Don Mackay
Encyclopedia
Donald Mackay is a Scottish
former professional football
player and manager.
and made 104 appearances. He was then signed for Dundee United
by Jerry Kerr, for whom he made 170 appearances. This is still the second most appearances made by a goal keeper for Dundee Utd, behind keeping legend Hamish McAlpine. He was then given a free transfer by Jim McLean, after ten years of loyal service to the Utd cause, where he finished his 16 year professional playing career with Southend United
after only 13 appearances.
youth team between 1974 to 1978, where he was part of the backroom staff that won promotion to the then English First Division, he began his management career in Nørresundby
managing the local side Norresundby, gaining promotion in his first season there. He returned to Scotland in 1980 when he was appointed manager of Dundee
, winning promotion to the Scottish Premier League
with the club, again in his first season in charge. After several high profile departures from the Dundee first team, Mackay eventually left the club in 1983.
After a short time away from the game, Bobby Gould approached him to be his assistant at Coventry City. Bobby was sacked after a poor run of results and Don was asked to take charge, where the club staved off relegation by famously winning their last three games of the season, to retain their First Division Status.
Following the sack at Coventry, Mackay went to work as reserve-team coach at Rangers
, alongside ex playing colleague Walter Smith
and the manager Graeme Souness
. Despite a successful spell at Rangers, Mackay wanted to manage in his own right, and therefore moved onto Blackburn Rovers
. They narrowly missed the play-offs in his first season in charge, but did win the Full Members Cup, beating the likes of Chelsea, Everton and Charlton along the way.
In the next two seasons at Blackburn they made the play offs, losing out on promotion both times. Following a relatively poor final season in charge, he was relieved of his position there and went onto manage Fulham
, His first season at Fulham was promising but results deteriorated the following year and following a defeat at Leyton Orient he was dismissed, results did not improve and Fulham were eventually relegated to the Fourth Division.
Mackay then worked as a scout for Arsenal
, where he discovered the young Freddie Ljungberg. Mackay then had a stint as chief scout of St. Johnstone. He then teamed up with Steve Archibald
at Airdrie
. Despite the financial difficulties experienced by the club, they managed to win the Scottish Challenge Cup in their only season in charge.
He was employed by Middlesbrough
as a scout from December 2001 through to June 2007, before moving to join Leicester City
under Martin Allen. His role as sporting director was short-lived, however.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager.
As player
He was a goalkeeper and played for Forfar AthleticForfar Athletic F.C.
Forfar Athletic Football Club are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Forfar, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division...
and made 104 appearances. He was then signed for Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
by Jerry Kerr, for whom he made 170 appearances. This is still the second most appearances made by a goal keeper for Dundee Utd, behind keeping legend Hamish McAlpine. He was then given a free transfer by Jim McLean, after ten years of loyal service to the Utd cause, where he finished his 16 year professional playing career with Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
after only 13 appearances.
As manager
After a spell coaching the Bristol CityBristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
youth team between 1974 to 1978, where he was part of the backroom staff that won promotion to the then English First Division, he began his management career in Nørresundby
Nørresundby
Nørresundby, a part of Aalborg Municipality, is a northern neighbourhood in Aalborg, north of the Limfjord, in Vendsyssel, in Denmark. The urban area has a population of 21,376 ....
managing the local side Norresundby, gaining promotion in his first season there. He returned to Scotland in 1980 when he was appointed manager of Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, winning promotion to the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
with the club, again in his first season in charge. After several high profile departures from the Dundee first team, Mackay eventually left the club in 1983.
After a short time away from the game, Bobby Gould approached him to be his assistant at Coventry City. Bobby was sacked after a poor run of results and Don was asked to take charge, where the club staved off relegation by famously winning their last three games of the season, to retain their First Division Status.
Following the sack at Coventry, Mackay went to work as reserve-team coach at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, alongside ex playing colleague Walter Smith
Walter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
and the manager Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
. Despite a successful spell at Rangers, Mackay wanted to manage in his own right, and therefore moved onto Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. They narrowly missed the play-offs in his first season in charge, but did win the Full Members Cup, beating the likes of Chelsea, Everton and Charlton along the way.
In the next two seasons at Blackburn they made the play offs, losing out on promotion both times. Following a relatively poor final season in charge, he was relieved of his position there and went onto manage Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, His first season at Fulham was promising but results deteriorated the following year and following a defeat at Leyton Orient he was dismissed, results did not improve and Fulham were eventually relegated to the Fourth Division.
Mackay then worked as a scout for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, where he discovered the young Freddie Ljungberg. Mackay then had a stint as chief scout of St. Johnstone. He then teamed up with Steve Archibald
Steve Archibald
Steven Archibald is a former Scottish football player and manager.- Club career :He first came to prominence playing in midfield for Scottish First Division side Clyde, but was converted to striker when he signed for Aberdeen, forging a prolific partnership with Joe Harper...
at Airdrie
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
. Despite the financial difficulties experienced by the club, they managed to win the Scottish Challenge Cup in their only season in charge.
He was employed by Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
as a scout from December 2001 through to June 2007, before moving to join Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
under Martin Allen. His role as sporting director was short-lived, however.
External links
- Don Mackay managerial statistics at soccerbase.com