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Full Name: Alan Bruce McInally
aka: Alan McInally, "Rambo"
Born: 10 Feb 1963
Birthplace: Ayrshire, Scotland
Signed: 12 May 1984 (from Ayr Utd)
Left: 20 July 1987 (to Aston Villa)
Position: Striker
Debut: Hibernian 0-0 Celtic, League, 11 Aug 1984
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 8 caps
International Goals: 3 goals

Biog

Bustling centre-forward Alan McInally was signed from Ayr United for a fee of £90,000 in the hope of adding strength to the sophisticated but rather light-weight Celtic strikeforce.

Nicknamed ‘Rambo’ by the support, McInally was signed by Davie Hay in the summer of 1984 and made his debut for the Hoops as a substitute in a 0-0 league draw at Hibernian on August 11th. On 22nd August he came to Celtic's aid with his first goal, a vital effort in a close run 3-2 league cup win at East End Park against Dunfermline. A back injury sustained in a pre-match warm-up the following month sidelined the player for most of the season and after that his Parkhead career was basically as a supporting act to the first-choice strikeforce of Brian McClair and Mo Johnston.

For the first two years he made little impression although he scored Celtic's goal in the 1-1 draw with Rangers in May 1985 on the night that Police horses controversially charged down a packed Janefield Street, full of departing Celtic fans, and it is with God's grace that no one was killed in that incident.

At this point Celtic were left wondering what they had signed as McInally had made little impression and for a big man had no great talent in the air, much preferring to run with the ball at his feet in a similar vein to John Hughes in the 1960's.

He made a big impact in the 1986/87 and scored a spectacular hat trick against Hamilton at Parkhead on September 6th in a 4-1 win. Manager Hay had to reshape his team to accommodate him alongside McClair and Johnston with McClair playing a deeper role. He played in the controversial League cup final defeat in October 1986 and was part of the side who capitulated in the Spring of 1987, losing a substantial lead to Rangers in the process. His contract was up for renewal in Summer of 1987 and despite an improvement in his play there were few Celtic fans disappointed to see him go.

When McClair and Johnston departed Parkhead in the summer of 1987 for Manchester United and Nantes respectively McInally, son of Kilmarnock legend Jackie, also decided to hit the road and he headed south for Aston Villa for £250,000.

He had enjoyed his best run in the team during that final 86/87 season and by the time of his leaving McInally had scored 22 goals in 85 Celtic appearances. Not bad but mostly people look back that he underachieved with us.

After a slow start he enjoyed a successful spell with the Midlands club forcing his way into the Scotland squad and winning a move to German giants Bayern Munich in 1990. A knee injury forced him to retire in 1992 before attempting ill conceived comebacks at Ayr and Kilmarnock in 1993 and 1994. A month's trial with Manchester City in August 1996 was his last shot at a comeback.

McInally has since carved out a successful media career and now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, albeit as one of the less quick-witted ones (more there for the entertainment factor).

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish Premier Division

• 1985-86

Pictures

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