Generally remembered only as the manager of Scotland's national football team during the ill-fated trip to the 1978 World Cup, Ally MacLeod was a colourful character who in fact gave far more to the Scottish game. From Third Lanark to St Mirren, Blackburn Rovers, Hibernian and Ayr United, Ally was a successful player and campaigner in the abolition of footballers' minimum wage. His managerial career with Ayr United, Aberdeen, Airdrie, Motherwell and Queen of the South is also assessed with contributions from his family, supporters and former players. Which of the Old Firm clubs approached him shortly after he was appointed manager of Scotland? What drove him to the brink of resignation prior to setting off for Argentina? Did he really underestimate Peru and why did he not travel to watch them play? How did one of Scottish football's oldest trophies come to be discarded within the MacLeod household? And why didn't he select Andy Gray for Argentina and not play Derek Johnstone? If you think all there was to the man was Peru and Iran, think again and read the truth about Ally MacLeod.
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World ex GB
Author Biography
Ronnie McDevitt is the author of We'll Support You Evermore, based on his experiences of following Scotland overseas, and Except For Viewers in Scotland, on football broadcasting. Ronnie joined 'Ally's Tartan Army' in the 1970s, has attended over 100 away internationals and has not missed a Scotland match at Hampden since 1977.
