View source for Jim McLean

{{Short description|Scottish footballer, manager, and director (1937–2020)}}
{{Other people||James McLean (disambiguation){{!}}James McLean}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| image = 
| caption = 
| fullname = James Yuille McLean
| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|8|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Larkhall]], Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|12|26|1937|8|2|df=y}}
| height = 
| position = [[Inside forward]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Larkhall Thistle F.C.|Larkhall Thistle]]
| years1 = 1956–1960 
| years2 = 1960–1965 
| years3 = 1965–1968 
| years4 = 1968–1970
| clubs1 = [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] 
| clubs2 = [[Clyde F.C.|Clyde]] 
| clubs3 = [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] 
| clubs4 = [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] 
| caps1 = 129
| caps2 = 102
| caps3 = 90
| caps4 = 56
| totalcaps = 377
| goals1 = 57 
| goals2 = 32 
| goals3 = 28 
| goals4 = 7
| totalgoals = 124
| manageryears1 = 1971–1993
| managerclubs1 = [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]]
}}
'''James Yuille McLean''' (2 August 1937 – 26 December 2020) was a Scottish [[Association football|football]] player, [[Manager (association football)|manager]] and director.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/27/jim-mclean-obituary|title=Jim McLean obituary|access-date=27 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |first=Peter |last=Mason |date=27 December 2020}}</ref> He managed [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] between 1971 and 1993, becoming the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, winning three major honours. He was also part-time assistant manager to [[Jock Stein]] with the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]].

He led Dundee United to their only [[Scottish Football League]] title in [[1982–83 Scottish Premier Division|1982–83]], following [[Scottish League Cup]] wins in [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979]] and [[1980 Scottish League Cup Final|1980]]. Under McLean, the club also lost in a further eight domestic cup finals. In European football, McLean's Dundee United reached the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] semi-finals [[1983–84 European Cup|in 1984]] and the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] final [[1987 UEFA Cup Final|in 1987]]. He became a Dundee United director in 1984 and served as chairman between 1988 and 2000, when he resigned after punching a reporter. His involvement with the club finally ended in 2002 when he sold his majority shareholding.

His playing career included spells with [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]], [[Clyde F.C.|Clyde]], [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] and [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] as an [[inside forward]]. He was a member of a prominent footballing family; his brothers [[Tommy McLean|Tommy]] and [[Willie McLean (footballer, born 1935)|Willie]] were also successful as players and managers.

McLean's achievements saw him win the first ever [[SFWA Manager of the Year]] award in 1987. He was inducted into the [[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]] in 2005.

== Early life ==
James Yuille McLean<ref>{{cite book |title=A Record of Post-war Scottish League Players 1946/47 to 2017/18 |version=7 |publisher=John Litster and Scottish Football Historian magazine |date=2018}}</ref> was born into a working-class family in [[Larkhall]], [[Lanarkshire]], on 2 August 1937,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pattullo|first1=Alan|title=Alan Pattullo: 'Jim McLean deserves more recognition'|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/dundee-united/alan-pattullo-jim-mclean-deserves-more-recognition-1-4523290|access-date=8 August 2017|work=The Scotsman|date=6 August 2017|location=Edinburgh}}</ref> the second of three sons of Tom and Annie McLean, and grew up in the nearby village of [[Ashgill]]. His maternal grandfather [[William Yuille]] had been a professional footballer, playing for [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] before the First World War.<ref name = "glory years"/><ref>[http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1814 (Rangers player) Yuille, William], FitbaStats</ref> Tom McLean, a baker, had been a promising [[Scottish Junior Football Association|junior footballer]] before joining the [[Plymouth Brethren]] when he married. The three brothers, [[Willie McLean (footballer, born 1935)|Willie]], Jim and [[Tommy McLean|Tommy]], who all went on to become professional football players and managers, had a strict religious upbringing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Aidan|title=Tommy McLean talks old times and family dynasty|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/tommy-mclean-talks-old-times-and-family-dynasty-1-3405736|access-date=17 April 2015|newspaper=The Scotsman|date=10 May 2014|location=Edinburgh}}</ref> After leaving school McLean served an apprenticeship as a joiner,<ref name = "glory years"/> a vocation he continued to pursue for much of his playing career.<ref name = "glory years"/>

== Playing career ==
McLean, who played as an [[inside forward]], began his football career with the local [[Scottish Junior Football Association|junior]] club [[Larkhall Thistle F.C.|Larkhall Thistle]].<ref name = "glory years"/> He was the third member of the family to play for Larkhall, after his father – who appeared for them in a [[Scottish Junior Cup]] semi-final in 1932 – and his brother Willie.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kerr|first1=Hugh|title=Hughie's Teasers|url=http://larkhallthistle.co.uk/articles/hughies-teasers/|publisher=Larkhall Thistle|access-date=18 April 2015}}</ref>

In 1956, he started his senior career with [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]]. He made more than 125 league appearances for Hamilton before leaving in 1960 to join [[Clyde F.C.|Clyde]].<ref name = Dundee>{{cite web |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/jim-mclean-1937-2020/ |title=Jim McLean 1937–2020 |publisher=Dundee Football Club |website=dundeefc.co.uk |date=26 December 2020 |access-date=26 December 2020}}</ref> After playing in over 100 league games for Clyde, McLean was transferred to [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] for £10,000 in 1965.<ref name = Dundee/> This move meant him becoming a full-time professional footballer for the first time in his career, aged 27.<ref name = Dundee/> His debut for Dundee came at [[Dens Park]] on 11 September 1965<ref name = Dundee/> when Dundee were beaten 5–0 by [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]], their heaviest ever defeat in a [[Dundee derby]]. In his first season with Dundee, McLean scored eight goals, and he became their principal threat in attack after [[Charlie Cooke]] was sold to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in April 1966.<ref name = Dundee/> McLean scored 17 goals for Dundee during the 1966–67 season, which made him the club's leading scorer.<ref name = Dundee/> He followed this by scoring 18 goals in the 1967–68 season, during which Dundee reached the [[Scottish League Cup]] final (losing 5–3 to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]) and the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|Fairs Cup]] semi-final (losing 2–1 on aggregate to [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]).<ref name = Dundee/>

Following the signing of [[George McLean (footballer, born 1943)|George McLean]] from [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], Jim McLean was used more in a [[midfielder|midfield]] role.<ref name = Dundee/> He was not always popular with the Dundee supporters; McLean later attributed that to him having had to follow higher-class players such as Cooke and [[Alan Gilzean]] into their team.<ref name = Dundee/> Having played in every game for Dundee during the 1967–68 season, he was then dropped for the first match in 1968–69.<ref name = Dundee/> Days later he was to be sold for £3,000 to [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]],<ref name = Dundee/> where he played alongside his brother Tommy. After making a total of 474 appearances and scoring 170 goals in his career, McLean retired from playing in 1970 and returned to Dundee as a coach in July of that year.<ref name = Dundee/>

== Management career ==
McLean was first team coach at [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] for 18 months.<ref name = Dundee/> In November 1971 the club's manager [[John Prentice (footballer, born 1926)|John Prentice]] announced that he would resign at the end of that year; many outside observers assumed that McLean would become their manager.<ref name = Dundee/> Instead he became manager of their local rivals [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]], where he replaced the retiring [[Jerry Kerr]].<ref name = "glory years"/> McLean immediately started a co-ordinated youth policy which was to produce many fine young players over the two decades which followed; he had personally visited [[Ralph Milne]], [[John Holt (footballer, born 1956)|John Holt]], and [[Davie Dodds]] to encourage them to sign for United rather than for [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], and rivals [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] respectively.<ref name="JWJim">{{cite web |last=Forsyth |first=Neil |url=https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/issue-11/jousting-with-jim/ |title=Jousting with Jim |date=16 April 2020 |access-date=28 December 2020 |work=Nutmeg Magazine}}</ref> In the short term, he used his knowledge of the Scottish scene to buy experienced players who would allow him to re-shape both the squad and the style of play in line with his approach to coaching.<ref name="JWJim"/>

Initially, the club's league form was average, remaining mostly mid-table for the next few years. McLean's first hint of the success he would later achieve was leading the club to its first [[Scottish Cup]] final in [[1973–74 in Scottish football|1974]], which they lost to Celtic.<ref name = "glory years"/> It proved an important psychological step in McLean's and the club's development. The success of the Cup run was built upon the following season with a finish of fourth place, the club's best finish in the [[Scottish football league system|Scottish league]] to date.<ref name = "glory years"/><ref name="Kings">{{cite web |last=Bate |first=Adam |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/story-telling/11781/12037273/jim-mcleans-dundee-united-the-story-of-their-1982-83-title-win |title=When Dundee United were kings |date=29 July 2020 |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref> As the Scottish leagues were restructured after this season, this position qualified United for the new [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Premier Division]].<ref name = "glory years"/> They struggled in the first season of the new setup, and needed a draw at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]] on the final day to avoid relegation (Dundee were relegated instead).<ref name = "glory years"/>

By 1978 McLean's reputation as a manager was such that he was mentioned as a possible contender to replace [[Ally MacLeod]] as [[Scotland national football team manager|Scotland manager]], with [[Alex Ferguson]] and [[Willie Ormond]] both suggesting him as a possible choice, though McLean himself stated he was not qualified to suggest someone for the position.<ref name="GH28sept1978p21">{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Jim |title=Scotland's search for a superman to take over from Ally - The big names pick their fancies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19780928&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=30 May 2021 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=28 September 1978 |page= 1}}</ref> Ultimately the post went to [[Jock Stein]].

As McLean's youth policy began to bear fruit as a batch of talented young players began to emerge, including [[Maurice Malpas]], [[Paul Sturrock]] and [[David Narey]].<ref name = "glory years"/><ref name="JWJim"/> McLean decided that his team should mount a challenge for the League championship in [[1978–79 in Scottish football|1978–79]], something of which the club had never previously proved capable of. United started to prove that they were serious contenders for domestic honours. In December 1979, McLean guided his team to triumph in the [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] by winning a replayed final against [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]].<ref name = "glory years"/> United retained the League Cup in 1980, defeating Dundee in the final.<ref name = "glory years"/> They also reached the Scottish Cup Final in 1981, losing after a replay to Rangers.<ref name = "glory years"/> At the same time as the club was enjoying a high standing Scottish football, McLean was gradually building the club's reputation in Europe.<ref name = "glory years"/><ref name="Kings"/>

=== 1980s success ===
{{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="He was a difficult taskmaster because you never really reached his goals. His goals were always just past what you thought was right." |source=—defender [[Maurice Malpas]] discussing McLean's managerial approach.<ref name="Kings"/>}}
Despite the progress he had made, few believed that McLean and United were potential Premier Division champions, [[Alex Ferguson]]'s [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] at that time were an emerging force in addition to the Old Firm. In the [[1981–82 UEFA Cup]] United defeated [[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]] and [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]], but exited to Yugoslav side Radnicki Nis.<ref name = "glory years"/> At this time McLean was also acting as assistant manager to [[Jock Stein]] with the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]], including at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]].<ref name = "glory years">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/19/the-forgotten-story-of-dundee-united-glory-years-under-jim-mclean |title=The forgotten story of ... Dundee United's glory years under Jim McLean |first=Daniel |last=Harris |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 April 2017 |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>

In 1982–83, it appeared that United had missed another chance of winning the league championship after they lost to Celtic in the first of two meetings in April.<ref name = "glory years"/> In the second game, United had [[Richard Gough]] sent off with the score level but went on to win 3–2.<ref name = "glory years"/> Celtic lost again on the following weekend and this left United in control.<ref name = "glory years"/> A run of wins against [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]], [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Morton]], [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] and Dundee (2–1 at Dens) clinched the league championship for United.<ref name = "glory years"/>

[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], who had seen a decline in their fortunes over the previous few years, offered McLean the job as their manager later in 1983.<ref name = "glory years"/> McLean engaged in early negotiations with the club; one of his main problems with the job offer was [[Rangers F.C. signing policy|Rangers' policy of not signing Roman Catholics]], a policy McLean found a ridiculous restriction for any employer as his United team included players from both faiths.<ref name = "glory years"/> Despite the Rangers chairman assuring him that this policy would be scrapped if he accepted the job, McLean declined their offer.<ref name = "glory years"/> McLean later said that although moving to Rangers would have been better for his career, it was not the only factor in his decision to stay at Dundee United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/jim-mclean-in-his-own-words-dundee-united-success-beating-barcelona-starting-as-coach-at-dundee-and-turning-down-rangers/ |title=In his own words: Jim McLean on his remarkable football career |newspaper=Evening Telegraph |date=26 December 2020 |first=Ian |last=Roche |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref> His family were happily settled in the [[Broughty Ferry]] area of [[Dundee]], and in June 1984 he turned down an offer to manage English club [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Herald |title=Newcastle fail to break McLean's Tannadice ties |first=Ian |last=Paul |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19840615&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |page=27 |date=15 June 1984 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

Following his team's League success in 1983, Dundee United made their debut in the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]].<ref name = "glory years"/> McLean's counter-attacking tactics paired with a pressuring style brought some memorable results in that year's European campaign. United reached the semi-finals of the competition, which they lost 3–2 on aggregate to [[AS Roma|Roma]].<ref name = "glory years"/> Three years later McLean took the team to a European final in the [[UEFA Cup]], defeating [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and Borussia Mönchengladbach en route.<ref name = "glory years"/> United lost 2–1 on aggregate to Swedish club [[IFK Gothenburg]] in the [[1987 UEFA Cup Final|final]].<ref name = "glory years"/> He won the inaugural [[Scottish Football Writers' Association]] [[SFWA Manager of the Year|Manager of the year]] award in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18971349.jim-mclean-true-colossus-scottish-football-took-conquered-greats-european-game/|title=Jim McLean: A true colossus of Scottish football who took on and conquered the greats of the European game|date=27 December 2020 |publisher=Glasgow Herald|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

For the rest of his managerial career McLean continued to secure United's high standing in domestic football, finishing no lower than fifth between 1976–77 and 1992–93.<ref name = bbc/> He also took the team to six Scottish Cup finals, but never won the trophy.<ref name = bbc>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50338260 |title=Jim McLean: Dundee Utd announce death of legendary manager aged 83 |website=BBC Sport |date=26 December 2020 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref> The last of those cup final defeats was in the "family final" of [[1991 Scottish Cup Final|1991]] against [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]], who were managed by his brother Tommy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/other_football/13308951.six-great-non-old-firm-cup-finals/ |title=Six great non-Old Firm cup finals | newspaper=Glasgow Times |date=27 May 2015 |access-date=27 December 2020 |first=Russell |last=Leadbetter}}</ref>

=== Later years ===
The Dundee United board made McLean a director in 1984; four years later he became chairman and managing director, while still remaining the manager. He retained those joint responsibilities until stepping down as manager in July 1993, after a reign of almost 22 years. He remained as chairman after resigning as manager, stepping down from this role in October 2000 following an attack on [[BBC Scotland]] reporter [[John Barnes (Scottish broadcaster)|John Barnes]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/972659.stm|title=Police investigate McLean incident|date=16 October 2000|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=24 June 2008}}</ref> McLean returned briefly in January 2002 as a director<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/1749317.stm|title=McLean: King of Tannadice|last=Lindsay|first=Clive|date=8 January 2002|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> but departed a month later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1846452.stm|title=McLean out at Tannadice|date=28 February 2002|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Still a majority shareholder, McLean sold his 42% stake to [[Eddie Thompson (businessman)|Eddie Thompson]] in October 2002, severing his Tannadice ties permanently after more than 30 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/2271899.stm|title=Dundee Utd takeover complete|date=26 September 2002|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==After football==
McLean was recognised for his achievements in football by being inducted into the [[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scottishfootballhalloffame.co.uk/inductees-2005/|title=2005|publisher=Scottish Football Hall of Fame|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

McLean contributed a regular column to the ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' newspaper, giving his views on football.<ref name =record/> In October 2006, McLean criticised Eddie Thompson's running of Dundee United in his column, saying he had been a "disaster for the club". This led to the club withdrawing McLean's access "privileges" at Tannadice.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/6092936.stm|title=Tannadice in McLean retaliation |date=28 October 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=24 June 2008}}</ref>

McLean was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree by the [[University of Dundee]] in 2011, in recognition of his managerial achievements.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Argo|first1=Andrew|title=Tannadice hero Jim McLean among Dundee University graduands|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Community/College-and-University/article/14496/tannadice-hero-jim-mclean-among-dundee-university-graduands.html|access-date=10 November 2015|work=The Courier|date=1 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329031617/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Community/College-and-University/article/14496/tannadice-hero-jim-mclean-among-dundee-university-graduands.html|archive-date=29 March 2012|location=Dundee}}</ref> He was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame in 2015, with the club describing him as "unquestionably, the most successful manager in the club's history, and unlikely to ever be surpassed".<ref>{{cite news |title=Hall of Fame – 2015 |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/the-club/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-2015 |access-date=29 August 2018 |publisher=Dundee United F.C.}}</ref> As of August 2018, a group of United supporters were organising a fundraising scheme in order to build a statue of McLean outside Tannadice.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dundee United supporters in bid for Jim McLean statue |url=https://stv.tv/news/north/1429230-dundee-united-supporters-in-bid-for-jim-mclean-statue/ |access-date=29 August 2018 |website=STV News |date=29 August 2018}}</ref>

In February 2020, the [[Dundee Repertory Theatre]] produced a play about McLean's life called ''Smile''.<ref name = smile/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/smile-review-portrait-of-united-legend-scores-with-fans-wnpqr63tg |title=Smile review — Portrait of United legend scores with fans |newspaper=[[The Times]] |first=Allan |last=Radcliffe |date=24 February 2020 |access-date=24 February 2020}}</ref> McLean was unable to attend a performance himself due to ill health, but it received the support of his wife Doris and their family.<ref name = smile>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-51545081 |title=Jim McLean: New play reveals 'the man behind the grimace' |first=Graeme |last=Ogston |website=BBC News |date=20 February 2020 |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>

== Death ==
Following a long battle with [[dementia]], McLean died in December 2020 aged 83.<ref name =record>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jim-mclean-dies-aged-83-23222983 |title=Jim McLean dies aged 83 as Dundee United legend passes away following dementia battle |first=Liam |last=Bryce |newspaper=Daily Record |date=26 December 2020 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref> [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] stated that: "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."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/6718/JIM-MCLEAN-1937-2020.html |title=JIM MCLEAN 1937–2020 |website=www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk |publisher=Dundee United FC |date=26 December 2020 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref> McLean's family, in a statement published by United, added: "Jim was a much-loved husband, father, brother, uncle and father-in-law, and we will all sadly miss him. His remarkable six-decade career made him a true legend not only at Dundee United, but across the world of football."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/6719/STATEMENT-FROM-THE-MCLEAN-FAMILY.html |title=STATEMENT FROM THE MCLEAN FAMILY |website=www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk |publisher=Dundee United FC |date=26 December 2020 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Honours ==
=== Player ===
'''Clyde'''
*[[Scottish Division Two]] : [[1961–62 Scottish Division Two|1961–62]]
*[[Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup|Glasgow Charity Cup]] : [[1960–61 in Scottish football|1960–61]] (shared)<ref>{{ cite web | url = https://www.clydefc.co.uk/match/report/3147/ | title = 1960–61: Celtic 1 v 1 Clyde | date = 9 May 1961 | publisher = Clyde FC | access-date = 23 July 2020 }}</ref>

'''Dundee'''
*[[Forfarshire Cup]] : [[1965–66 in Scottish football|1965–66]], [[1966–67 in Scottish football|1966–67]]

=== Manager ===
'''Dundee United'''
*[[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]] : [[1982–83 in Scottish football|1982–83]]
*[[Scottish League Cup]] : [[1979–80 in Scottish football|1979–80]], [[1980–81 in Scottish football|1980–81]]
*[[UEFA Cup]] : runner-up [[1986–87 UEFA Cup|1986–87]]
*[[Forfarshire Cup]]: 1971–72,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1971/72 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3791 | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> 1974–75,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1974/75  | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3812 | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021 }}</ref> 1975–76,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1975/76 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3821 | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> 1976–77,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1976/77 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3845 | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> 1979–80,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1979/80 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3861  | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> 1984–85,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup 1984/85 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=4792  | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> 1986–87,<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1986/87 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=4772  | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> 1987–88<ref>{{cite news | title=Forfarshire Cup Final 1987/88 | url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=4797  | publisher=Arab Archive | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>

===Individual===
*[[SFWA Manager of the Year]]: 1987
*[[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]]: 2005
*[[Dundee United F.C.#Noted players|Dundee United Hall of Fame]]: 2015<ref>{{cite news | title=Jim McLean one of Scotland's greatest managers | url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/20245/12174167/jim-mclean-one-of-scotlands-greatest-managers-says-andy-walker  | publisher=[[Sky Sports]] | date=28 December 2020 | access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref>
*[[Scottish Football Association|SFA]] Special Merit Award: 1985<ref>{{cite news | work=[[The Guardian]] | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/27/jim-mclean-obituary  | title=Dundee United's Jim McLean | date=27 December 2020 | access-date=}}</ref> 
*Honorary Doctor of Law from [[University of Dundee]]: 2011<ref>{{cite news | title=Giant of the game recognised by United | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jimspence/2011/09/giant_of_the_game_recognised_b.html  | publisher = [[BBC]] | work=[[BBC News]] | date=7 September 2011 | access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>
* Scottish Personality{{ efn | Mackinlay's Football Personality of the Year split into separate Manager and Player of the Year awards in 1984–85. Voted for by panel of football journalists.}} / Manager of the Year:  [[1980–81 in Scottish football|1980–81]],<ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810529/391/0020 | title = Award for McLean | newspaper = Press & Journal | access-date = 7 May 2022 | date = 29 May 1981 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access=subscription}}</ref> [[1986–87 in Scottish football|1986–87]]<ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19870523/490/0022 | title = Anderson joins United | newspaper = Press & Journal | access-date = 7 May 2022 | date = 23 May 1987 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access = subscription}}<br>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19870523/236/0015 | title = McLean is named top manager | newspaper = Dundee Courier | access-date = 7 May 2022 | date = 23 May 1987 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of longest managerial reigns in association football]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last1=McLean|first1=Jim|last2=Gallacher|first2=Ken|title=Jousting With Giants : the Jim McLean Story|date=1987|publisher=Mainstream|location=Edinburgh|isbn=1-85158-088-3}}

== External links ==
* {{NeilBrownPlayers|player4/jimmclean}}

{{Dundee United F.C. managers}}
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{{SFWA Manager of the Year}}
{{Scottish Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Dundee United F.C. Hall of Fame}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McLean, Jim}}
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