Full name John McKeand McNeill 1950–1956 Aberdeen Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland Name Ian McNeill | Playing position Role Footballer Years Team Position Forward | |
Date of birth (1932-02-24) 24 February 1932 (age 83) | ||
Ian McNeill (born 24 February 1932) is a former professional footballer and manager.
Playing at inside forward, McNeill's career included stints at Aberdeen, Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southend United. McNeil joined Ross County, then a Highland League club, as player/manager in 1964.
He then became manager of Wigan Athletic, then a Northern Premier League club, in 1968. McNeill then managed Salisbury in the Southern League, before returning for a second spell at Wigan Athletic in 1976.
McNeill left Wigan in 1981 to become assistant manager to John Neal at Chelsea. While at Chelsea, McNeill was instrumental in signing players like Pat Nevin, Joe McLaughlin, David Speedie and Kerry Dixon, players who would drastically turn around the club's fortunes and win promotion in 1983–84. When Neal was sidelined with ill-health during the 1984–85 season, McNeill also took temporary charge of first team affairs.
He returned to management in 1987, this time with Shrewsbury Town and remained until 1990. He has since been a scout for Bolton Wanderers, Leeds United, Norwich City and Chelsea.