Jock Stein

John "Jock" Stein (5 October 1922 – 10 September 1985) was a Scottish football player and manager.

In 1937, he left Greenfield school in Hamilton and after a short time working in a carpet factory went down the pits to become a miner.

In 1940, Stein agreed to sign for Burnbank Athletic, but his father vehemently objected.

Soon afterward, he instead joined Blantyre Victoria, another local junior club.

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, which was a reserved occupation during the Second World War.

This allowed Stein to play regularly, as many of their other players were serving in the Armed Forces.

He had a brief loan spell with Dundee United in 1943.

Rovers won promotion to the First Division in 1947–48, for only the fourth time in the club's history.

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 (he also missed two 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.

Llanelli had gained promotion to the Southern League in 1950 and signed several Scottish professionals.

He became a full-time professional football player with Welsh club Llanelli Town, but returned to Scotland with Celtic in 1951.

In 1951, the club's application to join the Football League was rejected and there were rumours of financial problems.

All but two of the Scottish professionals left.

Stein initially left his wife, Jean, and young daughter, Ray, in Scotland when he moved to Llanelli.

His family moved down soon afterwards, but his council house in Hamilton was burgled about eight weeks after they moved.

Jean wanted to return to Scotland, and Stein accepted her desire in light of his own disillusionment with the problems at the club.

When asked what he would do by the Llanelli manager, Stein said he would probably quit football and become a miner again.

In December 1951, on the recommendation of reserve team trainer Jimmy Gribben, Celtic bought him for £1,200.

He was signed as a reserve but injuries incurred by first team players resulted in him being elevated to the first team.

In 1952, he was appointed vice-captain; when captain Sean Fallon suffered a broken arm, the captaincy was passed to Stein.

Celtic finished eighth in the Scottish League during 1952–53 and were only invited to the pan-British Coronation Cup tournament due to their large support base.

Celtic beat Arsenal, Manchester United and Hibernian to win the trophy.

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.

Stein also guided Celtic to nine successive Scottish League championships between 1966 and 1974.

Stein worked as a coalminer while playing football part-time for Blantyre Victoria and then Albion Rovers.

He was the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967.

After a brief stint with Leeds United, Stein managed Scotland from 1978 until his death in 1985.

Born in Burnbank, Lanarkshire, Stein saw football as his escape from the Lanarkshire coal mines.