Alex Cleland Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Alexander Cleland
  • Born: December 10th, 1970 (Glasgow)
  • Height: 5' 8
  • Position: Full Back
  • Signed: July 1st, 1986
  • First Manager: Jim McLean
  • Career Totals: 183 appearances, 10 goals
  • Also Played For: Everton, Rangers


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1994-95 21 1 6 0 19.0% 33.3% 47.6%
1993-94 40 (3) 1 2 0 37.2% 37.2% 25.6%
1992-93 24 (4) 0 2 0 46.4% 10.7% 42.9%
1991-92 26 (7) 4 0 1 42.4% 24.2% 33.3%
1990-91 23 (5) 3 1 0 53.6% 17.9% 28.6%
1989-90 14 (3) 1 1 0 47.1% 23.5% 29.4%
1988-89 10 (2) 0 0 0 33.3% 41.7% 25.0%
1987-88 1 0 0 0 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Totals: 159 (24) 10


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 Cln = Clean Sheets | CtGR = Clean Sheets to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 14/01/95 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A) 0 - 2
 07/01/95 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A) 1 - 1
 02/01/95 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H) 0 - 0
 31/12/94 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A) 0 - 4
 04/12/94 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H) 0 - 3

 Recent First Team Goals
 07/01/95 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A) 1 - 1
 19/03/94 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H) 2 - 2
 04/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H) 2 - 1
 14/03/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H) 1 - 0
 22/02/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H) 2 - 2

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 07/01/95 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 1
 19/03/94 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 2
 04/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 1
 14/03/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 22/02/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 30/11/91 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 1
 05/01/91 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 2
 18/09/90 1st Round 1st Leg vs. FH (A)  3 - 1
 01/09/90 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 0
 13/09/89 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Glentoran (A)  3 - 1

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 14/01/95 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 2
 07/01/95 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 1
 02/01/95 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 0
 31/12/94 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 4
 04/12/94 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 3
 19/11/94 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  5 - 2
 08/11/94 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 1
 05/11/94 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 2
 29/10/94 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 3
 22/10/94 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  0 - 0
 15/10/94 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  0 - 1
 08/10/94 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 0
 29/09/94 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Tatran Prešov (A)  1 - 3
 24/09/94 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  1 - 0
 21/09/94 Quarter Final vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 1
 17/09/94 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 2
 10/09/94 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 31/08/94 3rd Round vs. Hamilton (A)  2 - 2
 27/08/94 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 1
 20/08/94 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 2
 13/08/94 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 5
 21/05/94 Final vs. Rangers (N)  1 - 0
 14/05/94 Premier Division vs. Raith Rovers (H)  2 - 3
 07/05/94 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 2
 03/05/94 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 30/04/94 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  0 - 0
 26/04/94 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 3
 23/04/94 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 16/04/94 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  3 - 0
 12/04/94 Semi Final Rep. vs. Aberdeen (N)  1 - 0
 09/04/94 Semi Final vs. Aberdeen (N)  1 - 1
 05/04/94 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 0
 02/04/94 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 3
 29/03/94 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  1 - 1
 26/03/94 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 1
 19/03/94 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 2
 15/03/94 Quarter Final Rep. vs. Airdrie (H)  2 - 0
 12/03/94 Quarter Final vs. Airdrie (A)  0 - 0
 05/03/94 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (A)  1 - 1
 01/03/94 4th Round Replay vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 26/02/94 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 0
 29/01/94 3rd Round vs. Arbroath (A)  3 - 2
 25/01/94 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 22/01/94 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 0
 15/01/94 Premier Division vs. Raith Rovers (A)  2 - 0
 08/01/94 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  3 - 0
 18/12/93 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  0 - 1
 11/12/93 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  3 - 0
 07/12/93 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  2 - 1
 04/12/93 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  0 - 0
 30/11/93 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 0
 20/11/93 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 2
 13/11/93 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  2 - 2
 06/11/93 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 30/10/93 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 0
 23/10/93 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 2
 16/10/93 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 2
 02/10/93 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 2
 28/09/93 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Brøndby (H)  3 - 1
 25/09/93 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 0
 21/09/93 Semi Final vs. Hibernian (N)  0 - 1
 18/09/93 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 1
 10/08/93 2nd Round vs. Hamilton (A)  1 - 0
 07/08/93 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 1
 15/05/93 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 4
 08/05/93 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 1
 01/05/93 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  3 - 1
 20/04/93 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 0
 17/04/93 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (H)  3 - 0
 13/04/93 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  0 - 3
 03/04/93 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 1
 16/01/93 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 2
 09/01/93 3rd Round vs. Meadowbank (H)  3 - 1
 05/01/93 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 3
 07/11/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  0 - 2
 24/10/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  1 - 1
 17/10/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 1
 07/10/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 03/10/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 26/09/92 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 4
 19/09/92 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  0 - 1
 12/09/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 1
 02/09/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 2
 29/08/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 0
 26/08/92 Quarter Final vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 3
 22/08/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 1
 18/08/92 3rd Round vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 0
 15/08/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 2
 11/08/92 2nd Round vs. QOS (H)  6 - 0
 08/08/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 05/08/92 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 0
 01/08/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 02/05/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 25/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 0
 18/04/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 0
 11/04/92 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 2
 04/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 1
 28/03/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 3
 21/03/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 17/03/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  0 - 1
 14/03/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 07/03/92 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 0
 29/02/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 1
 22/02/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 11/02/92 4th Round vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 2
 08/02/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 1
 01/02/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 18/01/92 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  1 - 3
 11/01/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (H)  2 - 1
 04/01/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  3 - 1
 01/01/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  4 - 0
 28/12/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 3
 21/12/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 2
 14/12/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  0 - 0
 30/11/91 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 1
 16/11/91 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 1
 09/11/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 1
 12/10/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 4
 08/10/91 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (H)  0 - 0
 31/08/91 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 0
 24/08/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 1
 20/08/91 2nd Round vs. Montrose (H)  3 - 2
 17/08/91 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 13/08/91 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  4 - 1
 10/08/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 4
 24/04/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 1
 20/04/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 1
 16/04/91 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 1
 19/01/91 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  3 - 0
 05/01/91 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 2
 02/01/91 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 01/12/90 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 1
 24/11/90 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 3
 17/11/90 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 10/11/90 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 1
 07/11/90 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Vitesse (H)  0 - 4
 03/11/90 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 0
 24/10/90 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Vitesse (A)  0 - 1
 20/10/90 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 0
 13/10/90 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 10/10/90 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 0
 03/10/90 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. FH (H)  2 - 2
 29/09/90 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 1
 25/09/90 Semi Final vs. Celtic (N)  0 - 2
 22/09/90 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 1
 18/09/90 1st Round 1st Leg vs. FH (A)  3 - 1
 15/09/90 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 1
 08/09/90 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  1 - 0
 04/09/90 Quarter Final vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 0
 01/09/90 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 0
 28/08/90 3rd Round vs. Partick Th (A)  3 - 1
 25/08/90 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  3 - 1
 21/08/90 2nd Round vs. Alloa Athletic (A)  3 - 0
 05/05/90 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  0 - 0
 28/04/90 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 21/04/90 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 1
 18/04/90 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 1
 07/04/90 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 31/03/90 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 0
 10/03/90 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 03/03/90 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 3
 17/02/90 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 0
 09/12/89 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 2
 18/11/89 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 0
 14/10/89 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 04/10/89 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 0
 27/09/89 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Glentoran (H)  2 - 0
 23/09/89 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 16/09/89 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 2
 13/09/89 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Glentoran (A)  3 - 1
 01/04/89 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 1
 11/03/89 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  1 - 4
 21/01/89 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 0
 01/10/88 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 0
 24/09/88 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 20/09/88 Semi Final vs. Aberdeen (N)  0 - 2
 17/09/88 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 1
 06/09/88 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Floriana (A)  0 - 0
 03/09/88 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  3 - 0
 31/08/88 Quarter Final vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 0
 27/08/88 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 2
 13/08/88 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 0
 30/04/88 Premier Division vs. Morton (A)  4 - 0


Biography

Alex was a schoolboy international who joined United’s youth programme in 1986 and very quickly progressed, becoming part of the Scotland Under-16 and youth squads. He was soon a regular in United's reserve side and made his first team debut aged 17 against Morton towards the end of the 1987-88 Premier League campaign.

A versatile defender who played mainly at right-back, he graduated to the Scotland Under-21 set up, gaining several caps at that level, and lined up in the United first team occasionally over the next two seasons, scoring his first senior goal in a UEFA Cup tie against Glentoran in September 1989. By 1990-91, he was a regular in the side but was hindered by serious injury, breaking his leg in the latter half of that season. After recovering, Alex was re-established in the line-up and had three more successful years with United, culminating in the 1994 Scottish Cup run where he played in every round on the way to the final. He collected a Scottish Cup winner’s medal in May when United defeated Rangers at Hampden to lift the trophy for the first time in the Club's history.

Whilst still a regular in the starting eleven the next season, in January 1995 he was surprisingly transferred to Rangers along with Gary Bollan for a total fee reported at £750,000. Whilst at Ibrox, he won a second Scottish Cup medal, a League Cup medal and was also in three championship winning squads. He left in July 1998 to follow manager Walter Smith to Everton, but his time in England was blighted by a troublesome calf injury. After just 35 appearances in four seasons at Goodison Park, he retired in January 2003 aged 32.

He moved back north to become assistant manager at East Stirlingshire before becoming youth coach at Partick Thistle in January 2004. Six months later he moved to Livingston in the same capacity and served as caretaker manager on two occasions, stepping in for. He left Almondvale in May 2007 and went on to hold coaching roles at Rangers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle before joining St Johnstone in June 2009. He again served as caretaker manager in October 2011 after the departure of Derek McInnes, and in June 2018 was appointed assistant manager to Tommy Wright.

Last updated on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 by B Orr.





Debut

April 30th, 1988
Greenock Morton 0 - 4 Dundee United

League (Premier Division)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    Alex was born on this date in Glasgow.

    Thursday, December 10th, 1970

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Tuesday, July 1st, 1986

  • First Non-Competitive Appearance (Friendly)

    St Andrews Utd 1 - 1 Dundee United
    Friendly

    Wednesday, July 29th, 1987

  • First Team Debut

    Morton 0 - 4 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    An impressive performance was marred by injuries to Iain Ferguson, Eamonn Bannon and four goal hero Mixu Paatelainen which meant we ended the match with only 10 men. We attacked right from the start a

    Saturday, April 30th, 1988

  • First Goal

    Glentoran 1 - 3 Dundee United
    UEFA Cup (1st Round 1st Leg)

    The European stage once again brought an excellent result after some indifferent results on the home front. Alex Cleland was drafted into the side at right-back, his first appearance since last April

    Wednesday, September 13th, 1989

  • First League Goal

    Dundee United 1 - 0 Motherwell
    League (Premier Division)

    The opening home league match against Motherwell was played on a perfect Tannadice playing surface and there is no doubt that we played some lovely football, particularly in the first half. The only c

    Saturday, September 1st, 1990

  • 50th Appearance

    Dundee United 1 - 1 Hearts
    League (Premier Division)

    Hearts almost inevitable prove to be tough opponents and this latest confrontation was no exception. Although Hearts dominated the first half, we had the first shot at goal when Darren Jackson release

    Saturday, November 17th, 1990

  • 50th League Appearance

    Dundee United 0 - 0 Aberdeen
    League (Premier Division)

    This was supposedly a summer's day, but the haar which enshrouded Tannadice made it more like November and the Tannadice floodlights were on from the start. Injuries once more upset team selection. Da

    Saturday, August 31st, 1991

  • 100th Appearance

    Dundee United 2 - 0 Falkirk
    League (Premier Division)

    Having completed a clean sweep against the Bairns the previous season, we extended that run, though this had to go down as one of our poorer early season performances. By the interval, Falkirk could l

    Saturday, August 29th, 1992

  • 100th League Appearance

    Dundee United 1 - 4 Aberdeen
    League (Premier Division)

    Not only was this the final match of he season, but it also marked the end of Jim McLean's remarkable twenty one and a half years as United's manager. Aberdeen drew first blood after only four

    Saturday, May 15th, 1993

  • Last Goal

    Celtic 1 - 1 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    On the two previous visits to Hampden when we have faced Celtic. Late strikes have cost us a share of the spoils. On this occasion, it was a John Collins goal deep into injury in the first half which

    Saturday, January 7th, 1995

  • Last Appearance

    Hearts 2 - 0 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    United travelled to the Capital, hoping to bring almost ten years without a victory to an end. Paddy Connolly came in for Robbie Winters in an attempt to bring some added punch to an attack which had

    Saturday, January 14th, 1995

  • Left the Club

    Friday, January 27th, 1995