Alec McNair

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Alec McNair
Alec McNair (1910 portrait).jpg
Personal information
Full name Alexander McNair
Date of birth (1883-12-26)26 December 1883
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Position(s) Right back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–1904 Stenhousemuir
1904–1925 Celtic 583 (8)
International career
1906–1920 Scotland 15 (0)
1919 Scotland (wartime) 3 (0)
1908–1920 Scottish League XI 16 (0)
Managerial career
1925–1927 Dundee
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alec McNair was a Scottish football player and manager. He played as a defender for Celtic and represented the Scotland national team in fifteen official internationals between 1906 and 1920. McNair also represented the Scottish League XI 16 times.[1] He then managed Dundee from 1925 until 1927.

McNair began his career at Stenhousemuir. He played at inside right and was a regular goalscorer, helping the club win the Scottish Qualifying Cup in 1901 and 1902.[2] McNair also played in the Stenhousemuir team that reached the Scottish Cup semi-final in 1903, losing 4-1 to Rangers.[2]

In May 1904, McNair signed for Celtic.[3] McNair initially played in a variety of positions, but when right-back Donnie McLeod left in 1908, McNair made that position his own.[3] He was an integral part of the Celtic side that won six successive league championships from 1904-05 to 1909-10.[4] McNair had exceptional positional sense and ability to anticipate his opponents moves.[4] He was a precise tackler and had confidence in his ability to dribble the ball out of his own penalty area rather than rashly boot it forward.[4] McNair was a calm and composed personality, and his demeanour earned him the nickname 'The Icicle'.[3][4] Willie Maley, the Celtic manager, described McNair as “The coolest, most intelligent player I have sever seen.”[2]

In his 21 years at Celtic. McNair played a total of 641 games for the club; winning the League Championship 12 times and the Scottish Cup 6 times.[3][4] He played his last game on 18 April 1925, a 1-1 draw with Queen's Park. He was 41 years old and is the oldest player ever to play for Celtic.[5]

McNair became manager of Dundee in June 1925. His first two seasons saw Dundee finish mid-table and then fifth. However, after a poor start to season 1927-28, McNair left Dens Park in October 1927. He then left full-time involvement in football to become a stockbroker, but still kept some involvement in the game by working as a referee supervisor.[6]

Honours

  • Scottish League: (12) 1904-05, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1918–19, 1921–22
  • Scottish Cup: (6) 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1923

References

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External links

Preceded by Celtic F.C. captain
1917–1920
Succeeded by
William Cringan