ECKSELLENT

Scotland hero McLeish honoured with OBE for football & charity work

- SALLY HIND

SCOTS football legend Alex McLeish has been honoured by the King for raising awareness of a crippling health condition suffered by his two sons.

The former Scotland boss has been awarded an OBE in the New Year honours for services to charity and football.

McLeish's sons Jon, 40, and Jamie, 36, have ulcerative colitis - a severe bowel condition and the ex-Aberdeen star has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for research into the illness.

Alex said: "I am hugely honoured and humbled to receive this OBE in recognition of my career in football and charitable work. This is a proud moment for myself and my family.” Born in Glasgow, McLeish made nearly 700 appearances as a player for Aberdeen, winning the 1983 European Cup Winners Cup, the European Super Cup, three Scottish Premier Division titles, five Scottish Cups, and two Scottish League cups.

He earned 77 caps for Scotland, making him the fourth most-capped player representing his country at three World Cups.

As a club boss, McLeish managed Motherwell and Hibs before securing seven trophies for Rangers.

He led Birmingham City to promotion to the English Premier League and won their first major trophy in 2011.

Alex led Scotland to a near 70 per cent win rate in two spells, defeating France 1-0 in Paris and winning a Nations League group which led to Scotland qualifying for their first major tournament in over 20 years.

Off the field, McLeish has devoted countless hours to raising awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis, helping raise over £200,000 in his role as an ambassador for the Catherine McEwan Foundation.