Alan McDonald (Northern Ireland footballer)

For other people named Alan McDonald, see Alan McDonald (disambiguation).

Alan McDonald

Personal information
Full name	Alan McDonald
Date of birth	12 October 1963 (1963-10-12)
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Playing position	Central Defender (Retired)
Club information
Current club	None
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1981–1997	Queens Park Rangers	402	(13)
1983	→ Charlton Athletic (loan)	9	(0)
1997–1998	Swindon Town	33	(1)
Total		444	(14)
National team
1986–1996	Northern Ireland	52	(3)
Teams managed
2007–2010	Glentoran
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Alan McDonald (born 12 October 1963 in Belfast) is a retired footballer and manager from Northern Ireland. As a player, he spent most of his career with Queens Park Rangers and was capped by Northern Ireland. Most recently, he was manager of IFA Premiership side Glentoran from June 2007 until his resignation at the end of February 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Club career

A 6' 2", 180 lbs defender, 'Macca' joined QPR in the early 1980s as a youth and spent 17 years with the club. Unable to break into the first-team early on in his career, he got his first league experience while on loan at Charlton Athletic. McDonald and QPR reached the final of the League Cup in 1986. By the late 1980s McDonald was playing as stopper in QPR's sweeper system. During his time the club's best finish came in 1993 when they ended in fifth place in the Premiership. Their worst came in 1996 when they were relegated.

McDonald went to Swindon Town on a free transfer in 1997, making 36 appearances and scoring once in his last season as player, 1997-98.

International career

McDonald played 52 times for Northern Ireland including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and has been assistant coach of the Under 21 side since 2002.

International goal

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	26 March 1986	Windsor Park, Belfast	Denmark	1–0	1–1	Friendly

Coaching career

Alan McDonald was appointed as coach of Glentoran to help manager Paul Millar. McDonald almost left the club when he heard that Roy Walker was appointed new manager, but due to not having UEFA badges, McDonald stepped in and was appointed manager.^{[citation needed]}

Management career

McDonald was appointed manager of Glentoran, and started to bring in new faces. He signed Dungannon Swifts winger David Scullion along with Rory Hamill. McDonald also brought in young promising players, including Daryl Fordyce, Philip Carson, Matty Burrows, and Shane McCabe. He also added goalkeeper Michael Dougherty as backup to Elliott Morris, and brought in Hearts defender Johnny Taylor. In his first full season as manager of the East Belfast club, McDonald led Glentoran to win the County Antrim Shield over Crusaders. In McDonald's second season, he led the club to become Irish Premiership champions after four years. During his second season McDonald continued to bring in new faces, after selling Michael Dougherty, McDonald brought in Dundela keeper James Taylor. In his third season in charge McDonald started by signing former Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie and Newry City player Richard Clarke. But Glentoran went on a losing streak, and after a 6-0 home defeat to Coleraine, fans turned against McDonald and calling for him to resign. McDonald stayed on until his side lost 2-0 to Dungannon Swifts F.C. and McDonald resigned after the game.

After Glentoran

McDonald hasn't managed a game since his resignation. McDonald was one of the favourites to be the next Ballymena United manager after the resignation of Roy Walker. McDonald also owns a trophy shop in Bangor.

References

• Alan McDonald at National-Football-Teams.com