Sammy Kean

Samuel Rae Kean (7 December 1917 – 17 April 2003)[1] was a Scottish football player and manager

Kean was born in Dumbarton in 1917 to James Kean and Sarah Rae Kean.[2] Hibernian signed Kean from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy as an outside left.[1] Kean made his senior debut on 14 August 1937, in a Scottish League match against Queen's Park.[3] Hibs manager Willie McCartney used Kean as left half and he formed a partnership with Matt Busby when Busby signed for Hibs in 1941 as a wartime guest player.[1] Kean made one appearance for Scotland during the war.[4] When competitive football resumed after the war, Kean was an important figure supporting the Famous Five forward line.[1] Kean played in the 1947 Scottish Cup Final and won a league championship medal in 1948.[1] Kean represented the Scottish League once, in April 1947.[5]

Kean ceased his playing career after the 1948–49 season and then worked for Hibs as an assistant trainer.[1] He moved to Dundee in the late 1950s, assisting Bob Shankly with their league championship winning team in 1962.[1] Kean was credited with the signing of Gordon Smith, as the pair had a working relationship dating back to shifts in the Leith shipyards during the war.[1] Kean also coached Falkirk and Partick Thistle.[1]

Kean worked for the Gas Board for the rest of his working life.[1] Besides football, he was also a keen golfer and lawn bowls player.[1] His wife Mary died in 1993 and Kean suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his later years.[1] When he died in April 2003, Kean was survived by two daughters and four grandchildren.[1]