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Fullname: Adam McLean
Born: 27 April 1899
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 1917
Position: Left-winger
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 4 Caps

Biog

Adam McLean was a much loved traditional tricky winger whose abundance of skill made him a great Celtic Park favourite.

McLean was a boyhood Partick Thistle fan who was brought up for much of his youth in Belfast before moving to Greenock. He signed for Celtic in January 1917 and made his debut on the 20th of that month in a 1-1 league draw at Dumbarton.

Stocky, strong and a wonderful dribbler McLean – who played mainly on the left - would terrorise defenders with his rampaging and mazy runs. He was also a superb crosser of the ball and time after time McLean’s runs and crosses provided the ammunition for the great Jimmy McGrory to fire home another goal.

Indeed McGrory believed McLean to be at least the equal to the legendary Rangers winger Alan Morton who was often preferred by the Scotland selectors to the Celtic man.

McLean was not however just a supplier of goals and he was more than capable of cutting in off his wing and riffling the ball into the net.

He was a more effective and constructive player than Tommy McInally was on the right wing but together the pair certainly provided a fearsome problem for opposition defences. The Parkhead faithful loved the cavalier attacking style of McLean and McInally. But in moves which outraged fans both players were transferred to Sunderland in the summer of 1928, a reluctant move by McLean stemming from a dispute over contract terms.

By then McLean – who was capped four times by his country - had played 408 games and scored 138 goals for the Bhoys, winning three league championships and three Scottish Cups.

McLean was a rare talent and some Celtic historians claim he is the greatest left-winger to ever don the Hoops. Certainly the Bhoys suffered from his departure and it took many years before an adequate replacement was ever found.

A true Celtic great.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League Championship

• 1918-19,
• 1921-22,
• 1925-26

Scottish Cup

• 1923,
• 1925,
• 1927

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