What makes a Scotland cult hero? Crucial goals, a cheeky personally, key moments, being eccentric, hardworking, or enigmatic? In truth, perhaps it’s a little bit of it all.
For much of the last 25 years, the national team have had it tough. From 1999 until 2021, there were no major tournaments. Flickering moments of brilliance, perhaps, but all leading to ultimate disappointment.
While things have improved immeasurably on that front, those who came before the current crop of serial tournament qualifiers have not been forgotten. But who are Scotland’s biggest cult heroes from the last quarter of a century?
Here, we look at the Scotland national team’s biggest cult heroes of the last 25 years. Have we missed anyone out, or do you agree with our choices?
1. Ikechi Ayna
The Castlemilk-born wing-back became an instant cult-hero when he bagged the equalising goal in a 2-1 defeat to world champions Germany in Dortmund. His now famous comment that "he couldn't even score against Germany on Fifa" provided a smile at a time when the football on the pitch didn't. Retired in 2017. | SNS Group
2. David Marshall
Saving the final penalty in the shootout that secured your place at the Euros for the first time since 1996? That's a sure-fire way to cement your cult-hero status. The former Celtic stopper's reaction to the save in the win over Serbia became a bit of a meme, but also made a whole lot of people very happy during a time when fans couldn't attend games or even see family and friends due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Iconic. | SNS Group
3. Christian Dailly
Something about the defender made all Scotland fans want curly hair, in some way or another. A strong, versatile, and reliable player, Dailly wasn't the flashiest of footballers, but fans loved him for his work rate, commitment to the cause, and willingness to fill any position. Capped 67 times, he was trusted by a number of former managers to do a job for the national team. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602
4. Kenny McLean
His 'from the halfway line' chant is likely to be sung at Hampden for years to come. However, it wasn't just in that Denmark game that the Mayor of Norwich came up trumps for Scotland. His last-minute winner against Norway in Oslo was a major reason Steve Clarke's side qualified for Euro 2024. He also scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Serbia, ending the nation’s 23-year wait to qualify for a major tournament in 2021. Proper cult-hero. | SNS Group