Dr John MacLean Announces Retirement

Dr MacLean will leave his post as Medical Director and Chief Executive of Hampden Sports Clinic, a position he has held since the Clinic first opened in 2002.

He will vacate his position as Chief Medical Adviser to the Scottish FA but will retain his position as Vice-chairman of UEFA’s Medical Committee, from which he will continue to ensure Scotland’s influence at the highest levels of the game.

His retirement has effected a change in medical provision and operations within the Hampden Sports Clinic and within the national association.

Dr Katy Stewart has been appointed Managing Director of the clinic, having been promoted from her role as Head of Research and Education, and is engaged with the Board on a new strategic plan to advance the services within the organisation.

Dr Jonny Gordon, the current Scotland Men’s National Team doctor, has been appointed as the new Chief Medical Officer to the Scottish FA and will report to the recently appointed Performance Director, Graeme Jones.

He is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow and as well as his involvement in the national game, has been a doctor for the sportscotland Institute of Sport since its inception 25 years ago and was Chief Medical Officer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games since which he has been a member of the Commonwealth Games Medical Commission.

He has been involved with the Scottish FA from 1983 until UEFA Euro 2020, encompassing the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship in Chile, the 1989 Under-16 World Cup final at Hampden Park, Euros, World Cups and the 2007 Kirin Cup triumph in Japan. More recently, John has played a leading role in the develop of concussion and heading guidelines in Scotland as well as for UEFA and FIFA and the world-leading FIELD study into dementia in football.

“Scottish football has been a part of my life since childhood and I have been fortunate that my passion - our national game - has also been a significant part of my working life. After 40 years it feels like the time is right to spend more time with my wife, Maureen, and family but also to allow a talented group of colleagues I call friends to take the clinic forward and to lend more of their expertise to the Scottish FA and the national teams.

“I have known Katy and Jonny for many years and know the sports clinic and the association are in safe hands. I will continue to support our national teams and in the work that I will be continuing with FIFA and within UEFA’s Medical Committee, represent Scottish football with pride and honour. I would like to thank everyone who has been part of the journey over the past 40 years and especially to those mentors no longer with us: Professor Stewart Hillis and the late, great Craig Brown among them.”

Dr Katy Stewart: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to take the Hampden Sports Clinic forward into an exciting new era. I look forward to leading an organisation that is respected throughout sport and by the medical profession as the leading sports clinic in the country. I am grateful for John’s leadership and tutelage and will work to ensure that the evolution of the clinic is inspired by the professionalism of the previous incumbents.

“I wish John the best of luck in his retirement and know that he will not be able to stay away, even in retirement!”

Dr Jonny Gordon: “Firstly, I would like to thank Ian Maxwell and Graeme Jones for their faith in entrusting me with the responsibilities of Chief Medical Officer and I will undertake those responsibilities with pride. There are some significant areas of research we have been fortunate enough to lead on here in Scotland, not least the dementia FIELD study, and I look forward to supporting that work on behalf of the Scottish FA.

“I would like to thank John for his counsel and guidance over the years and look forward to continuing the important work overseen by the association, which is recognised globally.”