Gordon McQueen
Encyclopedia
Gordon McQueen is a former Scottish
football player, who played as a central defender
for Leeds United
, Manchester United
and Scotland
.
. He soon had scouts from other clubs monitoring his progress, and it was Leeds who finally offered £30,000 in 1973, seeing him as a long-term replacement for the ageing Jack Charlton
.
final, with manager Don Revie
preferring the experience of utility player Paul Madeley
.
With Charlton gone and Madeley used as the team's player-of-all-positions, McQueen was in the team for most of the 1973–74 season. Leeds won the League Championship, going 29 games without defeat at the start of the season, and McQueen played a crucial part as Norman Hunter's defensive partner. At the end of the season, McQueen was called up to the Scotland
squad for his debut against Belgium.
McQueen and Hunter excelled at the back the following season, notably in Leeds' campaign in the European Cup
, during which McQueen scored three goals. McQueen was suspended for the final after being sent off in the semi-final against Barcelona; in the final, Leeds lost 2–0 to Bayern Munich.
McQueen was now a regular for Scotland; he was in the 1978 World Cup squad in Argentina
but did not play due to injury, and played his last match for Scotland in 1981, attaining 30 caps and scoring 5 goals for his country.
for £495,000. On signing he famously stated that '99% of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars'. McQueen helped Manchester United reach the FA Cup
final in 1979, scoring a late goal as Manchester United came back from 2–0 down against Arsenal
to level the scores (his 85th minute goal cutting the deficit to 2–1), only for their opponents to wrestle the Cup back with a last-minute winner. McQueen finally gained an FA Cup winner's medal in 1983 after a replay against Brighton & Hove Albion
. He also was in the team which lost the League Cup
final to Liverpool
in the same season.
McQueen finally left United in 1985, after losing his first team place to Paul McGrath
and not being included in the FA Cup final
side that beat Everton
1–0.
and coached his old club, St Mirren. When McQueen's friend and former team-mate Bryan Robson
became manager of Middlesbrough
, McQueen joined him as reserve team coach. He left the club when Robson did, and became a pundit for Sky Sports
.
It was announced on 29 April 2008 that he returned to Middlesbrough as an assistant scout, along with Boro legend David Mills
. McQueen, who still lives in the area, specifically the village of Hutton Rudby in North Yorkshire, and his son and two daughters, who are also Middlesbrough fans.
, who would become a sports journalist on Sky Sports and Manchester United's in-house TV channel MUTV
.
In October 2011 McQueen was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and started treatment at the James Cook University Hospital
in Middlesbrough, near his home in North Yorkshire.
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...
football player, who played as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Early career
McQueen was a goalkeeper as a schoolboy, but later switched to centre back. He was signed at the age of 18 by St. MirrenSt. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
. He soon had scouts from other clubs monitoring his progress, and it was Leeds who finally offered £30,000 in 1973, seeing him as a long-term replacement for the ageing Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
.
Leeds United
Charlton played for some of the 1973 season, but had decided to quit as it drew to a close. McQueen played six times in his first season at Leeds but missed out on the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
final, with manager Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
preferring the experience of utility player Paul Madeley
Paul Madeley
Paul Madeley was a footballer during Leeds United's glory era of the 1960s and 1970s and the last high-profile 'utility' player....
.
With Charlton gone and Madeley used as the team's player-of-all-positions, McQueen was in the team for most of the 1973–74 season. Leeds won the League Championship, going 29 games without defeat at the start of the season, and McQueen played a crucial part as Norman Hunter's defensive partner. At the end of the season, McQueen was called up to the Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
squad for his debut against Belgium.
McQueen and Hunter excelled at the back the following season, notably in Leeds' campaign in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, during which McQueen scored three goals. McQueen was suspended for the final after being sent off in the semi-final against Barcelona; in the final, Leeds lost 2–0 to Bayern Munich.
McQueen was now a regular for Scotland; he was in the 1978 World Cup squad in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
but did not play due to injury, and played his last match for Scotland in 1981, attaining 30 caps and scoring 5 goals for his country.
Manchester United
In February 1978, McQueen moved from Leeds to rivals Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
for £495,000. On signing he famously stated that '99% of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars'. McQueen helped Manchester United reach the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
final in 1979, scoring a late goal as Manchester United came back from 2–0 down against 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...
to level the scores (his 85th minute goal cutting the deficit to 2–1), only for their opponents to wrestle the Cup back with a last-minute winner. McQueen finally gained an FA Cup winner's medal in 1983 after a replay against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. He also was in the team which lost the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the same season.
McQueen finally left United in 1985, after losing his first team place to Paul McGrath
Paul McGrath (footballer)
Paul McGrath is a retired Irish footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland....
and not being included in the FA Cup final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
side that beat Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
1–0.
Post playing career
He coached abroad and then briefly managed AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians 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....
and coached his old club, St Mirren. When McQueen's friend and former team-mate Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
became manager of 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...
, McQueen joined him as reserve team coach. He left the club when Robson did, and became a pundit for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
.
It was announced on 29 April 2008 that he returned to Middlesbrough as an assistant scout, along with Boro legend David Mills
David Mills (footballer)
David Mills is an English former footballer most notable for his career with Middlesbrough and becoming Britain's first half-million pound footballer.-Middlesbrough:...
. McQueen, who still lives in the area, specifically the village of Hutton Rudby in North Yorkshire, and his son and two daughters, who are also Middlesbrough fans.
Personal life
He became a father in 1979 to Hayley McQueenHayley McQueen
Hayley McQueen is a TV sports presenter and reporter and RTS award winning producer. She is a presenter on Sky Sports News....
, who would become a sports journalist on Sky Sports and Manchester United's in-house TV channel MUTV
Manchester United TV
MUTV is an English subscription based television channel, operated by Manchester United FC. The channel first broadcast on 10 September 1998....
.
In October 2011 McQueen was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and started treatment at the James Cook University Hospital
James Cook University Hospital
The James Cook University Hospital is a 1010 bed major tertiary referral hospital and district general hospital in Middlesbrough, England, lying on Marton Road, a major route into the centre of Middlesbrough . It forms part of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, along with the Friarage...
in Middlesbrough, near his home in North Yorkshire.