James (Jim) McLean


1937 -

Football Manager. Born in Larkhall (South Lanarkshire), McLean grew up in nearby Ashgill. He began in football with Hamilton Academicals in 1956, moving on to Clyde in 1960, Dundee in 1965 and ending his playing career in Kilmarnock in 1970. He served as coach at Dundee for a short period before crossing over to Dundee United at Tannadice Park who, at that stage, were the much less successful of the two Dundee teams. He was to manage the Tangerines for 21 years, taking them to considerable success in the 1980s. These successes included becoming Scottish League Champions (1983), winning the Scottish League Cup in 1980 and 1981 (runners-up in 1982 and 1985) and runners-up in the UEFA Cup in 1987.

Despite being wooed by Rangers and Newcastle United, McLean stuck with Dundee United and was appointed a Director in 1984 and Chairman and Managing Director in 1988. He stepped down as Manager in 1993 and as Chairman in 2000, but remained the United's largest shareholder until 2002 when he severed all ties with the Club.


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