Gordon McQueen
McQueen playing for Manchester United in 1983
Personal information
Date of birth (1952-06-26)26 June 1952[1]
Place of birth Kilbirnie, Scotland[2]
Date of death 15 June 2023(2023-06-15) (aged 70)
Place of death Hutton Rudby, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1972 St Mirren 57 (5)
1972–1978 Leeds United 141 (15)
1978–1985 Manchester United 184 (20)
1985–1986 Seiko
Total 381 (40)
International career
1974–1981 Scotland 30 (5)
Managerial career
1987–1988 Airdrieonians
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gordon McQueen (26 June 1952 – 15 June 2023) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a centre-back for St Mirren, Leeds United and Manchester United, in addition to the Scotland national team.

McQueen started his footballing career at St Mirren in 1970, but in 1972 was bought by Leeds for £30,000 to replace Jack Charlton. He was a central figure during the 1973–74 campaign, during which the Leeds team were undefeated for the first 29 matches and won the title. McQueen scored three times during the club's European Cup campaign the following season, but was suspended for the final, which Leeds lost. After a controversial move to Leeds' arch-rivals Manchester United, he won the 1983 FA Cup Final. McQueen joined Seiko in Hong Kong for one season in 1985, before retiring and moving into coaching; in that capacity, he managed Airdrieonians and St Mirren for periods in the 1980s.

McQueen played thirty times for Scotland, scoring five goals and winning the 1976–77 British Home Championship.

Club career

McQueen was a goalkeeper (the position in which his father Tom had played professionally)[3][4] as a schoolboy but later switched to centre-back. He was signed at the age of 18 by St Mirren. He soon had scouts from other clubs monitoring his progress and it was Leeds United who finally offered £30,000 (£420,000 today) in the 1972 close season, seeing him as a long-term replacement for the ageing Jack Charlton.[5] Charlton played for some of the 1972–73 season but had decided to retire as the season was drawing to a close.[6] McQueen played on six occasions in his first season at Leeds, including a substitute appearance in the 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final, which Leeds lost to A.C. Milan.[7]

With Charlton retired and Madeley playing in many positions, McQueen was in the team for most of the 1973–74 season. Leeds won the League Championship, with a run of 29 matches without a defeat from the start of the season with McQueen playing alongside Norman Hunter as Leeds' first-choice centre back pairing.[7] Known for his heading, his 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) stature and his stubborn attitude, McQueen played a significant role in the team's success.[7][8] McQueen and Hunter excelled at the back the following season, notably in Leeds' campaign in the European Cup, during which McQueen scored three goals. He was suspended for the 1975 European Cup Final after being sent off in the semi-final versus Barcelona. Leeds went on to lose 2–0 in the final versus Bayern Munich.[6]

In February 1978, McQueen moved from Leeds to their arch-rivals Manchester United for £500,000[3] (£3,100,000 today). On signing, he said that "99% of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars."[9] He had declared only weeks earlier in Shoot magazine that he wanted to stay at Elland Road for his entire career. He played in the 1979 FA Cup Final against Arsenal, scoring United's first of two goals in the 86th minute, but again finished on the losing side.[10]

McQueen finally gained an FA Cup winner's medal in the 1983 FA Cup final, which United won after a replay versus Brighton & Hove Albion.[11] Earlier that season he was also in the team defeated by Liverpool in the League Cup final,[12] in which he was used as a centre-forward because he was injured and United had already made their only permitted substitution.[12] He left Old Trafford in the 1985 close season, having suffered from persistent knee injuries.[13] After one season with Seiko in the Hong Kong First Division, he retired from playing.[13]

International career

At the end of the 1973–74 season McQueen was called up to the Scotland squad and made his international debut versus Belgium.[14][15] He was selected for the 1974 World Cup squad, but did not play.[15] He soon became a regular for Scotland, and he captained the team and also scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw against Romania on 1 June 1975.[15][16] He achieved great success with Scotland in 1977, as he scored goals against Northern Ireland at Hampden then England at Wembley as the Scots won the British Home Championship[15][17] and later that year he helped the team qualify for the 1978 World Cup by beating Wales at Anfield.[15] Although he was selected for the 1978 World Cup squad,[15] he could not play due to injury. McQueen played his last match for Scotland in 1981, having gained thirty caps and scored five goals.[18]

Post-playing career

McQueen coached abroad before he was the manager of Airdrieonians for a short spell,[19] before coaching at his first club St Mirren.[3] When McQueen's friend and former team-mate Bryan Robson was appointed the manager of Middlesbrough, McQueen joined him as reserve-team coach.[20] He held this position for five years, and was then a first-team coach for two years.[20] McQueen left the Teesside club in June 2001, following the departure of Robson and the appointment of Steve McClaren.[20] McQueen then joined Sky Sports as a pundit, working on their Soccer Saturday results show.[21]

On 29 April 2008, McQueen returned to Middlesbrough as assistant scout, alongside David Mills.[22]

Personal life

After coaching Middlesbrough, McQueen and his wife lived in the village of Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire. The couple had a son and two daughters, including Hayley, who is a sports journalist.[23] Politically, McQueen was a Labour supporter.[24]

In October 2011, McQueen was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and started treatment at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.[25] In January 2021, he was diagnosed with vascular dementia.[26] This highlighted the issue of injuries caused to footballers by persistent heading of a ball.[27][28] He died from complications of dementia at home on 15 June 2023, at the age of 70.[29][30]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year[17][18][31]
National team Year Apps Goals
Scotland 1974 2 0
1975 7 1
1976 2 0
1977 6 2
1978 6 1
1979 6 1
1980 –
1981 1 0
Total 30 5
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each goal.
List of international goals scored[18][31]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 June 1975 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest  Romania 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying
2 1 June 1977 Hampden Park, Glasgow  Northern Ireland 3–0 3–0 1976–77 British Home Championship
3 4 June 1977 Wembley Stadium, London  England 1–0 2–1 1976–77 British Home Championship
4 20 September 1978 Praterstadion, Vienna  Austria 1–3 2–3 UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
5 7 June 1979 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo  Norway 4–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying

Honours

Leeds United[32]

Manchester United[32][33]

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gordon McQueen". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. ^ "GORDON McQUEEN at the Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database". Neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. 26 June 1952.
  3. ^ a b c d "RedCafe.net – Gordon McQueen 1977–1985". Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  4. ^ Vallance, Matt (6 March 2015). "Tom McQueen". The Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Gordon McQueen at". Leeds-fans.org.uk.
  6. ^ a b "Gordon McQueen at Leeds United MAD". Leedsutd-mad.co.uk.
  7. ^ a b c "Gordon McQueen Obituary". The Guardian. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Gordon McQueen: Remembering the Scotland, Man Utd & Leeds Utd great". 15 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Gordon McQueen '99 Percent' Quote T-Shirt". Tshirtsunited.com.
  10. ^ "BBC – Manchester – Sport – 1979 FA Cup Final". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. ^ Pye, Steven (21 April 2023). "When Manchester United beat Brighton in the FA Cup final in 1983". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  12. ^ a b Murray, Scott; Smyth, Rob (27 February 2009). "The Joy of Six: League Cup final memories". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b Atkin, Nicolas; Kin-wa, Chan (16 June 2023). "Gordon McQueen, who has died at 70, remembered by fellow former Hong Kong football star Derek Currie – 'he was a lovely chap, full of mischief'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Gordon McQueen at Scotland the Complete record 1872 to 2005". Londonhearts.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Gordon McQueen 1952–2023". Scottish FA. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  16. ^ "International Matches". Scottish FA. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Scotland – Record International Players at RSSSF". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  18. ^ a b c Gordon McQueen at the Scottish Football Association
  19. ^ "The Stomp – Managers 1984–1988". Thefootballnetwork.net. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  20. ^ a b c "McQueen quits Boro". BBC Sport. 15 June 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Former Sky Sports pundit Gordon McQueen dies aged 70". tvnewsroom.co.uk. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Mills and McQueen Boost Recruitment Team". Middlesbrough F.C. 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  23. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (15 March 2014). "Hayley McQueen: 'I went to Wimpy dressed as Kylie'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2016. As much as having a dad in football [Gordon McQueen] goes against me sometimes because I have the nepotism card thrown in my face, it helps because no one is going to mess with a 6ft 5in defender who was part of the Dirty Leeds crew.
  24. ^ Ronay, Barney (25 April 2007). "Anyone want to play on the left?". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Gordon McQueen to have cancer treatment in Middlesbrough". BBC. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  26. ^ "McQueen diagnosed with dementia". BBC Sport. 23 February 2021.
  27. ^ "'Were Gordon McQueen's goals worth it?' asks Scotland legend's brother following dementia diagnosis". Daily Record. 24 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Gordon McQueen: Daughter Hayley wants limit on heading after father's dementia diagnosis". BBC Sport. 9 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Gordon McQueen: Scotland, Manchester United, and Leeds United great dies aged 70". BBC Sport. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  30. ^ "Gordon McQueen, former Scotland and Man Utd footballer, dies aged 70". The Times. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  31. ^ a b Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Gordon McQueen". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  32. ^ a b c "Gordon McQueen – Scottish Football Hall of Fame". Scottish Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  33. ^ "Manchester United celebrate with the FA Charity Shield after their..." Getty Images. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  34. ^ Lynch, Tony (1995). The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. London: Random House. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-09-179135-3.
  35. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 142.
  36. ^ "Every Leeds United Player of the Season winner since award was first handed out in 1970". Leeds Live. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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