MACDONALD, Malcolm IanRole: Centre-forward 1971-1976
5' 11"
b. Fulham, London, 7th January 1950
CAREER:
Barnet/Knowle Park jnrs/ Tonbridge July 1967/Crystal Palace/Fulham Aug 1968/Luton Town July 1969 �17,500/ UNITED May 1971 �180,000/Arsenal Aug 1976 �333,333 (Djurg�rdens IF(Sweden) loan cs 1979)/Retired due to injury Aug 1979/Fulham commercial executive Sept 1979/Fulham manager Nov 1980, becoming director Aug 1981/Resigned Mar 1984/ Huddersfield Town manager Oct 1987 to May 1988/South Kinson, briefly Apr 1990/Also had a short spell with Lusitano(S.Africa). Debut v Crystal Palace (a) 14/8/71
Known nationwide as 'Supermac', Malcolm Macdonald was a phenomenon of the seventies and hero-worshipped on Tyneside. Built like a middle-weight boxer, he was a brash and colourful centre-forward who lived for hitting the ball into the back of the net. His style of play meant excitement, crashing goals from all distances and all angles. He had devastating pace, packed a mighty shot and was deceptively good in the air too. Possessing verve and confidence, Macdonald arrived on Tyneside for a record fee after bagging 58 goals for Luton. At once the Cockney was taken to by the Gallowgate faithful, striking a headlining hat-trick on his home debut against Liverpool. A huge personality in the region for five years, both on and off the field, Macdonald departed after several publicised disagreements with new manager Gordon Lee. He continued to find the net at Highbury, claiming 57 goals for Arsenal before a knee complaint early in the 1978-79 season caused problems, an injury that forced his retirement at only 28 years of age. Macdonald was the First Division's leading goalpoacher in 1974-75 (21 goals) and 1976-77 (25 goals), while he once hit five goals for England at Wembley against Cyprus in 1975 to equal an international scoring record. On retirement from playing, he looked like developing into a fine manager at Fulham before a series of personal problems led to Macdonald's departure from the game. After running several pubs in the north and south, as well as working in the media, Malcolm, always thoughtful and articulate, moved to Milan in 1991 where he was employed in sporting telecommunications. For a period he was also a football agent, assisting in bringing Brazilian, Mirandinha to Gallowgate. In 1996 he was seen on the after-dinner circuit as a personality speaker, as well as becoming a local radio commentator and columnist in the north east.
Appearances:
FL: 187 apps. 95 gls.
FAC: 23 apps. 14 gls.
FLC: 18 apps. 12 gls.
Others: 29(1) apps. 17 gls.
Total: 257(1) apps. 138 gls.
Honours:
14 Eng caps 1972-76/4 Eng u23 caps 1972-73/ 1 FL app. 1972/FL div 3 prom 1970, 1982(m)/