Highs and lows of Neil McCann’s long career

Neil McCann has had a long association with Dundee, his first club as both player and manager. Here is a look back at the highs and lows of his career.

October 25 1995 – A young McCann earns a place in the Dundee fans’ hearts with a wonder goal against Airdrie in the Coca-Cola Cup semi-final at McDiarmid Park that sends them into the final against Aberdeen.

November 26 1995 – Starts the final at Hampden but the Dens men lose 2-0 to the Dons so he misses out on a winner’s medal.

July 30 1996 – Leaves the Dark Blues to join Hearts.

May 16 1998 – Is a key man in the Tynecastle side that lifts the Scottish Cup with a thrilling 2-1 win over Rangers in the final at Celtic Park.

September 5 1998 – McCann makes his debut for Scotland as a late substitute for Ally McCoist in a 0-0 draw away to Lithuania.

May 2 1999 – After moving to Rangers he scores twice for the Light Blues at Celtic Park to clinch the Premier League title in a decider that is labelled the Old Firm “shame game” after referee Hugh Dallas is hit with a missile.

August 5 2003 – Gets a move to England, joining Southampton for a reputed £1.5m.

January 17 2006 – Rejoins Hearts.

May 14 2008 – Moves club again, this time to Falkirk. Released by the Bairns on August 22 2009.

February 12 2011 – McCann comes out of retirement as a player to help Dundee stave-off relegation from Division One in their Dee-fiant season. He scores a stoppage-time goal in his first appearance to secure a 2-1 Dens victory against Raith Rovers. He had started working as pundit for Sky Sports by then but dropped the mic to don the boots. He said, “I’m not even getting paid by Dundee. My work at Sky is my new job and I just wanted to help out my old club. The feeling when that ball went in to get the three points was quite special.”

July 2012 – McCann joins Dunfermline as a coach, initially on a voluntary basis.

December 2014 – Manager Jim Jefferies retires, leaving McCann and John Potter in temporary charge of the Fife team.

April 30 2015 – He decides to leave the Pars.

April 18 2017 – McCann’s first fully-fledged managerial position comes at his old club Dundee, where he is appointed on an interim basis. McCann oversees five matches and helps secure the side’s place in the top tier of Scottish football.

May 29 2017 – It is announced that he will be leaving the Dark Blues as they appear to be poised to appoint St Mirren boss Jack Ross.

June 1 2017 – McCann is revealed as the permanent boss at Dens.

March 10 2018 – Is involved in a touchline bust-up with St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark after Saints win 4-0 at Dens. He eventually serves a one-game ban after having his SFA sentence halved on appeal.

August 16 2018 – McCann is criticised in a hard-hitting article by former Dundee defender Julen Etxabeguren. The Spaniard claims, “He is very impulsive. If he saw things he didn’t like he reacted in a different way from what I like or what I’m used to. We weren’t young teenagers, so for me some of his reactions were over the top.”

August 18 2018 – Suffers arguably the worst defeat of his tenure as Dundee are sent crashing out of the Betfred Cup thanks to a 3-0 home defeat to Championship side Ayr United. The Dark Blues also have two players sent off.

October 16 2018 – He leaves the Dark Blues along with assistant manager Graham Gartland with Dundee having secured just three points from their opening eight league games.