Celtic legend Lou Macari has shared his pride after receiving an MBE for his work tackling homelessness, while also urging Steve Clarke's Scotland squad to advance past the group stage of the World Cup.
A Life of Football and Charity
The former Celtic and Scotland international, whose glittering career took him from Celtic Park to Old Trafford and into the 1978 World Cup squad, was recognised for the remarkable efforts of the Macari Foundation. Established in Stoke-on-Trent in 2016, the charity has transformed countless lives.
Now 77, Macari revealed that the honour has reconnected him with people he had not spoken to in years. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “It has gone crazy. It’s just me, we have a whole team behind us. I’ve had calls from people that I haven’t spoken to for 20 years. It’s brilliant.”
The former midfielder, who became a fans’ favourite in Glasgow, had to keep the news secret for weeks. He laughed: “I got a letter and the first two paragraphs said, ‘keep this a secret or don’t let anybody know until a certain date’. I didn’t tell anybody and I was walking past people as they said, ‘you deserve a medal, you do’. I couldn’t say anything.”
The Birth of the Macari Foundation
The foundation was born after Macari recognised the scale of homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent, where he settled after managing Stoke City. What started as a desire to help a few homeless individuals has grown into a lifeline for many.
Macari recalled: “I had never seen homeless people. I went into Stoke-on-Trent one night and I saw four people in a doorway. I didn’t know what they were. Being nosey, I asked what are you doing here? They told me they were homeless and they were looking for somewhere to stay.
“In a moment of madness, I asked them if I got a place for them, would they come? I had friends in the council and I knew they had repossessed lots of houses. I went to the council the next day, got a set of keys and opened the door to this building.
“Where did we go from there? Gradually you learn things to do and not to do. Over the ten years we have been going, we have improved and got to know the requirements of homeless people and what they like.
“It’s fantastic. When someone leaves you and they’re in a better place than how they came, it gives you real satisfaction.”
More Than Just a Roof
For Macari, the challenge has never been just about providing shelter. He explained: “We try to do things with them that they should realise is a normal way of life but of course their life isn’t a normal way of life.
“When you wake up in the morning, and you are on the streets without a job, where are you going? You just wander around to kill 24 hours. Being in that position isn’t great so we do our best to help them get back into a normal routine, which is the most difficult thing.”
While seeing former residents thrive is rewarding, Macari knows there is still much work to be done. He added: “It’s great, but there’s not enough of them. What’s the solution? I don’t know. Hopefully we can make progress and get people back into a normal way of life.
“Their way of life when they come off the streets is a completely different life to any of us. They could be waking up in the morning underneath a bridge or certainly unemployed, just killing 12 hours before they go back under that bridge. I’ve learned a lot and it’s certainly been worthwhile.”
MBE Belongs to Stoke-on-Trent
Despite the personal recognition, Macari insists the MBE belongs to far more than just him. He noted: “When I started, I just intended to put a roof over their head, feed them and clothe them. I knew Stoke-on-Trent, I knew the people there and I knew that would be achievable.
“I was right. Ten years later, we are still doing the same thing and it’s due to the generosity of all those people. I’ve not just won something, the people of Stoke-on-Trent have too.”
Eyes on Scotland's World Cup Campaign
The former Celtic boss is also keeping a close eye on Scotland at the 2026 World Cup following their opening win over Haiti. He added: “It’s great but it’s only the start. It could all turn a little bit wrong in the next couple of games. Winning your first game is a big deal in the World Cup because it means in the very last game you are still in a position to qualify. Up to now, it’s been great.
“They [the Tartan Army] have taken over haven’t they? In Boston. Once you have those three points and sitting top of the league, you can go into those next two games full of hope and expectation that you can certainly qualify for the next stage.”
