Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland Years Team 1961-1962 → Dumbarton (loan) Role Football player | Playing position 1959-1963 Celtic Name Benny Rooney Position Defender | |
Date of birth (1943-05-03) 3 May 1943 (age 72) | ||
Rangers v Morton 29.11.80 (Benny Rooney interview)
Benny Rooney (born 3 May 1943) is a Scottish former association football player and manager.
Contents
Playing career
Rooney played for Celtic as a youth, but was allowed to sign for Dundee United on a free transfer in 1963. He was frequently relegated to United's reserve team, however, and he was eventually sold to St. Johnstone in 1966 for £3,500. Rooney served the Perth club for nearly a decade during a very successful period for the club under the management of Willie Ormond. Rooney was the club's captain during their UEFA Cup run of 1971, when they defeated Hamburg and Vasas Budapest.
Managerial career
Rooney was appointed manager of Morton in 1976. Morton were part-time and competing in the First Division at the time. In his second season in charge he led the club to promotion to the Premier Division. In the 1979-80 season Morton famously topped the Premier Division in the middle of the season, and ultimately finished in 6th place, quite an achievement for a part-time club.
Rooney is also revered by Morton fans for assembling a memorable squad, including fan favourite Andy Ritchie, who was brought to Cappielow from Celtic in 1976.
Rooney left Morton in 1983, and went on to manage Partick Thistle and Albion Rovers, before returning to his first club Celtic briefly as a coach.
Personal life
Benny has two children, Deborah and Kevin, with wife Marion and three grandchildren, Joshua, Olivia and Aaron.