FACTBOX - Key facts on British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeech

May 14 (Reuters) - Factbox on Ian McGeechan, who was named on Wednesday as British & Irish Lions coach for the 2009 tour of South Africa:

* McGeechan, who belongs to a select band who have played for and coached the Lions, is the only coach to have worked on four different tours, 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2005.

* Born in Leeds in October 1946, the 61-year-old made his Scotland debut against New Zealand at Murrayfield in December 1972 at flyhalf at the start of a 32-cap international career during which he also played at centre. He went on two Lions tours, to South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand in 1977.

* A knee injury ended his playing career at 33 and he turned to coaching, becoming Scotland's assistant coach for the 1987 World Cup before being appointed to the top job in 1988. He steered Scotland to the Five Nations grand slam in 1990, the year of his OBE, and the World Cup semi-finals a year later.

* Took charge at Northampton in 1993 and led the Saints to the English Premiership title.

* After the 1999 World Cup, he rejoined Scotland and in 2003 was installed as the country's director of rugby.

* In 2005, he was appointed director of rugby at London Wasps and steered the club to victory in the Heineken Cup in 2007.

Sources: Reuters/www.wasps.co.uk (Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit)