Eddie McCreadie dies aged 85, former Chelsea and Scotland defender | OneFootball

Eddie McCreadie, the former Scotland and Chelsea defender and later Chelsea manager, has died aged 85.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the Glasgow-born left-back made 410 appearances for Chelsea across a distinguished career.

Raised in Cowcaddens, he was overlooked by Partick Thistle, began at East Stirlingshire, then joined Chelsea for £5,000 after catching Tommy Docherty’s eye.

He struck the winner in the 1965 League Cup final against Leicester City, playing as an emergency centre-forward and finishing a long solo run.

He also endured FA Cup final defeat to Tottenham at Wembley.

One of his 23 Scotland caps came in a 3-2 win over England at Wembley in 1968. He later helped Chelsea win the FA Cup in 1970 after a replay and extra time against Leeds United, then missed the 1971 Cup Winners’ Cup final victory over Real Madrid through injury.

After retiring, he joined Chelsea’s coaching staff in 1974 and became manager in April 1975, replacing Ron Suart. Relegation followed, but he rebuilt around teenage midfielder Ray Wilkins and won promotion back to the First Division in 1977.

His reign ended after a dispute with chairman Brian Mears, when a resignation offer made after being denied a company car was accepted. He later coached in the United States with Memphis Rogues and Cleveland Force, retiring in 1985.

McCreadie is survived by his wife, Linda, and three children, Paul McCreadie, Sean McCreadie and Ann Marie MacMurray. His funeral will be at 5pm on Thursday, January 15 at Boones Creek Christian Church in Johnson City, TN, with a graveside service at Boones Creek Baptist Church the following day.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk