Centre-back Paul McLean, from Musselburgh, was spotted by Norwich's academy scout Karl Brady, who covers Scotland and Ireland, and was brought down to Norwich on trial in December 2005, and offered a place in Norwich's academy for the 2006/7 season onwards. He is described as "a very calm and composed central defende who is good in the air and can weigh in with a goal too. He also likes to bring the ball out from the back". He is also known as Pablo.

Whilst with Musselbrough, Paul won the League Championship, East Region Cup, the Steve Maskrey Cup, the Jackie Faichney Memorial Cup and coming within a whisker of retaining the Scottish Cup.Before joining Norwich, he was courted by Hibs for almost a year whilst Dunfermline approached him with a view to signing in 2005 which was rejected so that he could attract English clubs.

Paul joined the Academy on 3rd July 2006. Paul said "I was surprised because Norwich is not a team you would have thought came up to Scotland. But they asked me down and when I was there they treated me brilliantly. The training academy was great. They always made you feel welcome - everybody was always there, from the coaches to the players. It's like I was already part of it, despite it being my first time down. I was nervous but felt really welcome." (Alex Schweitzer-Thompson, Edinburgh Evening News)

n April 2008, Norwich announced that they would not be giving McLean a professional contract. The following month, he signed for Scottish Premier League side Falkirk.

In the summer of 2009, Paul transferred to Brechin City, managed by Jim Duffy. A regular in their first team, he was voted Player of the Month for both September and October 2009.

He moved on to Stirling Albion in the summer of 2019. He left Stirling for Cowdenbeath in May 2024 as Player-Coach. They play in the Lowland Football League.