The very best Scottish defenders ever

January 20, 2025

3

The very best Scottish defenders ever embrace a few of the nation’s all-time standout gamers, those that have shone for membership and nation alike.

Proper-backs, centre-backs and left-backs all get a look-in right here, as we select Scotland’s high expertise on the again.

Stars of Celtic, Rangers and past are represented on our record of Scottish defensive greats…

Christian Dailly

Scotland defender Christian Dailly poses with a Scottish flag, 2007

Christian Dailly pictured in 2007 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

A centre-back who captained Scotland 12 occasions and went to the 1998 World Cup, Christian Dailly received the Scottish Cup with hometown membership Dundee United and later Rangers.

Nevertheless, he spent nearly all of his profession south of the border, enjoying within the Premier League for Derby, Blackburn and West Ham, serving to the latter to the 2006 FA Cup ultimate.

David Weir

David Weir playing for Everton, 2005

David Weir enjoying for Everton, 2005 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Capped 69 occasions between 1997 and 2010, David Weir was one in every of Scotland’s go-to centre-halves for a few years.

The Falkirk-born defender began out at his native membership and went on to play for Hearts and Rangers – lifting the Scottish Cup with each – both facet of an eight-year spell with Everton, for whom he revamped 200 Premier League appearances.

George Younger

Rangers and Scotland footballer George Young pictured in 1952

George Younger pictured in 1952 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

A centre-back additionally able to working at right-back, George Younger was the primary participant to win 50 caps for Scotland, representing his nation 53 occasions in complete – 48 of them as skipper.

A part of six title-winning sides at Rangers throughout the Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties, Younger scored two penalties within the Gers’ treble-sealing Scottish Cup ultimate victory over Clyde in 1949.

David Narey

David Narey playing for Dundee United against Rangers, 1979

David Narey enjoying for Dundee United towards Rangers, 1979 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Dundee native David Narey spent virtually his total profession with Dundee United, amassing a club-record 872 appearances between 1974 and 1993.

A central defender who might additionally line up in midfield, the 35-cap Scotland worldwide starred in Dundee United’s memorable runs to the 1983/84 European Cup semi-finals and 1987 UEFA Cup ultimate.

Richard Gough

Richard Gough celebrates with the trophy following Rangers' 1992/93 Scottish Premier League title win

Richard Gough celebrates with the trophy following Rangers’ 1992/93 Scottish Premier League title win (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Born in Stockholm to a Swedish mom and Scottish father, Richard Gough was a strong presence on the coronary heart of defence for membership and nation, serving to Rangers to an unimaginable 9 straight league titles from 1989 to 1997, eight of them as captain.

Beforehand a Scottish champion with Dundee United, Gough additionally wore the armband for Tottenham within the 1987 FA Cup ultimate and performed at three main worldwide tournaments.

Colin Hendry

Scotland captain Colin Hendry playing against Brazil at the 1998 World Cup

Colin Hendry enjoying for Scotland towards Brazil on the 1998 World Cup (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Scotland’s captain on the 1998 World Cup, Colin Hendry’s fearsome centre-half play helped deliver out the very best in these round him.

A top-flight champion north and south of the border with Rangers in 1999 and Blackburn in 1995 respectively, Hendry made two PFA Premier League Groups of the Yr whereas starring for the latter.

Gordon McQueen

Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen pictured in 1983

Gordon McQueen pictured at Manchester United in 1983 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

A goalkeeper as a child, Gordon McQueen switched to centre-back and went on to make fairly a reputation for himself with Leeds and Manchester United, serving to the previous to the 1973/74 First Division title and 1974/75 European Cup ultimate – and the latter to FA Cup glory in 1983.

Famend for his distinctive aerial skill, McQueen shaped a formidable partnership with the nice Norman Hunter at Leeds.

Alex McLeish

Alex McLeish playing for Aberdeen, 1983

Alex McLeish enjoying for Aberdeen, 1983 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Later supervisor of Rangers and Scotland, amongst others, Alex McLeish excelled as a central defender in his enjoying days, most notably for Alex Ferguson’s extremely profitable Aberdeen group.

Three Scottish titles and the 1982/83 Cup Winners’ Cup have been among the many honours claimed with the Dons by McLeish, who featured on the 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cups.

Billy McNeill

Captain Billy McNeill lifts the European Cup after Celtic's victory over Inter in the 1967 final in Lisbon

Billy McNeill lifts the European Cup after Celtic’s victory over Inter within the 1967 ultimate in Lisbon (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Captain of Celtic’s legendary ‘Lisbon Lions’, the primary British facet to win the European Cup in 1967, Billy McNeill was a large of a central defender and a pure chief.

Capped 29 occasions by Scotland, he spent almost his complete enjoying profession at Celtic, that includes near 800 occasions, earlier than two stints as supervisor.

Tommy Gemmell

Celtic defender Tommy Gemmell pictured in 1969

Tommy Gemmell pictured at Celtic in 1969 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Naturally right-footed however one of many world’s finest left-backs in his prime, Tommy Gemmell starred alongside Billy McNeill in Celtic’s European Cup-winning group – who really did the quadruple that season.

Gemmell, who additionally had a spell in England with Nottingham Forest, was extremely regarded for his overlapping runs, tackling skill and highly effective taking pictures.

Sandy Jardine

Scotland defender Sandy Jardine pictured in 1974

Sandy Jardine pictured in 1974 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Born William however often known as Sandy resulting from his hair color, Sandy Jardine racked up greater than 1,000 appearances for membership and nation, cementing legendary standing at Rangers earlier than starring for Hearts.

A league champion, Scottish Cup and League Cup, and Cup Winners’ Cup winner with the Gers, Jardine was a perfectly well-rounded right-back who twice received the SFWA (Scottish Soccer Writers’ Affiliation) Footballer of the Yr award, in 1975 and 1986.

Willie Miller

Wille Miller playing for Scotland, 1988

Wille Miller enjoying for Scotland, 1988 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Companion to Alex McLeish on the coronary heart of the again 4 in Alex Ferguson’s silverware-sweeping Aberdeen facet of the 80s, Willie Miller was described by his boss as “the very best penalty field defender on the earth”.

Voted Aberdeen’s greatest-ever participant in 2003, Miller – who performed on the 1982 and 1986 World Cups – did the double of PFA Scotland Gamers’ Participant of the Yr and SFWA Footballer of the Yr in 1984.

Andy Robertson

Andy Robertson playing for Liverpool, 2023

Andy Robertson enjoying for Liverpool, 2023 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Having began out with legendary Glasgow novice outfit Queen’s Park, Andy Robertson progressed to change into one of many most interesting left-backs in world soccer, enjoying a key position as Liverpool claimed the entire greatest trophies below Jurgen Klopp.

A member of back-to-back PFA Premier League Groups of the Yr in 2019 and 2020, the feisty and energetic pinpoint crosser captained Scotland at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

John Greig

John Greig playing for Rangers against Celtic, 1976

John Greig enjoying for Rangers towards Celtic, 1976 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Voted the very best Rangers participant of all time in 1999, John Greig was a splendidly authoritative defender with improbable management qualities.

Primarily a centre-half however in a position to play throughout the again line, Greig captained the Gers to 1971/72 Cup Winners’ Cup glory, amongst different triumphs, and wore the armband for his nation on 15 events.

Danny McGrain

Scotland defender Danny McGrain pictured in 1980

Danny McGrain pictured in 1980 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

Legendary Scottish sports activities journalist Hugh McIlvanney remarked that Danny McGrain was “a terrific participant, in all probability one who had no superior anyplace on the earth” – so imperious was the Celtic nice at right-back.

Spending the very best a part of 20 years at Celtic Park, profitable every of the three main home honours a number of occasions, the 62-cap Scotland worldwide was equally world-class when deployed at left-back.

Alan Hansen

Alan Hansen playing for Scotland, 1979

Alan Hansen enjoying for Scotland, 1979 (Picture credit score: Alamy)

When Alan Hansen lambasted “diabolical” defending in his position as a pundit on Match of the Day, you sat up and took discover – he was higher positioned than most to unleash such scathing criticism.

An outstanding reader of the sport at centre-back, Hansen possessed top-quality ball-playing skill and was completely integral to Liverpool’s sustained success throughout the late 70s and the 80s, profitable three European Cups and quite a few home honours.

A part of the Scotland group on the 1982 World Cup, the previous Partick Thistle man was named in six PFA First Division Groups of the Yr between 1982 and 1990.

The very best Scottish defenders ever

Related Articles

Liverpool report: Has Kylian Mbappe has simply put Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer unsure, with bombshell request?

Payment set: Chelsea switch goal given £65million asking value

Mohammed Shami skips bowling observe on Day 2 IND vs ENG T20I camp as precautionary measure

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Latest Articles

Liverpool report: Has Kylian Mbappe has simply put Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer unsure, with bombshell request?

Payment set: Chelsea switch goal given £65million asking value

Mohammed Shami skips bowling observe on Day 2 IND vs ENG T20I camp as precautionary measure

Extra unhealthy information for UK Athletics

Jannik Sinner will get previous Holger Rune after delays