Willie Ormond

This article is about the former Scotland player and manager. For the former Oldham Athletic and Barrow player, see Willie Ormond (footballer born 1926).

Willie Ormond

Personal information
Full name	William Esplin Ormond
Date of birth	(1927-02-23)23 February 1927
Place of birth	Falkirk, Scotland
Date of death
Place of death	Musselburgh, Scotland
Height
Position(s)	Left winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946	Stenhousemuir	9	(0)
1946–1961	Hibernian	335	(147)
1961–1962	Falkirk	27	(4)
Total		371	(151)
International career
1947–1958	Scottish League XI	10	(3)
1952	Scotland B	1	(0)
1954–1959	Scotland	6	(2)
Managerial career
1967–1973	St. Johnstone
1973–1977	Scotland
1977–1980	Heart of Midlothian
1980	Hibernian
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William 'Willie' Esplin Ormond OBE (23 February 1927 – 4 May 1984) was a Scottish football player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's Famous Five forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a successful spell at St. Johnstone, and then taking Scotland to the 1974 World Cup. Scotland were unbeaten at that World Cup, but were eliminated on goal difference.

Playing career

Born in Falkirk, Ormond signed for Hibernian in November 1946 from Stenhousemuir. An outside-left, he played for Hibs over a fifteen-year period. He was one of the "Famous Five" forward line, one of the strongest front fives ever in Scottish football . The other forwards were Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Gordon Smith and Eddie Turnbull, who each scored over 100 goals for the club. Ormond scored a total of 193 goals in all competitions for Hibs. During his playing career, he won the Scottish League Championship three times (all with Hibs) and won six Scotland caps. Ormond also represented the Scottish League XI 10 times. He was the last member of the Famous Five to leave Hibs, signing for hometown Falkirk in 1961.

Managerial career

After he retired from playing, Ormond became assistant trainer at Falkirk.

St Johnstone

In 1967, he was appointed as manager of St. Johnstone. He led the club to the 1969 League Cup final and third in the League one year, ahead of Rangers. This league finish meant that Saints qualified for European competition for the first time, a major achievement for a Scottish club outside the major cities. Ormond's contribution to the club was recognised by the club naming the South Stand at McDiarmid Park in his honour.

Scotland National Team

When the Scottish Football Association wanted someone capable of bringing stability to the job of Scotland manager after Tommy Docherty left, Ormond was a natural choice and he was appointed in 1973. He was blessed with a talented squad and steered them to the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany. Although Scotland didn't lose any of their games and came back as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, they were eliminated after the first round. This was actually the best ever performance by a Scotland team in a World Cup.

Later, minor breaches of player discipline accumulated and after four years the SFA came to believe it wanted a more forceful and charismatic figure as manager.

Heart of Midlothian

In May 1977 he resigned and was appointed as manager of Hearts – the arch rivals of his old team, Hibs. Many Hearts fans at the time were less than happy given Ormond's background but he soon won them over before being sacked in 1980.

Hibernian

He moved to Hibernian as assistant to his old Famous Five colleague Eddie Turnbull. When Turnbull resigned, Ormond took over but his health was not good and forced him to retire soon after.

Personal life

His brother Gibby also played league football, for Airdrie, Dundee United, Cowdenbeath and Alloa. Gibby also represented the Scottish League. Another brother, Bert Ormond, emigrated and represented New Zealand at international level in 1962.

Managerial statistics

As of 28 March 2015

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Scotland		1973	1977	38	18	8	12	47.37

External links

• Willie Ormond – FIFA competition record
• Willie Ormond career at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database