John McGlynn (born 19 December 1961) is a Scottish football coach and former player who manages Scottish Championship club Falkirk. He has previously managed Scottish clubs Raith Rovers, Heart of Midlothian and Livingston.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 December 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Musselburgh, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Falkirk (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1979–1980 | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1983 | Berwick Rangers | 56 | (2) |
| 1983–1984 | Musselburgh Athletic | ||
| 1984–1987 | Whitehill Welfare | ||
| 1995–1997 | Musselburgh Athletic | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Easthouses Lily | |||
| Musselburgh Athletic | |||
| 2005 | Heart of Midlothian (Caretaker) | ||
| 2006–2012 | Raith Rovers | ||
| 2012–2013 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| 2013–2014 | Livingston | ||
| 2018–2022 | Raith Rovers | ||
| 2022– | Falkirk | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editMusselburgh-born McGlynn enjoyed a brief senior playing career with Berwick Rangers, having been a youth player with Bolton Wanderers.[1] After three years with The Borderers, McGlynn dropped out of the senior game into junior football, firstly with Musselburgh Athletic then Whitehill Welfare.[1]
During his time at Ferguson Park, McGlynn started coaching youth sides and gradually coaching rather than playing became his primary function.[1]
Coaching and managerial career
editEarly career
editMcGlynn was appointed co-manager at Easthouses Lily before returning to Musselburgh as manager in his own right.[1]
Hearts (coach)
editIn 1996, McGlynn was invited to assist with coaching the youth sides at Heart of Midlothian by newly appointed manager Jim Jefferies, initially on a part-time basis.[1] Within two years he had earned a permanent position, eventually working his way up to the position of first-team coach.[1] He was the manager when Hearts won the Scottish Youth Cup in 2000 with a 5–3 win over Rangers.[2]
He was twice appointed manager on a caretaker basis in 2005, after the departures of John Robertson[3] and George Burley.[4]
Raith Rovers
editMcGlynn ended his ten-year association with Hearts when he was appointed Raith Rovers manager on 20 November 2006.[5] Rovers' second season in the Scottish Second Division ended in disappointment, finishing third and beaten in the promotion play-off semi-finals against Stirling Albion.[6] In 2007–08, McGlynn's first full season, Raith again finished third[7] and fell at the first play-off hurdle, losing to Airdrie United.[8] In 2008–09, however, McGlynn guided Raith to the Second Division title and subsequent promotion back to the First Division.[9]
McGlynn won his first manager of the month award as a Division One manager in March 2010.[10] McGlynn led Raith to a comfortable seventh place[11] and took the club into their first Scottish Cup semi-final for 47 years,[12] beating Peterhead,[13] Airdrie,[14] Aberdeen[15] and Dundee.[12] Raith were eliminated by eventual Cup winners Dundee United.[9]
McGlynn then led Raith to a First Division championship challenge in 2010–11.[9] Despite losing out to Fife derby rivals Dunfermline Athletic in the final weeks of the season,[9] McGlynn won the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award.[16] In the 2011–12 season, however, Raith struggled against relegation from the First Division.[17]
Hearts (manager)
editMcGlynn was appointed manager of Hearts on 26 June 2012.[18] With the restricted budget imposed by the club's financial situation he was only able to bring in two new signings and he put his faith in many young players coming through the youth ranks.
Hearts started the SPL season badly under McGlynn, with only one win in the first six games, and lost in the Europa League play-off against Liverpool 2–1 on aggregate, drawing at Anfield.[19] In the League Cup they defeated Livingston[20] and Dundee United to reach the semi-final,[21] but they lost 1–0 to city rivals Hibernian in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.[22]
Hearts progressed to the 2013 League Cup Final,[23] but poor league results led to McGlynn departing the cash strapped club by mutual consent on 28 February 2013.[24]
Livingston
editOn 12 September 2013, McGlynn was appointed manager of Livingston, replacing the departing Richie Burke.[25] He was initially given a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season.[26] After overseeing good results that improved Livingston's league position, McGlynn agreed an extended rolling contract with the club.[26] McGlynn left Livingston by mutual consent in December 2014.[27]
Celtic (scout)
editCeltic hired McGlynn as a first team scout in January 2015, under the management of Ronny Deila.[28] He continued in this position after the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as Celtic manager in 2016.[29][30][31]
Raith Rovers (second spell)
editMcGlynn returned to Raith Rovers, now in the Scottish Championship, in September 2018.[32] He left the club at the end of the 2021–22 season.[33]
Falkirk
editA day after leaving Raith, McGlynn was appointed manager of Scottish League One club Falkirk.[34] McGlynn led Falkirk to the 2023–24 Scottish League One title, as the club remained undefeated for the whole league campaign and McGlynn won the players' Manager of the Year award.[35]
Managerial statistics
edit- As of match played 14 December 2024
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Raith Rovers | 
|
20 November 2006 | 26 June 2012 | 249 | 106 | 64 | 79 | 42.57 |
| Heart of Midlothian |
|
26 June 2012 | 28 February 2013 | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 29.41 |
| Livingston |
|
12 September 2013 | 16 December 2014 | 58 | 22 | 9 | 27 | 37.93 |
| Raith Rovers |
|
25 September 2018 | 3 May 2022 | 161 | 75 | 44 | 42 | 46.58 |
| Falkirk |
|
4 May 2022 | Present | 119 | 74 | 25 | 20 | 62.18 |
| Total | 621 | 287 | 152 | 182 | 46.22 | |||
- SPFL clubs only (Caretaker spells not included)
Honours
editAs a manager
editRaith Rovers
- Scottish Second Division: 2008–09[36]
- Fife Cup: 2011–12[36]
- Scottish League One: 2019–20
- Scottish Challenge Cup: 2019–20[note 1][37] 2021–22
Falkirk FC
As an individual
edit- PFA Scotland Manager of the Year (2): 2010–11; 2023–24
- Raith Rovers Hall of Fame[36]
Notes
edit- ^ ICT and Raith Rovers were declared joint-winners on 30 April 2021. The final was originally withheld due to the COVID-19 pandemic. McGlynn was permanent manager at the time.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "John still hale and hearty". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Youngsters prove that future is bright for Scottish football". Herald Scotland. 22 May 2000. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "McGlynn: Elvis in good nick". Scotsman.com. Johnston Publishing. 14 May 2005. Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2006.
- ^ "McGlynn calling for brave Hearts". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 25 October 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Raith Rovers appoint McGlynn boss". BBC Sport. 20 November 2006.
- ^ "Stirling Albion 3–1 Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Scottish Second Division 2007/08". Sky Sports. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Andrew McInnes (5 May 2008). "Airdrie Utd 2–2 Raith Rovers (Agg 4–2)". Daily Record. Media Scotland. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d Matthew Elder (15 April 2016). "John McGlynn: The man who put the pride back into Raith Rovers". Fife Today. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Irn-Bru Phenomenal Manager of the Month for First Division Announced". Scottish Professional Football League. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
- ^ "John McGlynn is Hearts manager after leaving Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ a b Matthew Elder (29 November 2013). "Rovers look for spirit of 2010 in Dens cup tie". Fife Today. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Peterhead 1–4 Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Airdrie Utd 1–3 Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Aberdeen 0 – 1 Raith: Gregory Tade the hero for Rovers as Dons' cup curse strikes again". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "PFA awards for John McGlynn and John Baird". BBC Sport. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ^ "John McGlynn goes from SPL hopes to relegation scrap". STV. STV Group. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ "John McGlynn departs for Tynecastle". RaithRovers.net. Raith Rovers FC. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ Alasdair Lamont (30 August 2012). "Liverpool 1–1 Hearts (2–1)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Brian McLauchlin (25 September 2012). "Hearts 3–1 Livingston". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Clive Lindsay (31 October 2012). "Dundee Utd 1–1 Hearts (4–5 pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Colin Moffat (2 December 2012). "Hibernian 1–0 Hearts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Ewing Grahame (26 January 2013). "Inverness 1 Hearts 1: match report". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "John McGlynn departs Hearts manager position". BBC Sport. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ "Richie Burke resigns". Livingston FC. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- ^ a b "McGlynn signs new Livingston contract". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ Manager John McGlynn departs Livingston 'by mutual consent' BBC Sport, 16 December 2014
- ^ Morgan, James (19 January 2015). "Former Hearts manager takes up Celtic post". HeraldScotland. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ Matthew Lindsay (3 August 2018). "Brendan Rodgers: Celtic can take advantage of the Premier League transfer window closing early". Evening Times. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Moira Gordon (25 June 2016). "Celtic's Brendan Rodgers happy he has ex-Hearts boss on board". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Scott McDermott (10 February 2018). "Zenit analysed as Celtic's Europa League rivals warm up for showdown with 3–1 win over Maribor". Daily Record. Media Scotland. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Raith Rovers: John McGlynn returns to Stark's Park as manager". BBC Sport. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ Cassidy, Peter (3 May 2022). "Raith Rovers confirm departure of manager John McGlynn". STV News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "John McGlynn is new Falkirk manager after Raith Rovers exit". BBC Sport. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "John McGlynn named manager of the year after unbeaten season". BBC Sport. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Elder, Matthew. "John McGlynn inducted into Raith Rovers' Hall of Fame". www.fifetoday.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle And Raith Rovers Announced As Joint Winners Of Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Cup". Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.