Scotland mourns death of McLeod

Scottish football today united to mourn the death of former Scotland manager Ally McLeod, who died this morning.

McLeod, who led his country to the 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina, passed away peacefully at his home in Ayrshire at the age of 72 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Former Scotland international and Liverpool star Kenny Dalglish, whose Blackburn Rovers side played a testimonial game for him in 1993, led the tributes.

“Ally was a real larger than life character,” he said. “He was somebody who brought a great deal of humour into whatever company he was in.

“He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him not just in Ayr. The game nowadays could certainly do with more characters of his kind.”

Scotland legend Joe Jordan said he was very sad to hear of McLeod’s death.

“He was always the optimist,” Jordan said. “That’s what I would remember of him. He loved his football.

“It is a shame. It is very sad to hear of someone who has died at a relatively young age.”

Jordan, who best remembered for his time at Manchester United, said he first worked with McLeod when he played for Scotland.

“He was a person that never really changed – he was the same,” Jordan said.

“He only did a little bit during the World Cup in Argentina, when we were all under pressure.”

Jordan, who is now a soccer pundit, added: “I know that he was always very fair to me as a player and he was a person I worked with for a number of years at international level.

“I worked with him in 1978 at the World Cup and in 1977 when Scotland toured South America. I was injured for that tour but Ally still asked me to go anyway.”

The Scottish Football Association also paid tribute.

An SFA spokesman said: “Obviously everybody in Scottish football is saddened to hear of his death and although he is perhaps best known as the Scotland manager in ‘77 and ‘78, Ally was a guy who devoted his entire life to football as a player with several clubs and then as manager with Ayr, Aberdeen, Motherwell and Queen of the South.

“He was at Hampden as recently as last July to accept an award from the Tartan Army who presented him with a crystal decanter set in appreciation of his services to the national team and to Scottish football in general.

“That shows the high regard in which he was held by the people of Scotland.”

A left winger in his playing days with Hibernian and Blackburn, McLeod began his management career at Ayr before moving on to Aberdeen.

He returned to club management with Motherwell and Airdrie after Scotland’s poor World Cup showing in Argentina, when defeat against Peru and a draw against Iran prevented them progressing from the group stages.

Ayr director John Dalton described the news as “devastating”.

He said: “I’m on the board of Ayr United and I received a call today to tell me the sad news.

“It’s devastating news for every Ayr United supporter because Ally McLeod meant so much to us.

“He has been manager of the club three times and was a success every time and took Ayr United from nothing to a team to be reckoned with the likes of Rangers and Celtic.

“He was made freeman of the town and he was an absolute legend and his passing is a great loss to football.

“My thoughts are with his family. He meant so much to Ayr United, Scottish football and supporters everywhere.

“He was a fantastic character and his style of management was legendary. He got the best out of part-time players.”