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Brian McLean

Name: Brian McLean
Born: 28 February 1985, Rutherglen, Scotland
Height: 6.02 ft
Weight: 12.03 st
Position: Centre-Half

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Cap (2006), 1 Under-21 Cap (2005); Scotland: Under-17, Under-16.
Club Honours: (with DPMM) S-League Champion 2015.

Club Career:
Club...... --Seasons-- Signed ..Fee -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Rangers
... 04/05...... Aug-04 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Motherwell 05/06...... Aug-05 .Loan 27(3)/ 3 1(0)/0 2(1)/0
Motherwell 06/07-08/09 Jul-06 .Free 19(6)/ 2 1(0)/0 1(0)/1 

Falkirk .. 09/10-10/11 Jul-09 .Free 67(0)/ 3 3(0)/0 4(0)/0 
Preston NE 11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Free 15(1)/ 1 ...... 1(0)/0 1(0)/1
Dundee Utd 12/13 ..... Jun-12 .Free 25(4)/ 0 2(0)/1 1(1)/0 1(0)/0

Ross Co. . 13/14 ..... Jul-13 .Free 24(1)/ 0 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
DPMM Brunei 2015- 2016 Feb-15 .Free (Singapore League)
Hibernian .16/17 ..... Mar-17 .Free
IBV 2017 (Iceland)
DPMM Brunei 2018
Dumbarton 18/19
Greenock Morton 19/20- date

Biography:
Brian McLean had won youth caps for Scotland prior to deciding to play for Northern Ireland, the country of his grandparents’ birth. An accomplished defender, he had came through the ranks at Rangers and earned his first call-up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 set-up in early 2005. Injury meant that he had to wait until August for his debut, in a 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland.

In an effort to gain firstteam experience, McLean spent the 2005/06 season on loan at Motherwell. Initially he played in midfield or at right-back, before establishing himself alongside Northern Ireland defender, Stephen Craigan in the centre of defence. His performances earned him rave reviews and comparisons to then Well manager, and ex-Rangers and England star, Terry Butcher. Lawrie Sanchez had no qualms in including McLean in the Full Northern Ireland panel to face Portugal in November 2005, though he was an unused substitute. The following March he was again included in the squad to face Estonia, and this time he came off the bench as a half-time substitute for Craigan, in a 1-0 win.

In April 2006 McLean was named SPL Young Player of the Month for March and was due to make his competitive Under-21 debut against Liechtenstein when he was suddenly withdrawn from the squad. It emerged that he wasn’t actually eligible to play for Northern Ireland having played in a UEFA competition for Scotland at Under-17 level. Further frustration was added with the knowledge that had he played a competitive game for Northern Ireland, at any level, prior to his 21st birthday he would have been allowed to switch allegiances. The Irish FA appealed to FIFA for leniency for the player due to their own “administrative error” but to no avail. Forty-five minutes was to be the sum total of McLean’s Northern Ireland career.

After much negotiation, McLean’s move to Motherwell from Rangers was made permanent in the summer of 2006, though his second season at Fir Park season was ruined by injury. In his absence Motherwell flirted with relegation, eventually finishing six points, and two places, above relegated Dunfermline.


After three seasons, two ruptured cruciate ligaments and 27 appearances for Motherwell, McLean joined Falkirk having failed to agree a new contract at Fir Park.

Well Trust Profile
Irish FA Statement
Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
01-03-2006 Estonia ....... H W 1-0 FR sub

Summary:
0(1)/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 0.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
16-08-2005 Rep. of Ireland H D 2-2 FR

Summary:
1(0)/0. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 0.

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