MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
12 March 2010
Former player holds record for managing most consecutive wins
HE played with and managed some of the greatest Hibs players of all time and still enjoys the record of managing the most consecutive victories of any Hibernian manager.
Former Hibs player and manager Willie Macfarlane , who played full-back behind The Famous Five in the 1950s and created an embryonic version of the side that would go on to become Turnbull's Tornadoes in the 1970s, died yesterday morning, just one week shy of his 80th birthday.
During his short but illustrious career as manager during the 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons, he took Hibs to Europe, beating Malmö 9-2 on aggregate and Vitória de Guimarães 3-2, before losing 3-0 on aggregate to Bill Shankly's Liverpool side.
Born in Leith on 17 March 1930, his family moved to Hutcheson and he attended Tynecastle School. He went on to play for Hutcheson Vale before signing for Hibs in 1953, where he was quickly taken on a tour of Brazil to take part in the Octagonal Rivadavia Correa Meyer competition.
MacFarlane also played for Hibs in the first season of the European Cup, eventually losing to Stade Reims in the semi-final.
Following a spell playing for Raith Rovers and Morton he took his first managerial job at Hawick Royal Albert.
Son Ian Macfarlane, 55, a club entertainer who recently returned from France to maintain a vigil by his father's bedside, recalled his early managerial days at Hawick.
He said: "My father looked back on the Hawick days very fondly, and he used to love heading down on the bus for a laugh and a sing-song with the boys.
"During his spell at Hawick they won every competition going, and I still remember some of the parties at my house."
He managed Stirling Albion in 1968 before joining Hibs at the start of the 1969 season.
Son Ian added: "The day he was introduced to the players,
he picked on one and told him to hand over his boots, which he put on himself and launched a perfect corner straight to the back post. 'That's how I want you to take corners when you're playing for me,' he said, and that was how they found out my dad would be their new manager."
Outside of his footballing career he was an avid golfer and lover of music, regularly entertaining friends, family and tour-bus players with his karaoke classics.
He married his wife Joyce in 1954 and had two children, Jacqueline and Ian and two grandchildren, Nicole and Stefan.
He died in hospital yesterday morning after a short illness.
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