Ross MacLaren
Encyclopedia
Ross MacLaren, sometimes erroneously spelled McLaren, (born 14 April 1962 in Edinburgh
) is a former football Defensive Central Midfielder
and coach.
, having joined them from Rangers
. He joined the club in 1980 and was there for four seasons playing 161 games and scoring 18 times. It was at Shrewsbury that he first moved from the role of a Midfielder to that of a Defender.
He moved to Derby County in 1985 for a fee of £67,00 and was voted Rams player of the year in his first season 1985-86, in which Derby were promoted to Division Two
. An ever present player in the team in his first two seasons, MacLaren was a key figure in Derby's second successive promotion; winning the Second Division Championship in his second season at the Baseball Ground
.
In August 1988, he was bought by Swindon Town
manager Lou Macari
for £165,000, having previously being valued at £450,000.
Playing as a defensive midfield player, MacLaren was known for accurate long passes and his powerful shooting from outside the area, Swindon scored many goals from rebounds after the opposing goalkeeper was unable to hold one of MacLaren's shots. He was also handed the responsibility of being the club's penalty taker.
Under Ossie Ardiles
the following season, MacLaren was ever-present as the defensive player in Ossie's diamond-shaped midfield. The season ended with a Wembley
appearance, as the club were promoted to Division One
after the 1-0 win over Sunderland
, only to be demoted by the League ten days later.
MacLaren missed just one game in 1990-91 and played the first 32 league matches the following year until a hernia
problem brought an end to his season. The injury and related operations kept him out of the side for almost a year, returning to action at the end of January 1993. Though MacLaren seemed to have piled on the pounds, seven wins out of the next ten games helped Swindon secure a play-off place. This resulted in MacLaren's second successful visit to Wembley with the club, as they beat Leicester 4-3 and were promoted into the FA Premier League
.
After five years loyal service, he was also handed the captaincy for the Premier League season by new manager John Gorman
. Though he was never a quick player, the extra weight that MacLaren was carrying seemed to slow him even more. He made just twelve appearances that season, with the club winning none of the matches he played in.
A recurrence of his hernia problem kept him out of the side again for a period, and the 1994-95 season proved to be his last, a comeback lasting just three games - his last game for Swindon Town coming on 26 November 1994, in a 2-1 defeat at Luton.
In his career with just three clubs Maclaren played 480 times, 466 of them from the start, and scored 31 goals.
's resignation.
MacLaren then became the Chief Scout at Aston Villa
, working under John Gregory for the first time. Due to the managerial shake-up at Aston Villa in February 2002, he left Villa Park
with Gregory to become a coach at Derby County
. Suspended by Derby for six-weeks on 21 March 2003, MacLaren left the club by mutual consent on 10 May 2003.
He took over the management of Southend
's under-18 team before returning to League football as assistant manager of League Two
club Notts County
. He left the club at the end of the 2005-06 season when his contract was not renewed.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) is a former football Defensive Central Midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and coach.
Playing career
MacLaren's League career in England began with Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, having joined them from 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...
. He joined the club in 1980 and was there for four seasons playing 161 games and scoring 18 times. It was at Shrewsbury that he first moved from the role of a Midfielder to that of a Defender.
He moved to Derby County in 1985 for a fee of £67,00 and was voted Rams player of the year in his first season 1985-86, in which Derby were promoted to Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. An ever present player in the team in his first two seasons, MacLaren was a key figure in Derby's second successive promotion; winning the Second Division Championship in his second season at the Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
.
In August 1988, he was bought by Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
manager Lou Macari
Lou Macari
Luigi "Lou" Macari is a Scottish former footballer and football manager of Italian descent.-Playing career:...
for £165,000, having previously being valued at £450,000.
Playing as a defensive midfield player, MacLaren was known for accurate long passes and his powerful shooting from outside the area, Swindon scored many goals from rebounds after the opposing goalkeeper was unable to hold one of MacLaren's shots. He was also handed the responsibility of being the club's penalty taker.
Under Ossie Ardiles
Osvaldo Ardiles
Osvaldo César Ardiles , often referred to in Britain as Ossie Ardiles, is a football coach, pundit and former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup as part of the Argentine national team...
the following season, MacLaren was ever-present as the defensive player in Ossie's diamond-shaped midfield. The season ended with a Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
appearance, as the club were promoted to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
after the 1-0 win over Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, only to be demoted by the League ten days later.
MacLaren missed just one game in 1990-91 and played the first 32 league matches the following year until a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
problem brought an end to his season. The injury and related operations kept him out of the side for almost a year, returning to action at the end of January 1993. Though MacLaren seemed to have piled on the pounds, seven wins out of the next ten games helped Swindon secure a play-off place. This resulted in MacLaren's second successful visit to Wembley with the club, as they beat Leicester 4-3 and were promoted into the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
.
After five years loyal service, he was also handed the captaincy for the Premier League season by new manager John Gorman
John Gorman (footballer)
John Gorman is a Scottish former football player and coach. He is currently Assistant Manager at MK Dons in the English League One....
. Though he was never a quick player, the extra weight that MacLaren was carrying seemed to slow him even more. He made just twelve appearances that season, with the club winning none of the matches he played in.
A recurrence of his hernia problem kept him out of the side again for a period, and the 1994-95 season proved to be his last, a comeback lasting just three games - his last game for Swindon Town coming on 26 November 1994, in a 2-1 defeat at Luton.
In his career with just three clubs Maclaren played 480 times, 466 of them from the start, and scored 31 goals.
Coaching
After retiring, MacLaren moved behind the scenes at Swindon and became the club's Reserve Team Coach. He was sacked in a cost-cutting move in 1998, seven other members of staff were also made redundant in a move that brought about Steve McMahonSteve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
's resignation.
MacLaren then became the Chief Scout at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, working under John Gregory for the first time. Due to the managerial shake-up at Aston Villa in February 2002, he left Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
with Gregory to become a coach at Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. Suspended by Derby for six-weeks on 21 March 2003, MacLaren left the club by mutual consent on 10 May 2003.
He took over the management of Southend
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...
's under-18 team before returning to League football as assistant manager of League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He left the club at the end of the 2005-06 season when his contract was not renewed.
External links
- Player Profile - Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk
- Player Profile - Sporting Heroes