Lee Makel Explained

Lee Makel
Fullname:Lee Robert Makel
Birth Date:11 January 1973
Birth Place:Sunderland, England
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1991–1992
Caps1:12
Goals1:1
Years2:1992–1995
Caps2:6
Goals2:0
Years3:1995–1998
Caps3:66
Goals3:5
Years4:1998–2001
Caps4:50
Goals4:1
Years5:1999
Clubs5:Portsmouth (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2001
Clubs6:Bradford City
Caps6:13
Goals6:0
Years7:2001–2004
Clubs7:Livingston
Caps7:80
Goals7:10
Years8:2004–2005
Clubs8:Plymouth Argyle
Caps8:19
Goals8:0
Years9:2005–2006
Caps9:31
Goals9:2
Years10:2006–2008
Clubs10:Livingston
Caps10:49
Goals10:0
Years11:2008–2009
Clubs11:Östersund
Caps11:22
Goals11:6
Years12:2009
Clubs12:East Fife
Caps12:8
Goals12:1
Years13:2009–2010
Clubs13:Östersund
Caps13:12
Goals13:5
Years14:2011–2013
Clubs14:Cowdenbeath
Caps14:12
Goals14:0
Totalcaps:380
Totalgoals:31
Manageryears1:2009–2010
Managerclubs1:Östersund

Lee Robert Makel (born 11 January 1973) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Playing career

Makel began his career with Newcastle United as a trainee in 1991 and made 14 appearances. He moved to Blackburn Rovers for £160,000 in 1992 but only played six league matches in three years for the club. He was at the club during their Premier League winning campaign, but did not make any appearances in the league, only appearing in the UEFA Cup in Rovers' 1994–95 season.

In 1995, he moved to Huddersfield Town where he spent two and a half seasons before moving to Scottish Premier Division club Heart of Midlothian for £75,000 in March 1998. He remained at Hearts until 2001, helping them win the 1998 Scottish Cup before returning to England for a brief spell with Bradford City under his former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies.

He returned to Scotland in December 2001 with Livingston, helping them to a third-place finish in their first Scottish Premier League season and a place in the UEFA Cup. He was also part of the team which won the 2004 League Cup. In 2004, Bobby Williamson signed him for Plymouth Argyle where he remained for just one season.

He again returned to Scotland in 2005 with Dunfermline Athletic before returning to Livingston in 2006.

In 2009, Makel joined East Fife and scored his first and only goal for the club in a 4–0 win over Stranraer.[1]

Coaching career

Makel left Livingston to join Swedish Division 1 Norra side Östersund on 1 April 2008, taking up a player-coaching role with the club.[2] A club he re-joined in June 2009 as a player/joint-coach. In January 2011, Makel signed for Scottish First Division side Cowdenbeath until the end of the season. Makel was appointed assistant manager to Colin Cameron at Cowdenbeath six months later, following the resignation of Jimmy Nicholl.[3] As of October 2015, Makel was coaching Hibernian academy players.[4]

Personal life

Makel was born in Sunderland and brought up in Washington, Tyne and Wear. He was a fan of Sunderland A.F.C. as a boy. His younger brother, Gavin, was a child actor appearing as Rob in BBC series Byker Grove from 1996 to 1998.[5]

His wife Claire was caught having an affair with Chief Superintendent Gareth Blair of Police Scotland at an Edinburgh park-and-ride site in 2019. Blair was suspended and charged alongside Claire with public indecency. He eventually quit Police Scotland. Makel appeared in court in September 2022 for threatening text messages sent to his ex-wife when he suspected she was having an affair.[6] [7]

Honours

Heart of Midlothian

1997–98

Livingston

2003–04

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: East Fife 4-0 Stranraer . 21 March 2009. BBC Sport. BBC. 9 November 2015.
  2. News: Makel quits Livingston for Sweden. 1 April 2008. 11 December 2013. BBC Sport.
  3. News: Colin Cameron replaces Jimmy Nicholl at Cowdenbeath . BBC . BBC Sport . 22 June 2011. 6 June 2011.
  4. Web site: East of Scotland Shield On Saturday . www.hibernianfc.co.uk . Hibernian FC . 9 October 2015 . 10 October 2015.
  5. Web site: Lee Makel interview. 22 March 2004. 11 December 2013.
  6. Web site: Former footballer Lee Makel reveals impact of wife's 'humiliating' affair with top cop. Scottish Daily Express. 26 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Police chief caught having sex in car gets off with fine. The Times. 11 August 2020.