Willie MacFarlane

Willie MacFarlane (17 March 1930 – 11 March 2010) was a Scottish football player and manager who played for and managed Hibernian.

Early life and playing career MacFarlane played as a full–back for Hibernian in the 1950s, when the club featured the forward line known as The Famous Five. Both players were then signed for Hibs by manager Hugh Shaw. He was taken by Hibs on a tour of Brazil in 1953 to play in three games in the Maracana stadium against Vasco da Gama, Botafogo and Fluminense. Hibs beat Malmö and Vitória de Guimarães to progress to the third round of the Fairs Cup, where they would lose to Bill Shankly's Liverpool side. That tie with Liverpool led to MacFarlane's departure from Hibs.

MacFarlane "oversaw the early stages of one of the finest ever Hibernian sides". He moved John Brownlie from playing in central defence to an attacking full back role, an "inspirational" choice. Former player John Fraser, who worked as a coach for MacFarlane, described him as an "enthusiastic" manager, who established a good rapport with his players.

After leaving Hibs, MacFarlane had a spell as manager of Meadowbank Thistle between 1978 and 1980. MacFarlane also ran a bookmakers business in Edinburgh and regularly attended matches at Easter Road. He was also a keen golf player and karaoke singer. MacFarlane died in hospital on the morning of 11 March 2010, after a "short illness".