Kean Sammy Image 2 Hibernian 1948

Description

Born in Dumbarton, Hibernian signed left half Sammy Kean from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy as an outside left. Kean made his Scottish League debut in a  match against Queen’s Park on 14th August 1937. By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Kean had played 38 matches for Hibs, scoring 8 goals,

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. Kean made one appearance for Scotland in an unofficial international during the War. Described as “the hardest worker in the Easter Road team… Sammy is a big favourite with the Hibs supporters”. when competitive football resumed after the war, Kean was an important figure supporting the Famous Five forward line. Kean played in the 1947 Scottish Cup Final and won a League Championship medal in 1948. Kean represented the Scottish League once, in a 7-4 win over The Irish League at Windsor Park, Belfast in April 1947.

Kean ceased his playing career after the 1948-49 season after 9 goals in 131 peacetime appearances (but including wartime matches he had scored 26 goals in 364 matches) and then worked for Hibs as an assistant trainer. He moved to Dundee in the late 1950’s, assisting Bob Shankly with their League Championship winning team in 1962. 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. Kean also coached Falkirk and Partick Thistle before his eventual retirement.