Willie Maley

William "Willie" Patrick Maley (born Newry, Northern Ireland, April 25 1868);

Related Topics:
Newry - Northern Ireland - April 25 - 1868

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was the first manager of Celtic Football Club and one of the most successful managers in Scottish football history. He led Celtic to 30 major trophies in 43 years as manager.

Related Topics:
Celtic Football Club - Football

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Although Maley was born in Newry Barracks, where his father was a soldier in the British Army, his family moved to Scotland when he was young. As a young man, Maley was much more involved in athletics than in football, although he had played a few games for Cathcart Hazelbank Juniors in 1886 and had played with Third Lanark from later that year.

Related Topics:
British Army - Scotland - 1886

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In 1888 he was signed by the fledgling Celtic Football Club and became one of the clubs first players as a midfielder. As a naturalised Scot, he also played for the Scottish national team.

Related Topics:
1888 - Celtic Football Club - Scottish national team

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In 1897, the board of Celtic directors appointed Willie Maley, at just 29 years of age, as Secretary-Manager - the first manager - of Celtic. He won the League Championship for the club in his first full season as manager.

Related Topics:
1897 - League Championship

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Maley never worked with his players in training, he watched games from the directors' box and never indulged in team talks or spoke to his players at half-time or post-match. Maley would not even announce the team: players learned if they were in or out through reading the line-up in the newspaper. Celtic had been a buying club in their opening decade, spending heavily to bring professionals to the club. Maley decided to scrap that and rely almost entirely on recruiting youngsters fresh from junior football.

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He created a young team who won six league titles in a row between 1905 and 1910 and won the first Scottish League and Scottish Cup doubles. It was the finest team in world football, and the six-in-a-row record remained unbroken until the 1970s. The stars of that side included some Celtic Immortals: right-back Alec McNair ("the Icicle"); inside-right Jimmy McMenemy ("Napoleon"); and the fabled centre-forward Jimmy Quinn. When they grew old, Maley built a second team, including Patsy Gallacher (and the ageless McMenemy), which won four titles in succession between 1914 and 1917 and set what is still the UK record for an unbeaten run in professional football: 62 games (49 won, 13 drawn), from November 13, 1915 until April 21, 1917. That side won two more titles, in 1919 and 1922. Celtic continued to gather trophies throughout the 1920s and in the mid-1930s Maley built his third great team, featuring Jimmy Delaney and Jimmy McGrory. This side won the league title in 1936 and 1938 and the cup in 1937. By then, Maley was approaching 70.

Related Topics:
1905 - 1910 - Alec McNair - Jimmy McMenemy - Jimmy Quinn - Patsy Gallacher - 1914 - 1917 - November 13 - 1915 - April 21 - 1919 - 1922 - 1936 - 1938 - 1937

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Maley was the longest serving manager at Celtic. In his 43 years as manager he won 19 league titles, 15 Scottish Cups, 14 Glasgow Cups and 19 Glasgow Charity Cups.

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The Maley years ended in a less than happy fashion. With Celtic at the bottom of the table, after a meeting with the board of directors in February 1940, Maley 'retired'. Maley was said to be furious about the manner in which he had been ousted but he was 71 and his stubborn character would never have allowed him to go willingly. He left in the knowledge that he had made Celtic one of the most successful clubs in football.

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His Celtic career is detailed in song, "Willie Maley", one of the most popular Celtic songs amongst fans.

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