Scottish professional football player. He is perhaps better known for his time as a football manager, which, after managing two top level Scottish clubs, included being in charge of Scotland at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. He generated enormous support and expectations for the team as they prepared for the World Cup, and in retrospect was guilty of self-deception and misleading supporters with unrealistic predictions. When a journalist asked him “What do you plan to do after the World Cup?” MacLeod replied: “Retain it.”
Reality set in after the first match in Argentina when Scotland were beaten by Peru, and followed up with a draw against unfancied Iran. Despite a notable victory against the Netherlands in their final match, Scotland were elininated, whereas the Netherlands reached the final. To compound their disastrous performance, one of the Scottish players (Willie Johnston) was sent home in disgrace after taking a cold remedy that contained a banned substance.
MacLeod survived an immediate inquest by the sport’s authorities but resigned after one more game in charge, only 17 matches and about 500 days after his appointment. The Scottish Football Association’s annual report, issued in May 1979, stated that, “regardless of the depressing aspects of Mr MacLeod’s latter days in the Association’s employ, it would be quite unfair not to comment that he was largely responsible for kindling an enthusiasm for the Scottish team that far exceeded anything which had gone before. The Association benefited considerably from that enthusiasm and should not forget it”.
MacLeod went back to club management. He died in 2004 after a long fight against Alzheimer’s Disease.
See also http://qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=357
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