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Fullname: Adam McLean
Born: 27 April 1899
Died: 29 July 1973
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 17 January 1917
Left: 27 August 1928 (to Sunderland)
Position: Left-winger
Debut: Celtic 1-1 Dumbarton, League, 20 Jan 1917
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 4 Caps
International Goals: 1
Biog
McLean was a boyhood Partick Thistle fan who was brought up for much of his youth in Belfast (although was born in Glasgow) before moving back to Scotland to Greenock. He signed for Celtic in January 1917 and made his debut on the 20th of that month in a 1-1 league draw at Dumbarton. He was still a teenager at this point and he was introduced slowly to the first team, with just a handful of games in his first season.
Making himself a full first team start, the stocky, strong and wonderful dribbler McLean – who played mainly on the left – went on to terrorise defenders with his rampaging and mazy runs. He was also a superb crosser of the ball and time after time McLean’s runs and crosses provided the ammunition for the great Jimmy McGrory to fire home another goal.
It is oft forgotten that McGrory’s achievements was part in due to the quality of those around him, with Adam McLean being a chief contributor to McGrory’s phenomenal success. Other greats such as McInally & McColl benefited from having the wonderful McLean alongside them rather than against. McLean had actually arrived at Celtic as a Centre Forward but was moved to the wing.
Indeed McGrory believed McLean to be at least the equal to the legendary Rangers winger Alan Morton who was often preferred by the Scotland selectors to the Celtic man. Another reason for the dismay by Celtic supporters for the treatment of many of their players from the Scotland selectors.
McLean was not however just a supplier of goals and he was more than capable of cutting in off his wing and riffling the ball into the net.
He was a more effective and constructive player than Tommy McInally was on the right wing but together the pair certainly provided a fearsome problem for opposition defences. The Parkhead faithful loved the cavalier attacking style of McLean and McInally which was to be a fruitful partnership for the first team.
Adam McLean was to be a mainstay in the first team squad for much of the 1920’s and a bulwark in the side which helped to build a foundation for the club that led to some great silverware. Possibly, his longevity in the side and his lack of flamboyance (compared to others) meant that due to this he was taken for granted and undervalued by sections of the Celtic support.
However, in moves which outraged fans both players were transferred to Sunderland in the summer of 1928, a reluctant move by McLean stemming from a dispute over contract terms.
By then McLean – who was capped four times by his country – had played 408 games and scored 138 goals for the Bhoys, winning three league championships and three Scottish Cups.
McLean was a rare talent and some Celtic historians claim he is the greatest left-winger to ever don the Hoops. Certainly the Bhoys suffered from his departure and it took many years before an adequate replacement was ever found.
His time at Sunderland wasn’t a huge success, and he returned up north to play for Aberdeen where he ended up playing a major part in putting an end to the Aberdeen ‘match-fixing’ scandal of 1931 when he refused to take part and blew the whistle on the racket. Showed he had morals and self-respect. Something we can very much admire.
After hanging up his boots, he enjoyed stints in coaching football in Norway (1939) and then late on in his career he became the assistant manager at Partick Thistle (1962).
A true Celtic great, still much respected. He passed away in 1973.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1917-28 | 367 | 41 | n/a | n/a | 408 |
| Goals | 119 | 19 | – | – | 138 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League Championship
Scottish Cup
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