Wikipedia

Murdo MacLeod

For the snooker player, see Murdo MacLeod (snooker player). For the Scottish historian, see Murdo J. MacLeod.

Murdo Davidson MacLeod[2] (born 24 September 1958 in Glasgow) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. MacLeod, who played as a midfielder, made 20 appearances for Scotland and played in the 1990 World Cup Finals. He had a successful club career, mainly with Dumbarton, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and Hibernian. He then became a manager during the mid-1990s, serving both Dumbarton and Partick Thistle. MacLeod then returned to Celtic as assistant manager, enjoying a successful season in tandem with Wim Jansen. Since leaving Celtic as a result of Jansen's departure from Celtic Park in 1998, MacLeod has worked as a football pundit for newspapers, radio and television.

Murdo MacLeod
Personal information
Full name Murdo Davidson MacLeod
Date of birth (1958-09-24) 24 September 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Glasgow Amateurs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1978 Dumbarton 90 (9)
1978–1987 Celtic 281 (55)
1987–1990 Borussia Dortmund 103 (4)
1990–1993 Hibernian 78 (2)
1993–1995 Dumbarton 66 (1)
1995–1997 Partick Thistle 1 (0)
Total 619 (71)
International career
1978 Scottish League XI 1 (0)
1985–1991 Scotland 20 (1)
Managerial career
1993–1995 Dumbarton
1995–1997 Partick Thistle
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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MacLeod made his name with Dumbarton in the mid-1970s. He earned selection by the Scottish League in 1978, playing in a 1–1 draw against the Italian League.[3] MacLeod moved to Celtic later that year for a £100,000 transfer fee.[4] During his nine years at Celtic Park, MacLeod won four league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup. MacLeod scored a goal that helped Celtic win the league championship in 1979, in a decisive match against Rangers. In 2000, Celtic supporters voted that it was the greatest ever goal scored in an Old Firm derby game.

MacLeod rejected a contract offer from Celtic in May 1987[5] and moved to German club Borussia Dortmund a month later.[6] MacLeod played in 103 Bundesliga games during four years at the Westfalenstadion. He won the German Cup and Super Cup in 1989.[7][8] He returned to Scotland with Hibernian, where he captained the club to a victory in the 1991 Scottish League Cup Final.

MacLeod had to wait until late in his career before becoming a Scotland regular. He made his debut appearance as a substitute against England in the 1985 Rous Cup.[9] He made his first starting appearance for Scotland in October 1986, aged 28.[9] MacLeod went on to win a total of 20 caps, playing in the 1990 FIFA World Cup tournament.[10]

Coaching career

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After a successful playing career, he returned to Dumbarton as player-coach. He guided the club to promotion from the Second Division with a last day win over Stirling Albion in 1995. In the summer of 1995, MacLeod left the Sons to manage Premier Division club Partick Thistle. MacLeod's tenure at Firhill was unsuccessful, as the club were relegated at the end of the 1995–96 season. He re-joined Celtic as assistant coach under Wim Jansen, where he helped the club win a league and Scottish League Cup double in 1997–98, their only season in charge.[11]

Media work

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MacLeod has written for the Daily Record and commentated on football for BBC Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland.[11] MacLeod has also worked as a Scottish football analyst on Newstalk radio in Ireland. In 2012, he starred on the CBeebies show "My Story" with his grandsons, Murdo Jr. and Ross.[10]

Personal life

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MacLeod was admitted to Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank during January 2010 to have a heart operation.[11]

MacLeod endorsed the Conservative Party in the 2010 General Election, campaigning for their candidate in the Argyll & Bute constituency.[12] During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum he was a supporter of the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.[13]

Honours

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Player

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Celtic

Borussia Dortmund

Hibernian

Scotland

Manager

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Dumbarton

See also

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References

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  1. ^ {"Murdo MacLeod". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Murdo MacLeod". London Hearts. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Murdo MacLeod". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  4. ^ Paul, Ian (6 May 1983). "MacLeod refuses to re-sign for Celtic". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  5. ^ Reynolds, Jim (14 May 1987). "MacLeod joins list of Parkhead rebels". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  6. ^ Reynolds, Jim (15 June 1987). "Johnston opts to sign for Nantes". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b "DFB-Pokal, 1988/1989, Finale". dfb.de. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Deutscher Supercup, 1989, Finale". dfb.de. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b Reynolds, Jim (15 October 1986). "MacLeod finally earns his Scotland place". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  10. ^ a b Hendry, Steve (23 September 2012). "Scotland legend Murdo MacLeod looks back on infamous game with Brazil that left him dazed". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  11. ^ a b c "Ex-Celt Murdo MacLeod makes progress from heart surgery". BBC Sport. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Ex-Scotland footballer Murdo MacLeod backs Tories". BBC News. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  13. ^ Torcuil Crichton. "Independence referendum: Football legends unite to back Better Together campaign – Daily Record". dailyrecord. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  14. ^ "DFB-Supercup 1989" (in German). DFB. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Rous-ing win for makeshift Scots". Glasgow Herald. 27 May 1985. p. 15 – via Google News Archive.
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