Latest news with #McLeish
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish reflects on Euro agony vs Panathinaikos and offers Walter Smith advice to Russell Martin
He's shared some memories of his early days at Ibrox GREEK TRAGEDY Ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish reflects on Euro agony vs Panathinaikos and offers Walter Smith advice to Russell Martin Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEX McLEISH saw his European dreams crushed the last time Rangers faced Panathinaikos in the Champions League. Now he hopes Russell Martin's side make amends on Tuesday night. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 6 Michael Mols' goal wasn't enough to stop Rangers going down to Panathinaikos 6 Alex McLeish's men needed to win at Ibrox to drop into the UEFA Cup 6 But the 3-1 defeat saw McLeish's charges crash out of Europe Eck was in charge at Ibrox when they hosted the Greeks in the group stages in December 2003. Back-to-back away defeats to Manchester United and Stuttgart, after a home loss to the Old Trafford side, had killed their knockout stage hopes. Gers had a solid start, beating the Germans in Govan and drawing away in Athens. Still, a win against the Greeks on matchday six would have seen Rangers into the Uefa Cup. But a 3-1 loss saw them finish bottom of Group E on goal difference. Michael Mols put Gers ahead, but goals from Raimondas Zutautas, Angelos Basinas and Michalis Konstantinou stunned Ibrox. McLeish said: 'We'd got past FC Copenhagen in the qualifying round then started the group well against Stuttgart. 'We could actually have won in Greece too — they scored right at the end to get a draw. 'But 1-1 was a good result, and four points out of six was a good start. 'We were a bit limp in the two United games, and went into the last game at Ibrox knowing a Uefa Cup place was the best we could get. New Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe's first interview 'Mols put us ahead but they equalised straight away, went in front, and hit us with a third on the break when we were pushing forward. 'It was a poor performance, and I just hope Rangers can make amends for it on Tuesday night. 'After the Treble in 2002-03 we'd made a lot of changes to the squad and we were in the middle of a rebuild. 'Barry Ferguson and Lorenzo Amoruso had joined Blackburn, Neil McCann went to Southampton, Arthur Numan had left. 'The squad was definitely weaker and it showed in the European games. 'It was still pretty close against Panathinaikos, but we weren't at the level of previous seasons.' McLeish knows the pressure is on new Gers boss Martin going into Tuesday's clash — but thought back to his first Old Firm game as manager, the CIS Cup semi-final in 2002, for inspiration. Eck added: 'I was staying in a hotel and I was stomping around my room the night before with all those thoughts in my head. Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd? Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah chew over the big talking points each week SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action? A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah? SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you! So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead! Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@ It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic! 'There had been a bit of scepticism about my appointment, and we were going into my first Old Firm game with Celtic going for back-to-back Trebles. 'I'd the wee devil on one side going, 'What if you never beat Celtic? You'll go down in history as a dumpling'. "And the wee angel was going, 'But what if you win? How good would it be?'. 'I rang Sir Alex Ferguson that night and had a chat, told him how we were going into the game as underdogs. 'He said to make sure my defence was locked tight, but also to make sure I'd one or two in the team with the X-factor. 'Being honest, I wasn't envisaging Bert Konterman as my X-factor guy! 6 "But he was the hero of the hour with his flash of inspiration to win the game. 'I get the fans' concern about whether there's been enough preparation for this. 'But it would be a fantastic boost if Russell got his tactics right and got a result. It would silence the doubters. 'For me, that Celtic game lit the touchpaper and we went on to win trophies. So it just takes one result. 6 Alex McLeish hopes Russell Martin fares better against the Greeks than he did "But Russell will know it's going to be tough. Greece's international team were really good against Scotland in the Nations League play-off in March. 'It's not going be a walkover and I don't think people are thinking that way. 'It might be that Rangers need that underdog mentality. Make sure they are absolutely watertight but still have a bit of flair, with match winners in the side. 'Russell had a very difficult job at Southampton and he knows the demands at Rangers. 'I think back to going to dinner with Walter Smith and our wives when I took over. "I asked if he had any tips for me, and he looked furtively over his shoulder and leaned forward towards me. 'I thought, 'Brilliant, I'm going to get some penetrating insight, the benefit of all his experience'. 6 'And he said, 'Just f****** win, that's all there is to it!'. I carried that into every single game. 'Russell has been at Rangers, he knows there are critics everywhere and that expectation of winning every week. 'It would be nice to go to Greece with a 2-0 lead. But it will be difficult.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Inside Rangers-daft tycoon's £1.8m mansion – it's got its own football pitch, pool & GOLF COURSE
The £1.8million property has also got a bar, entertainment room, guests annex and sauna BEAR PIT Inside Rangers-daft tycoon's £1.8m mansion – it's got its own football pitch, pool & GOLF COURSE Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS-daft rail tycoon Alan McLeish is flogging his swanky country pad for a jaw-dropping £1.8million. The self-made QTS mogul, 65, dubbed one of Scotland's richest men, has listed Bogside House near Monkton, Ayrshire following the end of his marriage to ex-wife Phyllis. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Alan McLeish 12 Bogside House is described as "one-of-a-kind" 12 The pad has its own football pitch, golf course and swimming pool The luxury pad - which the couple purchased in 2014 for £872,000 - comes complete with a floodlit 4G sports pitch, nine-hole golf course, indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. Inside there's a swanky bar and a custom-built entertainment and karaoke room. Outside there's an outdoor TV in the courtyard and a fire pit as well as a separate two-bedroom annex for guests, all set within lush private grounds. McLeish's love for the Ibrox side is evident in some of the pictures as framed Rangers jerseys adorn some of the walls inside the home. The property, which is being listed by Ayr and Irvine-based estate agents, Donald Ross Residential, is described as "one-of-a-kind". The listing says: "Bogside House is a truly exceptional lifestyle estate, offering a rare combination of luxury, privacy, and recreation across approximately 11 acres of immaculately landscaped grounds. "Whether unwinding in the games room, entertaining in the conservatory with built-in fire pit table, or strolling through the tranquil gardens, every element of Bogside House is crafted for luxury living and effortless entertaining. "This is a one-of-a-kind sanctuary, a rare offering in the marketplace, defined by its scale, versatility, and exclusivity." McLeish started his business Quality Tree Surgeons (QTS) back in 1991 after borrowing £300 from his mum to buy a chainsaw. Since then he turned QTS into a rail empire, eventually selling it for a whopping £80million in 2018. This house has appeared on dozens of hit TV shows - but would YOU recognise it? McLeish spent years throwing millions into his beloved Rangers FC and QTS sponsored rivals Kilmarnock for 10 years. McLeish, 65, and ex Phyllis settled their divorce last year for less than £125,000 - a fraction of the £16.5million Phyllis, a boss at Kilmarnock FC, had been initially asking for. 12 The walls are adorned by framed Rangers tops Credit: Donald Ross 12 The home has a swanky bar and entertainment area 12 The impressive hallway in the house has two staircases 12 The property boasts an indoor pool and jacuzzi 12 The rail tycoon's property is spread over 11 acres 12 The house is on the market for a cool £1.8million The exes were locked in a courtroom standoff for three years before reaching a deal. As part of the settlement Alan kept the Monkton mansion and agreed to cover half the value of two luxury homes in Spain. Alan's daughter Jennifer McLeish put her own luxury home on the market last year following a spate of firebombing attacks. In January 2023, thugs left vulgar sexual insults trashing Mcleish on walls in central Bothwell. Maniacs also drove a motor to her front gate before setting it ablaze and fleeing. The fire spread to the fence of McLeish's neighbour at the time, former Celtic star Leigh Griffiths. The attacks are understood to be linked to a fall-out between Mcleish's partner Brian McIlear and a known- Glasgow hood. In Hamilton, a wall in the David Lloyd gym car park was daubed with personal insults aimed at Jennifer. 12 The impressive property even boasts a sauna, as well as a gym, pool and steam room 12 The new owners will be able to relax in the steam room
STV News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- STV News
McLeish: Rangers need to get recruitment right to help Martin
Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish believes the Ibrox club need to get their recruitment right this summer to give new manager Russell Martin the best possible start. The American takeover of the club was quickly followed by the appointment of Martin, who has managed MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton in the past, and the new owners believe he is the man to help take the team to trophies and domestic success as well as progress in Europe. McLeish, who won seven major trophies including a table in his time as Rangers manager, says the takeover 'can only be good' for his former club and has created real positivity around Ibrox. But he says that with the squad needing rebuilt, there's no time to waste and after 'languishing' in recent years, 'it's time to pull their socks up and get to as high a level as they can against the big rivals Celtic'. He told STV: 'It's good to see Russell Martin in the job. Russell's been here for a small period of time but he will absolutely know what it's all about and get it. 'The demand from the fans is very, very high and it's probably one of about 20 clubs in the world where you have to win every week.' Fan reaction to Martin's appointment has been less than positive in some quarters, with his sacking after Southampton suffered in the Premier League last year being a reason that some fans would have preferred another candidate. McLeish says his players simply weren't as good as those in multi-million pound squads at opposition clubs and it was proof that a coach is limited without adequate signings. 'I think Russell has got a good personality,' he said. 'I think he's a confident guy. 'I don't think anyone gave them a chance at Southampton. As we saw, it was a very tough job with the players not being at as high a level as others. That's what happens, you're not as high as everyone else then you are going to be in trouble. 'It doesn't matter how great a coach anybody in the world is, if you've not got the quality to get above the others then the guy can't get his own techniques [across]. 'So in terms of recruitment, it really is a high priority at every club in the world now. 'Sometimes I feel that in the past few years, Rangers have got that part wrong.' Personal experience tells the former Rangers boss that a quick turnaround can still achieve positive results. 'I experienced a period as well when there was a mass exodus,' he said. 'Arthur Numan quit, Barry Ferguson went to England, Lorenzo Amoruso went to England and we lost a lot of players. 'We didn't have the greatest of seasons and for the next season we prepared very quickly and were very careful about picking the players that we thought could win the championship. 'And as it turns out, on the very last day, on Helicopter Sunday, we did.' McLeish believes character is important when picking signings and is of the opinion that some players at Rangers in recent years haven't been the right type. Getting in the players who are can help the new manager achieve his ambitions. 'You have to have a bit of character, bravery and self-belief when you come to a club like Rangers,' he said. 'I think sometimes over the years, at Rangers and Celtic, you feel that some players didn't really understand what they were all about. 'The sooner they bring in players that do understand and also get it quickly, the recruitment has to be the absolute number one priority.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Aberdeen drawn Celtic shock blueprint by club legend as ex Rangers boss hands them 'key' to Hampden glory
Jimmy Thelin's men battered 5-1 at Pittodrie earlier this month by Brendan Rodgers' fringe team with the odds stacked against them Alex McLeish has insisted Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin could upset the odds and cause a Cup final shock if he copies his Birmingham blueprint. The Dons find themselves up against it as they go into Saturday's final against treble-chasing Celtic. Brendan Rodgers' fringe team smashed Aberdeen 5-1 at Pittodrie earlier this month and he will bring his big hitters back for the Hampden clash, as they look to complete the domestic clean sweep. The Pittodrie legend was in a similar position in the 2011 League Cup final when his Blues went in against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. Birmingham came from behind and famously beat the Gunners 2-1 to lift the trophy thanks to Obafemi Martin's last-minute winner. McLeish said: 'You would have to say Celtic will be firm favourites but in a one-off game anything can happen. 'I know that from experience when we lifted the cup at Birmingham City. Not many people fancied us to beat Arsenal but we did. 'We went into that game with a strategy and a plan to stifle their attacking players. 'We worked on it, stuck to it, got a bit of luck and in the end we lifted the cup. 'Jimmy Thelin has to come up with his own strategy that he feels will help Aberdeen get a result against Celtic. 'We all know Celtic are a top team and the odds are against the Dons but we have seen a lot bigger upsets than this throughout the years. 'If Jimmy and his players can get their game plan right then they will give themselves a chance. 'I know the result wasn't great against Celtic the last time out but they did get a good result at Celtic Park in the first game. 'They have done it before and have to believe they can do it again.' This is Thelin's first season in Scotland and McLeish would love it to have a silver-lined ending. He was the last Aberdeen captain to lift the Scottish Cup. That was 35 years ago, when, ironically, they beat Celtic on penalties. McLeish knows it has been a season of contrasting fortunes for former Elfsborg coach Thelin. The former Don admitted: 'The start of the season they were absolutely electric. They were a team who were flying, full of energy and confidence. 'They were up at the top of the league and it was real high tempo stuff, from the pressing to their tracking back. 'They then had a bit of a dip but have found a wee bit more consistency in making the top six. 'If Jimmy and his players can regain that feeling they had at the start of the season and get their tactics right then they will give themselves a chance. 'The key is trying to nullify Celtic's strengths. I know they have a lot and if they can take their chances at the other end then you never know what could happen.' Thelin has already had advice from Aberdeen's greatest-ever manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, this season. He met him at Celtic Park after their 2-2 draw and then was his guest at a Manchester United game. McLeish knows his former manager's approach would be to go and have a go at Celtic and Rangers as he did in Aberdeen's golden era. McLeish lifted four Scottish Cups under him and a fifth under Alex Smith and Jocky Scott. The former Scotland boss acknowledged: 'Listen, you know, the one guy the boss always loved was whenever we played Celtic and Rangers. 'He wanted us to play against them and all the other top teams speed. 'They have speed as well but if you have pace, a bit of thought and there is a game plan then he always thought we could nullify their threats. 'I know the times have changed and Celtic and Rangers are two enormous clubs but one a one-off you can always give them a game and get a result. 'That is what Aberdeen needs to look to do. If would be great if Jimmy could follow in Sir Alex's footsteps and lift the Scottish Cup.' It would also be fitting if they could do it on the anniversary of the club's last Scottish Cup triumph. McLeish was captain that day as it went to penalties and Theo Snelders saved from Anton Rogan and Brian Irvine netted the winner. 'I had some great memories in the Scottish Cup,' McLeish recalled. 'I won it five times so it wasn't a bad competition for me. 'I think I won four under the boss and then the final one under Alex and Jocky (Scott). 'That final one was special. Every cup and league win is special but that day I will remember because I was Aberdeen captain. 'To lift that trophy was special and is a moment I will never forget."
Daily Record
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Alex McLeish reveals Aberdeen Scottish Cup trophy lift warning from Willie Miller as he delivers message to Thelin's men
The Dons head to Hampden on Saturday looking to end their long way to get their hands on the famous old trophy Alex McLeish was warned off the iconic Willie Miller trophy lift the last time Aberdeen got their hands on the Scottish Cup. Jimmy Thelin 's side head to Hampden to take on Celtic next weekend, looking to end the Dons' 35 year wait to get their hands back on the cup. McLeish was the last Aberdeen skipper to get his hands on it when he led Alex Smith and Jocky Scott's team to a dramatic penalty shootout win over Celtic. 'Big Eck' revealed that his former captain and legendary Dons' defensive partner, Miller, had warned him off copying his now famous, one-handed trophy celebration. McLeish said: 'I couldn't have copied Willie and put the outstretched arms because he'd claimed he had copyrighted it. Willie was down my throat telling me I'd better not steal his celebration. 'So I just went with a kind of two-hander and kind of par for the course type cup celebration. "There wasn't anything that I did that different from the normal trophy lift.' McLeish won 12 major trophies in his time at Aberdeen but Miller had been the captain for pretty much all those successes. The 66-year-old will join some of his fellow Scottish Cup-winning heroes next week when they return to Aberdeen for the '1990: The Legends Return' event in the Music Hall. Hans Gillhaus, Theo Snelders, Brian Irvine and Charlie Nicholas will all be part of the event. "I am really looking forward to coming back for the celebrations,' McLeish admitted. 'I am still in regular contact with the boys but it has been a couple of years since I have seen some of them. 'It will be good to catch up and share our memories with the Aberdeen fans. It is hard to believe it has been 35 years and that was the last time Aberdeen last won the Scottish Cup. 'Its incredible. We had that golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson and then Alex and Jocky came in and we won both cups in that 1989-90 season but after that it became difficult when Rangers started throwing money at it and then Celtic got their house in order.' McLeish admitted that the 1990 final won't go down as a Hampden classic and he almost caused Jocky Scott heart failure during the penalty shootout. The former Scotland star recalled: 'My memories are that it wasn't the greatest of games and it went to penalties. We had gone through the first five takers and then Alex and Jocky asked who was taking the sixth? 'I put my hand up and Jocky asked if I was confident I would score? I frightened the life out of him by saying: 'No, but I will put it in my chosen corner with my right foot and if the goalkeeper goes the right way he isn't saving it anyway'. 'I insisted I was the captain and I'm taking responsibility on the sixth penalty. It was a long walk but thankfully I managed to put it away.' Snelders saved from Anton Rogan and allowed Irvine the glory of netting the winning penalty and sinking to his knees in celebration. McLeish recalled: 'Big Brian, to see him putting the ball, the winner, in the net and instantly celebrating the way he did was absolute joy. 'It was a privilege to watch as captain of Aberdeen that day. There is nothing like it. You've still got to treasure and cherish what we've done in that cup final in 1990, against a good Celtic team. "It would be great if the current Aberdeen side could do the same again in this year's final, although it will be tough because Celtic under Brendan Rodgers have proved what a top team they are." 1990: The Legends Return' event is at the Aberdeen Music Hall on Thursday, May 22. McLeish will be joined by Hans Gillhaus, Charlie Nicholas, Brian Irvine and Theo Snelders. Tickets are available at
