After a terrible start to the season, former Rangers striker Steven MacLean was fired as St Johnstone’s manager.
The former McDiarmid Park striker lost his job in Perth after the team’s 4-0 loss to St. Mirren over the weekend.
Due to this outcome, the Saints are currently five points behind Ross County in 11th place and are bottom of the Scottish Premiership. They have not won a league game this season.
Liam Craig, Steven MacLean’s assistant, has also left St Johnstone, and Alex Cleland, another former Rangers player, will take over as interim manager. St. Johnstone issued a brief statement, saying: Steven MacLean and Liam Craig have left the St Johnstone Football Club, the club can announce. First Team matters will be handled by Alec Cleland in the interim.
Former Rangers striker Steven MacLean is fired by St Johnstone
Even though Steven MacLean, the current manager of St Johnstone, isn’t particularly well-known for his time at Rangers, he rose through the academy at Ibrox. The former striker made his breakthrough at Ibrox and even made four appearances in the treble-winning 02/03 campaign.
Steven MacLean was sold because former Rangers manager Alex McLeish didn’t think the player would fit in Glasgow, despite an outstanding loan stint at Scunthorpe United.
After spending time in the south playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, and Plymouth Argyle, journeyman striker MacLean made two trips back to Scotland: one in 2009 with Aberdeen and the other in 2012 with St Johnstone.
The striker eventually settled in Perth and played for the team for six seasons before joining Hearts, with brief loan stints at Oxford United and Yeovil Town in between.
After initially succeeding Callum Davidson on a temporary basis in April 2023, Alec Cleland has led St Johnstone in the interim as the former striker has not had a good few months.
A certain generation of Rangers supporters will recall Alec Cleland from his three Ibrox seasons (1995–1998). Rangers, who signed Philippe Clement this season, are also familiar with the managerial roller coaster, as the manager at Ibrox is already confusing the local experts.
