Scotland’s all-time squad includes great players from Parkhead and Ibrox giants Celtic and Rangers, as well as the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Scotland and Liverpool greats Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness
Scotland may not have the greatest tournament pedigree, never having progressed from the group stages of either the World Cup or European Championships, but they have an incredible footballing past and can boast some true stars of the game. Having played in football’s first official international match against England back in 1872, the Scottish game is steeped in history.
The Tartan Army haven’t had a great deal to cheer when it comes to World Cup’s, but their country could be a real underdog at the International Legends World Cup this summer. Whilst most national teams have had golden eras, the Scotland squad is spread over a number of years, with fans never having had the chance to see most in action together. Below is Scotland’s definite 15 man squad for the International Legends World Cup, plus their 8 reserves from which you choose which 3 join the initial 15 to create a final 18 man squad for the tournament.
Ronnie Simpson
A good shout to be Scotland’s first choice goalkeeper for the tournament, Ronnie Simpson remarkably won just 5 caps for the Scottish national team. He was Celtic’s man between this sticks when the Lisbon Lions roared to victory in the 1967 European Cup, the same year he made his international debut in a 3-2 victory over England. Simpson played for Queen’s Park, Third Lanark, Newcastle United, Hibernian and Celtic.
Andy Goram
Andy Goram celebrates a goal whilst at Coventry City
It was a fierce battle between Andy Goram and Jim Leighton for a place in Scotland’s initial 15 man squad, just as it was for manager Craig Brown on the eve of Euro ’96. Ultimately, Brown went for Goram, and so have we. The former Oldham Athletic, Hibernian and Rangers man won 43 caps for his country, and was previously voted Rangers greatest ever goalkeeper.
Danny McGrain
A top class right-back, Danny McGrain won 62 caps for Scotland and gave 17 years of exquisite service to Celtic Football Club. One of two of the ‘Quality Street Gang’ to make this squad, McGrain won 14 trophies with the Bhoys and was named the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year in 1976-77. In 2002, he was voted into Celtic’s greatest XI of all-time in a fan poll.
Alan Hansen
The first player to have played for neither of the Glasgow giants Celtic or Rangers, Alan Hansen made his name with Partick Thistle, before securing a move to Liverpool. He was outstanding in his 14 years on Merseyside, proving to be a classy centre-back, winning eight league titles and three European Cup’s, before becoming a pundit on Match of the Day and slagging off every defender to play in the Premier League between 1992 to 2014 (okay, most).
John Greig
A statue of Rangers legend John Greig outside Ibrox
John Greig and Alan Hansen missed each other by four years in the Scottish national team, but what a centre-back partnership it could have been. A one-club Ibrox man, Greig was voted the ‘Greatest Ever Ranger’ in 1999, having played 755 games and scoring 120 goals for the Gers. Greig won 17 trophies with Rangers, came 18th in the 1972 Ballon d’Or voting and won 44 caps for Scotland.
Tommy Gemmell
It’s incredibly difficult to split former Celtic left-back Tommy Gemmell and former Rangers left-back Eric Caldow, but it is Gemmell who just about gets the nod. Celtic have only ever played in two European Cup finals, Gemmell played and scored in both, making him one of only two Britain’s to have scored in multiple European Cup finals. He won 18 caps for Scotland.
George Young
It may have been a long time since George Young hung up his boots – 60 years to be precise – but the versatile defender still warrants a place in this squad. The Rangers legend had enormous influence within the Scottish national team, reportedly picking the starting XI at one time. He was the first Scotsman to reach 50 caps and retired with 54 to his name, a record number which wasn’t broken until Denis Law won his 55th cap in 1974.
Dave Mackay
Dave Mackay in training at Tottenham Hotspur
George Best described Dave Mackay as the hardest player he ever faced, but the former Hearts, Tottenham and Derby County great was so much more than that. A really complete midfield player, Mackay could pass the ball accurately with both feet and shut down opposition moves. He won league and cup titles in both England and Scotland, including three FA Cup triumphs at Spurs. Mackay won 22 caps for Scotland.
Jim Baxter
A supremely gifted footballer, Jim Baxter is one of the greatest Scottish players to have played the game. A technically sound left-half, Baxter turned out for Raith Rovers, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, but his best years came with Rangers. A three-time Scottish First Division and Scottish Cup winner, Baxter came 13th in the 1965 Ballon d’Or voting, and won 34 caps for Scotland.
Graeme Souness
Few Scots can match Graeme Souness when it comes to trophies won, particularly European honours. A three-time European Cup winner at Liverpool, Souness also won five league titles and a Coppa Italia with Sampdoria. Once named Liverpool’s ninth greatest ever player, the robust midfielder also turned out for Middlesbrough and Rangers. He won 54 caps for Scotland.
Jimmy Johnstone
Jimmy Johnstone Statue outside Celtic Park
One of the first names in this squad has to be Jimmy Johnstone. One of only three Scots to make the final three of Ballon d’Or voting, Johnstone trailed only Florian Albert and Bobby Charlton in 1967. The Celtic hero spent 14 years – almost his entire career – with the Bhoys, before turning out for a flurry of clubs late in his career. The pacy winger they called ‘Jinky’ won it all at Paradise, and made 23 appearances for Scotland.
Alex James
You could make a decent claim for Alex James being the greatest Scottish footballer of all-time. A supremely talented inside-forward who was idolised by Tom Finney, James turned out for Raith Rovers, Preston North End and Arsenal. A real crowd pleaser, James was a magician with the ball at his feet, and a hero to every team he played for. He won four league titles and two FA Cup’s at Arsenal, as well as winning 8 caps for Scotland.
Kenny Dalglish
Possibly the most famous Scottish footballer to ever play the beautiful game, Kenny Dalglish is regarded by many as both Liverpool and Scotland’s finest player. A talismanic forward who created and scored goals at will, Dalglish played for just two clubs, Celtic and Liverpool. He won nine trophies in Glasgow, but was even more impressive on Merseyside, winning 22, including six First Division titles and three European Cups. Runner-up to Michel Platini, Dalglish won 102 caps for Scotland and is the nations joint top goal scorer.
Denis Law
Denis Law poses for a photo during his time at Manchester United
The man Dalglish is tied with for the title of Scotland’s leading goal scorer is Denis Law, although the Manchester United legend managed the same tally despite playing 47 fewer games. Law played for Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, Torino and Manchester United over the course of a prolific career. He is the third highest scorer of all-time at Old Trafford, where he won the league and the European Cup, as well as becoming the only Scot to ever win the Ballon d’Or in 1964.
Jimmy McGrory
It would be difficult to leave Jimmy McGrory out of this squad. From Jock Dodds to Hughie Gallacher, Scotland have had some fine centre-forwards, but none as prolific as McGrory. The Celtic legend scored a total of 538 goals in 534 games, almost exclusively for the Bhoys (barring a season on-loan at Clydebank). The diminutive Glaswegian renowned for his bullet headers sadly won just 7 caps for Scotland, scoring 6 goals.
Reserves
Billy Bremner is among the eight reserves you can choose from for Scotland
That’s it for Scotland’s definite 15, now it’s over to you to pick which three reserve players get the nod and join the likes of Souness and Dalglish in Scotland’s final 18 for the International Legends World Cup. The eight reserve players to choose from are as follows:
1. Jim Leighton – Former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Hibernian goalkeeper – 91 caps
2. Billy McNeill – Former Celtic defender – 29 caps
3. Willie Woodburn – Former Rangers defender – 24 caps
4. Billy Bremner – Former Leeds United and Hull City midfielder – 54 caps
5. Gordon Smith – Former Hibernian, Hearts and Dundee winger – 19 caps
6. Alan Morton – Former Queen’s Park and Rangers winger – 31 caps
7. Billy Liddell – Former Liverpool winger – 29 caps
8. Hughie Gallacher – Former Airdrieonians, Newcastle and Chelsea forward – 20 caps
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