Andy Millen Explained

Andy Millen
Full Name:Andrew Frank Millen
Birth Date:10 June 1965
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Greenock Morton (assistant manager)
Years1:1986–1987
Clubs1:St Johnstone
Caps1:71
Goals1:2
Years2:1987–1990
Clubs2:Alloa Athletic
Caps2:111
Goals2:9
Years3:1990–1993
Clubs3:Hamilton Academical
Caps3:119
Goals3:4
Years4:1993–1995
Clubs4:Kilmarnock
Caps4:57
Goals4:0
Years5:1995
Clubs5:Ipswich Town (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:1995–1997
Clubs6:Hibernian
Caps6:51
Goals6:0
Years7:1997
Clubs7:Raith Rovers
Caps7:18
Goals7:0
Years8:1997
Clubs8:Ayr United (loan)
Caps8:3
Goals8:1
Years9:1997–1999
Clubs9:Ayr United
Caps9:57
Goals9:2
Years10:1999–2001
Clubs10:Greenock Morton
Caps10:44
Goals10:0
Years11:2001–2004
Clubs11:Clyde
Caps11:89
Goals11:11
Years12:2004–2008
Clubs12:St Mirren
Caps12:114
Goals12:1
Years13:2011
Clubs13:Queen's Park
Caps13:19
Goals13:0
Totalcaps:753
Totalgoals:30
Nationalyears1:1994
Nationalteam1:Scotland B
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2014–2015
Managerclubs1:Ayr United (caretaker)

Andrew Frank Millen (born 10 June 1965) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player. He is the assistant manager of Greenock Morton.

During his career, which lasted from 1986 to 2011, Millen played primarily as a defender for St Johnstone, Alloa Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock, Hibernian, Raith Rovers, Ayr United, Greenock Morton and Clyde.

He continued to play for St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League aged 42. Millen played for Queen's Park in the Scottish Third Division, aged 45.

Career

Millen was born in Glasgow. Early in his playing career, he won the Scottish Challenge Cup twice with Hamilton. During his spell with Kilmarnock he won a Scotland B cap against Wales B.[1]

Millen earned fame later in his career for continuing to play at a senior level despite his advanced professional age. When he played for St Mirren against Dundee United on 5 May 2007 at Tannadice, he became the oldest player to play in the Scottish Premier League.[2] He broke the record set by Aberdeen goalkeeper Jim Leighton, who was aged 41 years and 302 days when he last played in the SPL.[2] Gus MacPherson argued that Millen's record is more notable because Millen played in the more physical role of an outfield player.[2]

Millen took control of the St Mirren team for a match against Motherwell in November 2007, after a family bereavement prevented Gus MacPherson from attending the match, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

Millen announced his intention to retire from first team football in June 2008. During his time with St Mirren, he won the Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish First Division in the 2005–06 season.[3] Millen's last league appearance was against Hearts on 15 March 2008, which meant that he set the SPL record for oldest player at 42 years and 279 days, almost a whole year more than the previous record.

Millen continued working as assistant manager to Gus MacPherson after retiring as a player. After Danny Lennon was appointed as manager, however, Millen left the club to allow Lennon to appoint his own backroom staff.[4]

Millen was appointed as Billy Reid's new assistant at Hamilton Academical in July 2010.[5] He left the club in December due to a contract dispute.[6]

Due to an injury to James Brough, Millen re-registered as a player to sign for amateurs Queen's Park in January 2011.

Millen was appointed assistant manager of Queen of the South on his 46th birthday on 10 June 2011.[7] Millen parted company with Queens on 30 April 2012, alongside MacPherson, after the club was relegated to the Scottish Second Division.[8] He then became assistant to Mark Roberts at Ayr United and was appointed caretaker manager in December 2014, after Roberts was sacked.[9]

Millen was appointed Development Squad Manager at Greenock Morton in May 2015.[10] He left the club in May 2017 to take any opportunity elsewhere.[11] It was announced that he had taken over the development squad manager's role at Kilmarnock.[12] He then became assistant manager to Alex Dyer, but left Kilmarnock in February 2021 after Tommy Wright was appointed manager.[13]

In March 2021, Millen returned to Greenock Morton as assistant manager under his ex-manager at St Mirren, Gus MacPherson.[14]

Honours

Player

Hamilton Academical

1991–92, 1992–93

St Mirren

2005–06[15]

2005–06

2006–07, 2007–08

Manager

Greenock Morton

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=528 SCOTLAND B INTERNATIONALS
  2. News: Millen confirmed as SPL's oldest . . 14 May 2007 . 9 June 2010.
  3. News: Millen hangs up boots for Buddies . . 24 June 2008.
  4. News: St Mirren and Millen part company. BBC News. 11 June 2010.
  5. News: Andy Millen given Hamilton Accies assistant manager job . . 26 July 2010 . 27 July 2010.
  6. News: Hamilton U-turn as Stuart Taylor is re-appointed first-team coach 10 days after leaving club. Sunday Mail. McDermott. Scott. 12 December 2010. 22 February 2011.
  7. http://qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=694 "Gus is our new Manager" www.qosfc.com 10 Jun 2011
  8. Web site: Manager MacPherson departs Queens . BBC Sport . 12 July 2021.
  9. Web site: Ayr United sack manager Mark Roberts. John . Barnes . BBC Sport . BBC . 16 December 2014 . 16 December 2014 .
  10. News: Millen takes Morton under-20s role. Greenock Telegraph. 25 May 2015. 26 May 2015. Jonathan. Mitchell.
  11. News: Andy Millen leaves development squad post. Jonathan. Mitchell. 16 May 2017. 22 May 2017. Greenock Morton F.C..
  12. News: Andy Millen appointed U20 manager. Kilmarnock F.C.. 22 May 2017. 22 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105245/http://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/Article?id=5742. 22 December 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: Tommy Wright: Kilmarnock appoint Northern Irishman as Alex Dyer's successor . John . Barnes . BBC Sport . 8 February 2021 . 8 February 2021.
  14. Web site: 10 March 2021. Club Statement - Greenock Morton FC. 10 March 2021. gmfc.net.
  15. Web site: St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton Accies . BBC . 6 November 2005 . 31 March 2021.