McLean managed Dundee United.
That’s a fair few trips up the A92 to fill a managerial hot-seat whilst one man presided over the orange side of Aberdeen’s neighbour city Dundee.
Branded the ‘New Firm’ with the dominance of Aberdeen and United in the 70s and 80s, McLean’s most famous adversary from the Granite City was Man Utd great Sir Alex Ferguson.
“Without question one of the greatest coaches in our generation of great coaches and managers in the time I was at Aberdeen.”
Sir Alex Ferguson
Such was the power of United and Aberdeen in Ferguson’s time there, during eleven seasons between 76 and 87 United finished third or higher on seven occasions, Aberdeen eight, and both locked the league title into the North-east coast for three years, United finishing top in 82/83 and Aberdeen 83/84, 84/85.
Ferguson paid a powerful tribute to McLean in 2019 as the Tangerine Army were looking to build a statue of their most successful manager outside Tannadice.
Ferguson didn’t hold back with his praise, telling the Dundee Courier: “Jim McLean without question was one of the greatest coaches in our generation of great coaches and managers in the time I was at Aberdeen.
“Jock Stein, Eddie Turnbull — there were some great coaches and managers of the time but Jim McLean stands out as one of the greatest.”
McLean’s legacy never to be matched
Twenty-three managers have resided over the Tangerines since McLean moved up to the boardroom including Billy Dodds, Craig Levein, Jackie McNamara and most recently Micky Mellon.
To put McLean’s legacy in context, those twenty-three managers have managed just over 1200 games for United in seventeen years. McLean resided over 1100 in his time as Tangerines boss from 1971 to 1993.
The closest to put some form of a stamp on the club and try cover the all-encompassing mural created by McLean was Peter Houston who oversaw 150 games for United between 2009 and 2013.
Further articles:
–Retro report: Aberdeen put four past United in 1990 Scottish Cup semi-final
–Tribute to former Aberdeen boss Ebbe Skovdahl who has passed away
Unparalleled success
One of McLean’s biggest achievements as United boss was winning the league title in 1982/83.
The next season he led the team to the semi-final of the 1984 European Cup.
He won two Scottish League Cups in 79 and 80 and got the Tangerines to the UEFA Cup final in 87.
Dundee United released a statement on their website saying: “An integral part of our history and rise to the forefront of European football, Jim was simply a titan of Dundee United folklore, cherished by the United family the world over. He will be sorely missed by us all.”
The McLean family released a statement saying: “Jim was a much loved husband, father, brother, uncle and father-in-law, and we will all sadly miss him.
“His achievements in leading Dundee United to the Scottish Premier League title in 1983 and to the semi-final of the following season’s European Cup are unlikely ever to be repeated.”
James Yuille McLean, 2 August 1937 – 26 December 2020, aged 83.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 