Iberian tour, McAlinden, together with Jackie Vernon, Billy McMillan and Paddy Sloan, was one of four Northern Irish players called up. McAlinden subsequently played in both the 3–1 defeat to Portugal on 16 June and then helped Ireland gain a surprise 1–0 victory against Spain on 23 June 1946. Coaching career In 1955 McAlinden became player/manager of Glenavon. He continued playing for a further year before finally retiring as a player to concentrate on management. During a thirteen-year spell with Glenavon he guided them two Irish League titles, three Irish Cup victories and one Gold Cup. After leaving Glenavon, McAlinden worked as a full-time scout for Coventry City before taking charge at Distillery in 1969. He subsequently guided a Distillery team that included a young Martin O'Neill to a win in the 1971 Irish Cup. Later in his first season with Drogheda United he guided them to the 1976 FAI Cup final, only to lose 1–0 to Bohemians. Career statistics Club Sourced from International Source: Honours Player Belfast Celtic Irish League Winners 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1943–44: 7 Irish Cup: Winners 1938, 1941, 1943: 3 Gold Cup Winners 1934–35, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1943–44, 1944–45: 5 County Antrim Shield Winners 1935–36, 1936–37, 1942–43, 1944–45: 4 Shamrock Rovers Inter-City Cups: 1 Winners 1946 Portsmouth FA Cup Winners 1939: 1 Manager Glenavon Irish League Winners 1956–57, 1959–60: 2 Irish Cup: Winners 1957, 1959, 1961: 3 Gold Cup Winners : 1956–57 1 Distillery Irish Cup: Winners 1971: 1 Runners Up 1969: 1 Drogheda United FAI Cup Runners Up 1976: 1 References Specific General The Boys in Green – The FAI International Story (1997): Sean Ryan Soccer at War – 1939 – 45 (2005): Jack Rollin External links Southend United fansite Ireland (FAI) stats 1917 births 1993 deaths Association footballers from Northern Ireland Belfast Celtic F.C. players Dual Irish international footballers League of Ireland managers League of Ireland players Association football forwards Glenavon F.C. players Ireland (FAI) international footballers NIFL Premiership players Republic of Ireland international footballers from Northern Ireland Football managers from Northern Ireland Association footballers from Belfast Portsmouth F.C. players Pre-1950 IFA international footballers Shamrock Rovers F.C. players Southend United F.C. players Stoke City F.C. players English Football League players Drogheda United F.C. managers Glenavon F.C. managers Lisburn Distillery F.C. managers Place of death missing League of Ireland XI players FA Cup Final players