Eddie McCreadie dead: Chelsea and Scotland star dies aged 85 | OneFootball

Eddie McCreadie, the Glasgow-born former Chelsea and Scotland left-back who later managed the club, has died aged 85.

According to Sunderland Echo, he made 410 appearances for Chelsea. Tommy Docherty once rated him the best left-back in Europe.

He helped Chelsea lift the FA Cup in 1970, after a replay and extra time against Leeds United.

Capped 23 times by Scotland, he played in the 3-2 win over England at Wembley in 1968. Injury ruled him out of the 1971 Cup Winners’ Cup final.

Raised in Cowcaddens, he was overlooked by Partick Thistle before starting out at East Stirlingshire. Docherty signed him for Chelsea for £5,000.

Renowned for an aggressive, attacking style, he stepped in as an emergency centre-forward in the 1965 League Cup final, running the length of the pitch before beating England goalkeeper Gordon Banks for the winner. He joined Chelsea’s coaching staff in 1974, becoming manager in April 1975.

He could not prevent relegation but rebuilt around teenage midfielder Ray Wilkins to win promotion in 1977. His tenure ended after a dispute with chairman Brian Mears and an accepted resignation linked to a company car.

McCreadie coached in the United States with Memphis Rogues and Cleveland Force, retiring in 1985. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and three children, Paul, Sean and Ann Marie MacMurray.

His funeral will be at five pm on Thursday, January 15 at Boones Creek Christian Church in Johnson City, TN, with a graveside service at Boones Creek Baptist Church the next day.

Source: Sunderland Echo