Jock Stein

First manager to win the European Cup with a Northern European club; led Celtic to nine consecutive Scottish league titles.

John Stein (5 October 1922 – 10 September 1985) was a Scottish football player and manager. He was the first manager of a club from a Northern European country to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967. Stein also guided Celtic to nine successive Scottish League championships between 1966 and 1974.

Quick Facts

Full name: John Stein
Born: 5 October 1922
Birthplace: Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died: 10 September 1985
Place of death: Cardiff, Wales
Position: Centre-back
Total caps: 365
Total goals: 13

Lore & Background

Stein worked as a coal-miner while playing football part-time for Blantyre Victoria and then Albion Rovers. He became a full-time professional footballer with Welsh club Llanelli Town, but returned to Scotland with Celtic in 1951. He enjoyed some success with Celtic, winning the Coronation Cup in 1953 and a Scottish league and Scottish Cup double in 1954. Ankle injuries forced Stein to retire from playing football in 1957.

Celtic appointed Stein to coach their reserve team after he retired as a player. Stein started his managerial career in 1960 with Dunfermline, where he won the Scottish Cup in 1961 and achieved some notable results in European football. After a brief but successful spell at Hibernian, Stein returned to Celtic as manager in March 1965. In thirteen years at Celtic, Stein won the European Cup, ten Scottish league championships, eight Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups.

After a brief stint with Leeds United, Stein managed Scotland from 1978 until his death just before the end of a World Cup qualifying match in 1985.

Reader's Guide

Stein first played for senior club Albion Rovers as a trialist in a 4–4 draw against Celtic on 14 November 1942. On 3 December 1942, manager Webber Lees signed Stein for the Coatbridge club. He continued to work as a miner during the week. He had a brief loan spell with Dundee United in 1943.

Rovers won promotion to the First Division in 1947–48. During the 1948–49 season, Rovers conceded 105 goals, won only three league games out of 30 and were relegated back to the Second Division. According to Rovers' historian Robin Marwick, Stein played 236 matches for Rovers, who were his longest serving senior club as a player. He scored nine goals, six of which were penalties.

His last Rovers appearance was against Alloa in a B Division match on 14 January 1950. In 1950, having been approached by former Albion Rovers teammate Dougie Wallace, Stein signed for non-league Welsh club Llanelli. For the first time in his career, he became a full-time professional footballer, earning £12 per week. In December 1951, on the recommendation of reserve team trainer Jimmy Gribben, Celtic bought him for £1,200.