McLean joined Kilmarnock as a teenager from
Ayrshire club
Darvel Juniors in 1974, and spent some time in the youth team
Kilmarnock Star alongside future team-mate at senior level,
Paul Clarke. After making his debut in November 1974 versus
Clyde in a 4–2 defeat a few weeks before his 19th birthday, McLean thereafter became a regular in the first-team under
Willie Fernie, starting 19 league games during
that season in Scotland's top flight. However, while Kilmarnock finished 12th of 18 clubs, they were one of eight that missed out in the mid-1970s
divisional restructure. During McLean's spell at Kilmarnock the club had fallen from grace, after having been Scottish champions in
1965. Following their first relegation prior to McLean's arrival, the club suffered financial problems and had to revert to part-time status throughout the 1980s, even when in the Premier Division. In October 2016 he was inducted into Kilmarnock's
Hall of Fame alongside other well-known former players such as
Tommy McLean,
Ray Montgomerie and
James Fowler. ==International career==