A PASSIONATE football fan has launched a social media campaign to honour a Scot who is considered to be the forgotten father of the game in Brazil.
Ian Kelly, 47, has set up a Facebook page to try to have Archie McLean, who died almost 50 years ago, inducted into the Scottish Football Museum’s Hall of Fame – which differs from its SFA counterpart, as it is based on nominations from fans instead of the number of caps a player receives.
McLean, a textile engineer from Paisley, played for Ayr and St Johnstone, and in 1912 his employer J&P Coats – now the world’s biggest manufacturer of sewing thread and supplies – sent him to work in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s financial centre.
While there he founded the Scottish Wanderers, an ex-pat team who played in the local league. When his skills caught the attention of the Brazilian public, he was picked for the Sao Paulo state team.
“This was the league that Pele’s team played in and later the great Santos,” said Richard McBrearty, curator of the Scottish Football Museum. “He was the classic Scottish outside forward, small, slight of stature, but very quick which the Brazilians liked to see.
“Within a few years of the short-passing game arriving, Brazil went on to dominate world football.”
Brazilian football had been based on long-ball, kick-and-rush tactics, but the Scottish Wanderers’ local fans were amazed to see them moving with such flair on the field.
McLean introduced the short-passing tactics popular in Scotland to his home side and persuaded the Brazilians to work on skill and technique, a move that led to success for Brazil in the ensuing years.
His had planned on being in Brazil for three months, but stayed for almost 40 years, joining Sao Paulo Athletic Club (SPAC), where he was known as Veadinho – the little deer.
The Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park has medals and trophies awarded to McLean but Kelly wants them to go further.
“I’m a passionate football supporter and it is high time Archie McLean was recognised for his contribution to football – not just in Scotland but in Brazil too – and he should be inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
“He really was one of the greats of the and ranks alongside Tommy Gemmell, John Greig, Henrik Larsson and Jimmy Johnstone.”
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