Alex McLeish

Alex McLeish is a well-known former professional footballer and manager. He spent most of his playing career at Aberdeen and won 12 trophies and is Scotland’s fourth most-capped player having represented his country 77 times. As a manager, he won 10 trophies and took charge of some of England and Scotland’s biggest club’s and has led the Scottish National side on two occasions. As a speaker, Alex brings a wealth of experience that will leave any football audience captivated throughout. His experience as a manager also makes him the perfect fit for any organisation looking for a talk on leadership.

He started his playing career at Aberdeen, making all but three of his appearances as a professional player at the Pittodrie club. He won the Scottish Premier Division in the 1979-80 season before winning the first of three successive Scottish Cups in 1982. Alongside the second Scottish Cup success, he was a part of the side that won the European Cup Winners’ Cup. A second Sottish Premier Division came alongside the third Scottish Cup. He would then go on to win another Scottish Premier Division, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish Cups. This trophy haul included the 1989/90 cup double which saw him named SFWA Footballer of the Year. While at Aberdeen he became Scotland’s fourth most capped player, with 77 appearances and featured in three successive World Cups. He moved to Motherwell in 1994 as a player coach having become Aberdeen’s second-highest appearances holder having played 692 games.

He retired from playing to focus on management while at Motherwell after playing just three games for the club. After a three-year spell, in which they finished second behind Rangers in the league he moved to Hibernian. He won the Scottish First Division in the 1998-99 season before he moved to Rangers in 2001 and claimed a Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup double in his first full season in charge. He won the domestic treble in the 2002/03 season before a Scottish Premier Division and Scottish League Cup double came two years later. He left Ibrox and became manager of the Scottish National Team before moving South to take charge of Birmingham City. While at the Blues he guided them to promotion to the Premier League and won the League Cup. Alex became the first manager to move directly from Birmingham City to local rivals Aston Villa before he moved to Nottingham Forest. Spells abroad with Genk and Zamalek preceded a second spell with the Scottish national side where he won their Nations League Group.

Currently not working in management, Alex is available to book as a speaker, bringing passion and a unique set of stories from his time as a player and a manager that will leave any sports fan entertained throughout the speech. He can also provide businesses and organisations with an open and honest discussion on the highs and lows of leadership and what it takes to be successful in managing people.