Last Wednesday marked an anniversary for one of the saddest days in Scottish football. It was forty years to the day since legendary manager Jock Stein passed away at the full-time whistle after a World Cup qualifier.
Stein was manager of the Scottish national team and in the final game of the qualifying stages for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Scotland travelled down to face Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff.
Stein’s side needed to avoid defeat to stand a great chance of reaching South America.
A tense game followed, with Wales taking the lead in the 13th minute thanks to a goal from Mark Hughes. The home side had to win and they kept their lead until the 81st minute when they conceded a penalty, which was duly converted by substitute Davie Cooper.
When the full-time whistle was blown by Dutch referee Jan Keizer, the Scottish players celebrated on the pitch and so did their fans on the terraces. However, there worrying and frantic goings-on by the Scottish dugout where manager Jock Stein had collapsed.
He was carried down the tunnel by police officers to the visitors’ dressing room. Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but to no avail. Stein passed away at the age of 62.
Stein was a world-class manager who famously guided Celtic to win the European Cup in 1967, therefore becoming the first British club to win the competition. In all, he amassed a total of 25 major honours in his career, including eight successive league championships at Celtic.
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