Alex McLeish

Alexander "Alex" McLeish ( born January 21, 1959 in Barrhead ) (nicknamed "Big Eck ") is a former Scottish footballer and football coach.

  • 2.1 FC Motherwell and Hibernian
  • 2.2 Glasgow Rangers
  • 2.3 Scottish national
  • 2.4 Birmingham City
  • 2.5 Aston Villa
  • 2.6 Nottingham Forest

Playing career

Aberdeen FC

Alex McLeish began his active career in 1976 at FC Aberdeen, where he formed a of the best central defensive duo of Scotland, together with Willie Miller. With the team from 1978 to 1986 by Alex Ferguson trained three times he was Scottish champion ( 1980, 1984, 1985) and Cup Winners' Cup five times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990 ). Internationally, he won the European Cup Winners' Cup 1982/83 by a 2-1 after extra time against Spanish Cup winners Real Madrid. In addition, the club secured the title in the 1983 UEFA Super Cup. 1990 Alex McLeish was voted Scotland's Player of the Year.

Scottish national

Also successful was his career as a Scottish national team. Between 1980 and 1993 he completed 77 internationals. 1982 McLeish was appointed by the national coach Jock Stein in the Scottish World Cup squad and, after a Substitutes in the game against Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 1982 once. Scotland failed as a group of third parties in the preliminary round. After another Vorrundenaus and only one application at the Football World Cup 1986 Alex McLeish arrived at the soccer World Cup in Italy in 1990 in all three group games used. Again, however, the Scottish team failed in the first round. He is a member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame.

Coaching career

FC Motherwell and Hibernian

1994 McLeish began his coaching career as player-coach at FC Motherwell, which he led in his first season as vice - championship. This success could the club not continued in the two following seasons, each with a eighth place in the standings. During the 1997/98 season McLeish Motherwell left and took over on 11 February 1998 the League rivals Hibernian Edinburgh, with which he descended as Table to the second division at the end of the season. In the First Divion 1998/99 McLeish led the relegated to second division sovereign winning the championship and thus to return to the first division. The climbers finished the season in the Scottish Premier League 1999/2000 to sixth place in the table, increasing this result with the third place in the 2000/ 01 season. In addition, Hibernian drew the first time since 1979 in the final of the Scottish FA Cup 2000 /01, but failed before 51 824 spectators at Hampden Park 0-3 to Celtic Glasgow.

Glasgow Rangers

On 11 December 2001 McLeish took over from Dick Advocaat as manager of Glasgow Rangers and ended the 2001/02 season with his new team as runner-up. Successful acted the team in the Cup by winning the Scottish FA Cup 2001 /02 ( 3-2 against Celtic) and the Scottish League Cup 2001 /02 ( 4-0 Ayr United). In the following season the Rangers won only on goal difference the championship before time rivals Celtic and brought to the defense in the two Scottish cup competitions even triple. The 2003/04 season was the second place and seventeen points behind champions Celtic less successful. But Alex McLeish won the 2004 /05 the second championship title and the second title in the Scottish League Cup 2004 /05 ( 5:1 against FC Motherwell) with the Rangers. His last season in Glasgow ended McLeish only in third place. Successful acted the club in the UEFA Champions League 2005 /06 with the first collection of a Scottish club in the knockout stages since the introduction of the Champions League in the season 1992 /93. There, however, the Rangers failed with 2:2 and 1:1 at Villarreal. On 9 February 2006, the club announced that McLeish will leave the club at end of season.

Scottish national

On 29 January 2007 Alex McLeish was introduced as the new coach of the Scottish national team. He took over from Walter Smith, who had recently switched to the Glasgow Rangers. In qualifying for the 2008 European Championship in third place behind Scotland missed world champions Italy and runners-up France only just to participate in the European Championship finals. Height of his activity was the 1-0 away success in France led by a goal from James McFadden on the intermediate standings Scotland in qualifying.

Birmingham City

Shortly after failing to qualify he was introduced as the new head coach of English Premier League club Birmingham City. With the end of the season he got promoted as a table next to last in the Premier League 2007 /08 in the second division from. In the Football League Championship 2008/09 City secured as runner direct promotion back to the Premier League thanks to a 2-1 away win on the final day in the ascent rivals FC Reading. The climbers finished the Premier League 2009/10 on a good ninth place in the table. Alex McLeish was elected in December 2009 Trainer of the Month Premier League. In February 2011, he led his team to win the League Cup in 2010/11. 88 851 spectators at Wembley before the underdog defeated Arsenal 2-1. This great success for the club was overshadowed by the relegation from the Premier League 2010/11 due to a 1-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the final day.

Aston Villa

On June 17, 2011 McLeish was manager at City's local rivals Aston Villa. The fans of the club protested against his obligation. After a disappointing season in the Premier League 2011/12, the villa only finished in 16th place, McLeish was released May 14, 2012 with immediate effect.

Nottingham Forest

On December 27, 2012, Alex McLeish 's new coach of the English second division club Nottingham Forest. After only 40 days, the contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Title as a player and coach

  • Scottish champion: 1980, 1984, 1985, 2003, 2005
  • Scottish FA Cup: 1982, 1983, 1984.1986, 1990, 2002, 2003
  • Scottish League Cup: 1986, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005
  • European Cup Winners' Cup: 1983
  • UEFA Super Cup: 1983
  • English League Cup: 2011
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