Stuart McCall

Football player infobox
playername = Stuart McCall


fullname = Andrew Stuart Murray McCall
height = height|ft=5|in=7
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1964|6|10|df=y
cityofbirth = Leeds
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Bradford City (Manager)
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
1980–1982
youthclubs = Pudsey Juniors
Holbeck
Farsley Celtic
Bradford City
years = 1982–1988
1988–1991
1991–1998
1998–2002
2002–2004
clubs = Bradford City
Everton
Rangers
Bradford City
Sheffield United
Total
caps(goals) = 238 (37)
103 0(6)
194 (14)
157 0(8)
071 0(2)
763 (67)
nationalyears = 1990–1998
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 040 0(1)
manageryears = 2000
2007–
managerclubs = Bradford City (caretaker)
Bradford City

Andrew Stuart Murray McCall (born 10 June 1964), usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former Scottish footballer who played in central midfield. He is now a football manager, in charge of League Two side Bradford City.

He started his professional career with Bradford City, where he made his senior debut in 1982. He played six seasons at Valley Parade, during which time he won the Division Three championship, a title which was overshadowed by the Bradford fire disaster when 56 people died and in which his father Andy was injured. After missing out on promotion in 1987–88 he moved to Everton, for whom he scored twice but finished on the losing side in the 1989 FA Cup Final. In 1991 he moved to Rangers, with whom he spent seven seasons and won six league titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. He returned to Bradford City as captain to take them into the top division of English football for the first time in 77 years. After four seasons he moved to Sheffield United, where he retired as a player in 2005. McCall also won 40 caps for Scotland and scored one goal in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He played in two European Championships but his international career ended after he was left out of the 1998 World Cup squad.

He was part of the coaching staff during his second spell at Bradford City, briefly serving as caretaker/player manager in 2000. He continued his coaching at Sheffield United and was assistant manager to Neil Warnock until May 2007, when he returned to Bradford City for a third time, this time as manager on 1 June 2007.

Early life

Stuart McCall was born on 10 June 1964 in Leeds, England, to Scottish parents Andy, a former professional footballer, and Jean McCall.cite book
last=McCall
first=Stuart
title=The Real McCall
publisher=Mainstream
year=1998
pages=p. 9
isbn=1-84018-078-1] He was the couple's third child after Leslie and Janette, who were 20 and 15 respectively when Stuart was born. The family home was just round the corner from Leeds United's Elland Road ground where McCall would spend many Saturday afternoons watching United, dreaming of following his father and playing for Leeds, even after the family moved to Wortley. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 9–10] cite news
first=Phil
last=Shaw
url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/why-leeds-no-longer-have-place-in-mccalls-affections-599719.html
title=Why Leeds no longer have place in McCall's affections
accessdate=2007-12-28
date=2003-03-07
publisher=The Independent] McCall played football for Upper Wortley Primary School and Thornhill Middle School, even scoring a winning goal for the latter in a cup final when he came on as a substitute with his arm in a sling. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 10–11] McCall also played table tennis as a schoolboy but excelled at football, captaining the Leeds under-11 boys team and playing for other Leeds representative sides.cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 11–12] McCall's parents split and he made up for his size when he moved to one of Leeds' toughest estates and played for pub sides by the age of 14. He moved schools to Harrington High and also played for local young sides Pudsey Juniors, Holbeck and later Farsley Celtic. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 14–16] McCall thought he had missed his chance of playing professionally after a string of other players were signed by professional clubs, until Farsley played Bradford City's junior side in a friendly and he impressed coach Bryan Edwards enough to be asked for a trial. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=p. 16]

Club career

Bradford City

McCall came through City's youth system after he was signed by George Mulhall in 1980 from Farsley Celtic at the age of 16, [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1430229.0.cook_unearthed_city_treasure_mccall.php
title=Cook Unearthed City Treasure McCall
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2000-05-28
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] cite book
last=Markham
first=David
title=The legends of Bradford City
publisher=Breedon Books Sport
year=2007
pages=p. 115
isbn=978-1-85983-572-2] before becoming an apprentice in June 1981.cite book
last=Frost
first=Terry
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
publisher=Breedon Books Sport
year=1988
pages=p. 116
isbn=0907969380] Mulhall's successor, Roy McFarland gave McCall his debut at Reading on 28 August 1982—the opening day of the 1982–83 season—when he deputised for Ces Podd at right back. [cite book
last=Dewhirst
first=John
title=City Memories – An Illustrated Record of Bradford City A.F.C.
publisher=True North Book
year=1998
isbn=1 900 463 57 1] He had played just six league games by 29 January 1983 when he made the first of 134 consecutive league appearances, all in midfield under new manager Trevor Cherry. [cite book
last=Frost
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
pages=pp. 306–313, p377] City finished 12th in Division Three that season. [cite book
last=Frost
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
pages=p. 306] The following season City struggled to make up for the absence of Bobby Campbell, who had left to join Derby County, and won just one of their first fifteen games,cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 29] until Cherry bought Campbell back from Derby, and City won a record ten consecutive games on their way to a seventh place finish.

During the summer of 1984, Cherry made the two key signings of central defender Dave Evans and right winger John Hendrie to build on the previous season's high finish. [cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 81] McCall was an integral part of the team as City won the Division Three championship in 1984–85, during which he scored eight goals as one of two ever-present players. The title was assured in the penultimate game when McCall scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. [cite book
last=Frost
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
pages=p. 37] [cite book
last=Frost
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
pages=p. 310] The league title was paraded before the final game of the season on 11 May 1985 at home to Lincoln City. However, the club's title was overshadowed when 56 people died in the Bradford City disaster when the Valley Parade ground's main stand caught fire after 40 minutes of play, during which McCall's father, who was with other family members, was badly injured. [cite news
first=Richard
last=Sutcliffe
url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/features/The-horror-a-city-can.1022622.jp
title=The horror a city can never forget
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2005-05-11
publisher=Yorkshire Post] After the fire, McCall, still in his kit, spent several hours driving from the ground to his sister's house, then to Bradford Royal Infirmary and Pinderfields Hospital trying to find his father.cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 42–47] His father had suffered severe burns and needed skin grafts on his hands and head and was in hospital for several weeks.

For the following 19 months, the club played games away from Valley Parade. Cherry and the players became a close-knit team, attending funerals of the victims and other engagements in the months that followed, and the club's 13th place finish in Division Two in 1985–86 was hailed a major achievement. [cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 35] During Bradford's time away from Valley Parade, McCall also turned his back on Leeds United, the team he had supported as a child, after their fans set fire to a chip van at Odsal Stadium. McCall became club captain in November 1986, aged just 21, after Peter Jackson moved to Newcastle United. Under Cherry's replacement, Terry Dolan, the club held off any relegation threats to finish tenth in 1986–87. Like Jackson, McCall and Hendrie were both keen to move to a Division One club, but they agreed in 1987 to stay for one final season.

Dolan brought in Paul Tomlinson, Brian Mitchell and Lee Sinnott in a bid to help McCall and Hendrie realise their dreams with City. [cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 41] They mounted a promotion challenge in 1987–88 and were top for much of the season until they faltered in the New Year. When promotion was missed initially by one point on the last day of the season after a 3–2 defeat against Ipswich Town and then through play-off defeat to Middlesbrough, McCall left the club, signing for Everton for £850,000 in June 1988. He had played 238 league games for the club, scoring 37 goals, and in total played 285 games, scoring 46 goals. McCall was later outspoken in his autobiography, "The Real McCall", about City's failure to strengthen the side in order to secure promotion.cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1998/6/22/174067.html
title=Book row: McCall fumes over Tordoff's 'cheap' payment
accessdate=2007-12-30
date=1998-06-22
publisher=Telegraph & Argus]

Cquotetxt|I thought about transfer deadline day and Tordoff saying we should sell before buying. One or two new faces would have taken us over the finishing line, I was sure of it, and it nagged away. It wasn't about gambling, it was about lack of ambition.|Stuart McCall|"The Real McCall" [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
pages=p. 65]

His departure was soured when he was forced to go to the Football League with a Professional Footballers' Association representative to win £8,327.15 of an unpaid signing-on fee. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
pages=pp. 67–68]

Everton

McCall joined Everton at a time when its former triumphant side of the mid 1980s had broken up, following the ban on English sides competing in Europe, which marked the start of a period of underachievement at Goodison Park. [cite web
url=http://www.evertonfc.com/history/kendall-s-heroes.html
title=History 1981–2006
accessdate=2007-12-28
publisher=Everton Official Website] [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/4/14/154405.html
title=City v Everton: Connections
accessdate=2007-12-28
date=2000-04-14
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] His Everton debut came in a 4–0 victory over Newcastle United on 27 August 1988 against his former teammate Hendrie, who was making his debut for Newcastle. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=p. 70] McCall also returned to Valley Parade for a League Cup tie, but his Everton side were knocked out by Bradford 3–1 on 14 December 1988. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 70–71] He started 29 league games in 1988–89 as well as another four substitute appearances. He was also a substitute in the 1989 FA Cup Final when he scored Everton's equaliser in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool to take the game into extra-time. He scored another equaliser during extra-time, but Liverpool's own substitute Ian Rush also scored two to secure a 3–2 victory for Liverpool.cite news
first=William
last=Johnson
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2003/01/09/sfnshe09.xml
title=McCall calls the shots in tireless show
date=2003-01-08
accessdate=2008-01-04
publisher=The Daily Telegraph]

McCall made a second appearance in an Everton shirt at Valley Parade, when he was invited by former teammate Mark Ellis to bring a side for his testimonial. In three seasons at Everton, McCall played 103 league games as well as earned his first caps with Scotland but he failed to lift any trophies as the club finished eighth, sixth and ninth in the league. [cite web
url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/records/league-record.asp
title=Everton League Record
accessdate=2008-03-20
publisher=Toffee Web]

Rangers

In 1991, Rangers paid £1.2 million for McCall. [cite web
url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BantamsGreats/0,,10266~119234,00.html
title=Stuart McCall Bantams Greats
accessdate=2007-12-27
publisher=Bradford City Official Website] Rangers had just won their third successive Scottish Premier Division title. Under manager Walter Smith, McCall ended up playing in the final six of the club's nine successive Scottish league titles that firmly established them as Scotland's top club side after several years of being matched and often overtaken by Celtic and Aberdeen. In his first season at Ibrox, Rangers won the league and cup double, before they achieved greater success in 1992–93, winning both cups 2–1 against Aberdeen and coming nine points ahead of Aberdeen in the league.cite web
url=http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoryDetail/0,,5~471,00.html
title=1997 Nine in a row
accessdate=2008-03-18
publisher=Rangers official website] McCall also had European success that season when the Glasgow club narrowly missed out on an appearance in the UEFA Champions League 1992–93 final, coming second in the semi-final group stage to eventual winners Olympique de Marseille. [cite web
url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/history/Season=1992/intro.html
title=French first for Marseille
accessdate=2007-12-17
date=2006-01-01
publisher=UEFA] In 1993–94, Rangers added another Scottish League Cup title along with the league championship, but lost 1–0 in the final of the Scottish Cup to Dundee United. The following season saw Rangers win the league by their greatest margin as they finished 15 points ahead of Motherwell, but they failed to reach the final of either domestic cup. Although their winning margin was reduced to four points, from city rivals Celtic, in 1995–96, Rangers' points tally of 87 was a record-high total. McCall played in his fourth Scottish Cup final as Rangers defeated Hearts 5–1. Rangers again pushed Celtic into second place in 1996–97 and defeated Hearts 4–3 in the Scottish League Cup. But with the club chasing an unprecedented 10th straight title in 1997–98 they had to settle for the runners-up position, with Celtic winning the league by just two points on the final day of the season. McCall was substituted in the Scottish Cup final as Rangers went the season without picking up a single title for the first season in McCall's time at the club.

In February 2008, McCall became the 71st inductee into the Rangers hall of fame. McCall's former teammate and Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist presented him with the award. [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2070846.0.my_shock_at_gazzas_sad_demise.php
title='My shock at Gazza's sad demise'
date=2008-02-25
accessdate=2008-02-25
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker]

Back to Bradford City

McCall still had one year left on his Rangers contract in 1998, but much of the team that Walter Smith had built had left and McCall was allowed to leave on a free transfer as long as he joined an English club. Barnsley and Huddersfield Town were both interested in signing McCall, but he rejoined Bradford City as club captain. [cite news
url=http://archive.thisisbradford.co.uk/1998/6/3/174600.html
title=City was perfect chance: McCall
accessdate=2007-12-28
date=1998-06-03
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] Rookie manager Paul Jewell put together a squad to battle for promotion, adding other new signings, including central midfield partner Gareth Whalley and striker Lee Mills, who went on to be club's top goal-scorer.cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 99] The season started off slowly with just one win from the first seven games, but by the latter half of the season, City were vying with Ipswich Town and Birmingham City for the second promotion spot behind runaway leaders Sunderland. Loan signing Lee Sharpe and Dean Windass were added to the ranks and City had the chance to seal promotion in their penultimate game against relegation-threatened Oxford United. The game finished as a 0–0 draw, with McCall heading over the goal in the final minutes, taking the promotion bid to the final game of the season. [cite news
first=Richard
last=Sutcliffe
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/13/163161.html
title=Bantams Special: Goal-by-goal guide to the winning season
accessdate=2007-12-05
date=1999-05-13
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] Days later he was named the club's player of the year. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/4/163536.html
title=McCall proves he's still a first-class act
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=1999-05-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] A 3–2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 9 May 1999 ensured promotion to the Premiership and denied Ipswich Town—the team that had thwarted McCall and Bradford 11 years before. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/10/163253.html
title=Bantams:Revenge is so sweet
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=1999-05-10
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] Following the game, the players were celebrating with fans at the club's ground, when McCall fell off a car after drinking for more than five hours after the end of the game. [cite book
last=Windass
first=Dean
title=From Gipsyville to the Premiership
publisher=Great Northern
year=2007
pages=p. 125
isbn=978-1-905080-29-8]

Bradford were expected to struggle in their first season in the top flight for 77 years. Jewell signed David Wetherall, Dean Saunders and Neil Redfearn, all experienced top flight performers, but City were in the bottom four teams for most of the season. It was Bradford's home form—they earned 26 of their 36 points at Valley Parade—that was key to City avoiding relegation, which was narrowly averted by two points after a 1–0 final day victory over Liverpool in 1999–2000. [cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 201] When Jewell left only days after the season ended, McCall was appointed assistant manager to Chris Hutchings,cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/819450.stm
title=McCall steps up, Scales eyes Ipswich
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2000-07-04
publisher=BBC Sport] and subsequently served as caretaker manager for two games when Hutchings was sacked after just 12 games of the 2000–01 league season.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1009904.stm
title=Bradford sack Hutchings
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2000-11-06
publisher=BBC Sport] City were relegated with just 26 points. During a 6–1 defeat to West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the penultimate game, McCall and team-mate Andy Myers fought on the pitch. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1328731.stm
title=Bradford dust-up goes unpunished
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2001-05-13
publisher=BBC Sport]

McCall stayed on for one more season before he was released by then manager Nicky Law in May 2002, shortly before the club went into administration for the first time after finishing 15th in Division One. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1921054.stm
title=Bantams let McCall go
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2002-04-10
publisher=BBC Sport] His playing career at Bradford City had looked uncertain in December 2001 before Law arrived, when previous manager Jim Jefferies had left McCall out of the side in a 3–1 defeat at Manchester City following a training ground dispute. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1715361.stm
title=Jefferies denies McCall rift
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2001-12-17
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1719659.stm
title=McCall's days numbered
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2001-12-19
publisher=BBC Sport] However, it was Jefferies who lost out in the dispute when he resigned his post a week later after summit talks with chairman Geoffrey Richmond. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2001/12/27/132030.html
title=Richmond will bide time
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2001-12-27
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] In April 2002, McCall's testimonial match against Rangers attracted a crowd of more than 21,000 to Valley Parade. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2002/4/29/126959.html
title=McCall pays special tribute to City's 'wonderful fans'
accessdate=2007-12-27
date=2002-04-29
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] Two years later, he played one more time in City colours in a Save Our City appeal match organised by Bradford's evening newspaper, the "Telegraph & Argus", to raise funds for the club, who were now in administration for a second time. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2004/5/20/100532.html
title=Stars come out to save City
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2004-05-20
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3513575.stm
title=Bantams in administration
date=2004-02-27
accessdate=2008-02-03
publisher=BBC Sport]

heffield United

On 2 July 2002 McCall joined Sheffield United, where he played an integral part in their first-team side, despite being 38, and also coached the reserves to the league title.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/2086451.stm
title=McCall signs for Blades
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2002-07-02
publisher=BBC Sport] He played 71 league games over the next two seasons, and scored twice, including a winner against former side Bradford. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3113652.stm
title=Bradford 1-2 Sheff Utd
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2003-09-27
publisher=BBC Sport] He was in the side that reached the Division One play-off final in 2003 as well as the semi-finals of both cup competitions that year. [cite web
url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0,,10418~1081180,00.html
title=A year by year history
accessdate=2008-03-18
publisher=Sheffield United official website] However he and Dean Windass, who was also now at Sheffield United, were both left out of the play-off final, as United lost 3–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers. [cite book
last=Windass
title=From Gipsyville to the Premiership
pages=p. 119] McCall played just two Carling Cup games in the 2004–05 season, and retired just a few weeks before his 41st birthday. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/3729224.stm
title=McCall set to end career
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2004-10-09
publisher=BBC Sport]

International career

McCall was picked for England and Scotland under 21 sides on the same day in 1984, [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 32–33] and chose to play for England in a game against Turkey. However, he was only picked as a substitute and the referee blew the final whistle with McCall waiting to come on. [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
page=pp. 35–36] This meant he was still eligible for both England and Scotland, and McCall eventually switched allegiances to the latter, for whom he qualified through his father, making his debut in March 1988, ironically against England.

He went on to be capped by the Scottish senior team and made his debut on 28 March 1990 in a 1–0 friendly victory over Argentina.cite web
url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/stuartm.mccall.html
title=Stuart McCall – Scotland Football Record
accessdate=2007-12-27
publisher=Londonhearts.com] He played in five friendlies in 1990 which earned him a call up to the Italia 90 World Cup squad. He played in all three of Scotland's World Cup games. They lost their first game 1–0 to Costa Rica, before McCall scored what would be his only international goal against Sweden in a 2–1 victory. [cite web
url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=127/report.html
title=Costa Rica – Scotland
accessdate=2007-12-27
publisher=FIFA.com] [cite web
url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=348/report.html
title=Sweden – Scotland
accessdate=2007-12-27
publisher=FIFA.com] However, Scotland failed to qualify for the knock-out stage when they were defeated 1–0 by Brazil. [cite web
url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=74/report.html
title=Brazil – Scotland
accessdate=2007-12-27
publisher=FIFA.com]

McCall represented Scotland at the European Championships in 1992, when they again failed to go beyond the group stage after defeats to Netherlands and Germany, and in 1996 when they were edged out in the first round by Netherlands. [cite web
url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=14370&squadid=1
title=Stuart McCall – A Squad
accessdate=2008-03-18
publisher=Scottish Football Association] Scotland failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1994. McCall played just two qualifying games for the 1998 World Cup and his last cap came in a friendly against Denmark on 25 March 1998, as he was overlooked for the final squad for the finals in France along with team-mate Ally McCoist. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1998/6/8/174489.html
title=McCall's World Cup blast
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=1998-06-08
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] He was capped a total of 40 times for Scotland, scoring one goal. McCall's caps included 11 while at Everton and 29 during his career with Rangers.

Coaching and management career

Early coaching career

In July 2000, McCall accepted his first coaching role, when he was appointed assistant manager to Chris Hutchings at Bradford City, after Hutchings was promoted from the role to replace Paul Jewell as City manager. Just four months later, Hutchings was sacked, and McCall was appointed as caretaker/player manager. His first game as manager was against his former team Everton, who were managed by his former manager Walter Smith, but ended with a 1–0 defeat. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1018397.stm
title=Everton sink Bradford
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2000-11-11
publisher=BBC Sport] He was in charge for one more game, which also ended in defeat, until Jim Jefferies was appointed the new manager. Jefferies brought with him his own assistant Billy Brown, and McCall was appointed first-team coach. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1027129.stm
title=Jefferies is new Bradford manager
accessdate=2007-12-17
date=2000-11-20
publisher=BBC Sport]

After leaving Bradford City, he joined Sheffield United, where he also took up a coaching role. When he retired in 2004, he remained at Sheffield United as assistant to Neil Warnock.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/6664639.stm
title=McCall misses out on Blades post
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2007-05-17
publisher=BBC Sport] Working alongside Warnock and learning the managerial ropes from him, [cite news
first=Rob
last=Stewart
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/03/06/sfnshe06.xml
title=McCall yearns for a final farewell
accessdate=2008-01-04
date=2004-03-05
publisher=The Daily Telegraph] [cite news
first=Louise
last=Taylor
url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1163565,00.html
title=McCall enjoys the age of colour
accessdate=2008-01-14
date=2004-03-06
publisher=The Guardian] he helped mastermind Sheffield's promotion to the Premiership in 2006. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/4912522.stm
title=Blades promoted after Leeds draw
accessdate=2007-12-17
date=2006-04-15
publisher=BBC Sport] United were relegated to the Championship on the final day of the 2006–07 season and Warnock resigned three days later. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6627849.stm
title=Sheff Utd 1-2 Wigan
accessdate=2007-12-17
date=2007-05-14
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/6659513.stm
title=Warnock resigns after Blades manager
accessdate=2007-12-17
date=2007-05-16
publisher=BBC Sport] McCall had already decided that the 2006–07 season would be his last as assistant manager, and when he was overlooked as a successor to the United manager's position, in favour of Bryan Robson, he decided to leave after five years with the club.

Return to Bradford City

McCall admitted in his autobiography, "The Real McCall", he wanted to manage Bradford.

Cquotetxt|One day in the distant future I would love to manage Bradford.|Stuart McCall|"The Real McCall" [cite book
last=McCall
title=The Real McCall
pages=p. 184]

He had been linked with the manager's position at Bradford City on numerous previous occasions, [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/6/20/152419.html
title=Is it time for boss McCall?
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2000-06-20
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1013556.stm
title=Evans favourite for Bradford post
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2000-11-08
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/3264473.stm
title=McCall rules out Bradford switch
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2003-11-12
publisher=BBC Sport] and after Colin Todd was sacked on 12 February 2007, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6354497.stm
title=Bradford part company with Todd
date=2007-02-12
accessdate=2008-03-17
publisher=BBC Sport] City chairman Julian Rhodes made McCall his number one target to take over in the summer. [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1206514.0.mccall_is_no1_target.php
title=McCall Is No1 Target
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2007-02-21
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] Club captain David Wetherall temporarily took over and was later announced as caretaker manager for the rest of the 2006–07 season. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6444657.stm
title=Wetherall to stay on as caretaker
date=2007-03-13
accessdate=2008-03-17
publisher=BBC Sport] On 18 May 2007 it was announced McCall would become full-time manager of the club where he started his career, and on 1 June 2007 he assumed the position. [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1407886.0.mccall_says_yes_to_city.php
title=McCall Says Yes To City
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2007-05-18
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] In less than seven years since McCall's first two-game reign, serious financial problems had driven the club to the verge of closure, and although they survived the threat of oblivion, they were unable to avoid a terrible on-the-pitch decline, which continued after the financial nightmare had been relieved. [cite book
last=Markham
title=The legends of Bradford City
pages=p. 161] On McCall's return to Valley Parade, the Bantams had just been relegated to League Two—meaning that they would be playing in the bottom division for the first time in 25 years. [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1362773.0.woeful_city_relegated.php
title=Woeful City relegated
accessdate=2007-12-17
date=2007-04-28
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] McCall set himself a target of earning promotion back to League One in his first season. [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1456117.0.mccall_ill_have_failed_if_we_dont_go_up.php
title=McCall: I'll Have Failed If We Don't Go Up
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2007-06-08
publisher=Telegraph & Argus]

Bradford had just 13 players when McCall took over, [cite news
first=Dave
last=Craven
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1446155.0.bookies_tip_city_to_bounce_back.php
title=Bookies Tip City To Bounce Back
accessdate=2007-12-04
date=2007-06-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] and he made a number of summer signings including defender Darren Williams, midfielders Kyle Nix, Alex Rhodes and Scott Phelan, and strikers Barry Conlon, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and Peter Thorne. [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1513921.0.mccall_nets_a_brace.php
title=McCall nets a brace
accessdate=2007-12-04
date=2007-07-02
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1558878.0.dday_for_city_trialists.php
title=D-Day for City trialists
accessdate=2007-12-04
date=2007-07-19
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1607050.0.mccall_makes_a_double_signing.php
title=McCall makes a double signing
accessdate=2007-12-04
date=2007-08-09
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] McCall recorded his first win as a manager against Wrexham on 25 August 2007 after substitute Luke Medley scored a late winner, [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1644538.0.luke_whos_a_hit_with_city_fans.php
title=Luke who's a hit with City fans!
accessdate=2007-12-30
date=2007-08-26
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] but despite his pre-season target his team have spent most of the season in the bottom half of the table. After going unbeaten in January, the club were still 15th in League Two, and McCall told the "Telegraph & Argus" he did not regret his pre-season target but was carried away with the euphoria at the time. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.2011939.0.mccall_the_big_interview.php
title=McCall: The big interview
date=2008-02-01
accessdate=2008-02-03
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Jim
last=Greenhalf
quote=I don't regret it because it's how I felt and how I feel because I am optimistic. You should always strive to be the best you can naturally be, if that means setting standards high. But I probably went along with the optimism, naïvely.I thought I would be able to get the people I wanted to get in. Looking back I should have realised I would be coming into the unknown. I think I am confident in my ability to lead other people but I probably got carried away. I think I got caught up in all the euphoria at the time, if I am being honest.] City's form continued to improve during the second half of the season, and McCall led his side to 10th place in League Two. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?seasonid=137&competitionid=4
title=Final 2007/2008 Football League Two Table
accessdate=2008-03-05
publisher=Soccerbase]

Despite City finishing outside the play-off places, they were again installed as favourites for promotion by bookmakers for the 2008–09 season.cite news
url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/BRADFORD-CITY-Wethers-targets-promotion.4282660.jp
title=Wethers targets promotion
date=2008-07-13
accessdate=2008-09-15
publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post] McCall released 13 players from his squad and replaced them with a number of signings with experience in a higher division, as well as Michael Boulding, who was one of League Two's top goalscorers during the 2007–08 campaign. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7375137.stm
title=Bradford City release 13 players
date=2008-04-30
accessdate=2008-09-15
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7525062.stm
title=Bradford sign Boulding brothers
date=2008-07-25
accessdate=2008-09-15
publisher=BBC Sport] McCall's side made a good start to the season, and after winning five of their opening six league games, went top of the league—the first time City had led the table in seven years. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7616376.stm
title=Boulding sets sights on promotion
date=2008-09-15
accessdate=2008-09-15
publisher=BBC Sport]

Managerial statistics

:"updated 11 October 2008." [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=1636
title=Stuart McCall's managerial career
accessdate=2008-10-11
publisher=Soccerbase]

Honours

Player

Bradford City
*English Division Three: 1984–85

Rangers
*Scottish Premier Division: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97
*Scottish Cup: 1992, 1993, 1996
*Scottish League Cup: 1993, 1994

Personal
*PFA Team of the Year
**Division Two: 1987, 1988

References

External links

*soccerbase|4982|Stuart McCall
*soccerbase (manager)|1636|Stuart McCall
* [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=14370&CFID=3009609&CFTOKEN=33031814 Stuart McCall's international career]
*FIFA player|174747|Stuart McCall
* [http://www.bradfordcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BantamsGreats/0,,10266~119234,00.html Bantams Greats profile]

Persondata
NAME = McCall, Stuart
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer and football manager
DATE OF BIRTH = 10 June 1964
PLACE OF BIRTH = Leeds, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =