The image of Sturrock with shirts outside shorts and socks rolled down is still soldered into minds of those who saw him, and though the recollections are perhaps mostly of the winger wearing a tangerine-coloured top, he was a thorn in the sides of defences for Scotland too. He won 20 caps and played in one World Cup – two appearances at Mexico ’86 - and was unfortunate not to have many more Scotland experiences. Sadly for him, players of the calibre of one K Dalglish were around in his position at the time.placeholder image
The image of Sturrock with shirts outside shorts and socks rolled down is still soldered into minds of those who saw him, and though the recollections are perhaps mostly of the winger wearing a tangerine-coloured top, he was a thorn in the sides of defences for Scotland too. He won 20 caps and played in one World Cup – two appearances at Mexico ’86 - and was unfortunate not to have many more Scotland experiences. Sadly for him, players of the calibre of one K Dalglish were around in his position at the time.

Scotland's greatest football players as top 50 of the last 50 years ranked and rated

Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo

Chief Football Writer

Published 7th Jun 2024, 07:15 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2024, 10:24 BST

We list the top 50 footballers from these shores – going back to 1974 to the present day

In the build-up to Euro 2024, The Scotsman has embarked on a project to list the top 50 Scotland players of the past 50 years.

This is not an easy exercise by any stretch of the imagination. There have been so many immensely talented football players to pull on the blue shirt of Scotland since 1974. Undoubtedly, this list will spark debate because many viewers are defined by their era, what they look for in a footballer and what their memories are of the national team. But that is the beauty of collating such a list – it is designed to get people thinking, to spark debate and recollections of some wonderful players to represent this country.

We run the list down from No 50 to No 1 and next week, we will release a two-part, 90-minute video with former Scotland winger and now pundit Pat Nevin, who in discussion with our chief football writer Alan Pattullo and sports editor Mark Atkinson picks his XI from our list that, in a hypothetical situation, would take on Germany in the Euro 2024 opener – and go on to win the tournament (maybe). Watch out for that landing on www.scotsman.com in the coming days.

So, without further ado, here is The Scotsman’s top 50 Scotland players from the past 50 years:

A stylish centre half who played 35 times for Scotland in a competitive era in his position and scored just one goal – but what a goal. BBC pundit Jimmy Hill described his flashing half-volley from the edge of the box against Brazil at Espana '82 as a "toe poke" and never lived it down. Sadly, it only served to make the Brazilians angry and Scotland ended up losing 4-1. Narey, who had made his debut five years earlier, featured twice at the next World Cup in Mexico and played for Scotland for the last time in 1989 in Cyprus to bring to an end a 12-year international career that is often boiled down to a single moment but contained so much more.

17. Number 34 - Davie Narey

A stylish centre half who played 35 times for Scotland in a competitive era in his position and scored just one goal – but what a goal. BBC pundit Jimmy Hill described his flashing half-volley from the edge of the box against Brazil at Espana '82 as a "toe poke" and never lived it down. Sadly, it only served to make the Brazilians angry and Scotland ended up losing 4-1. Narey, who had made his debut five years earlier, featured twice at the next World Cup in Mexico and played for Scotland for the last time in 1989 in Cyprus to bring to an end a 12-year international career that is often boiled down to a single moment but contained so much more. Photo: SNS Group

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Responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Scottish international football. His 35-yard strike and winner against France was a genuine jaw-dropping moment. Not many players would have tried their luck from that distance and McFadden was certainly one of a kind and a throwback to an era of the tanner ba’ player. Loved by the Tartan Army, he lit up a period when it wasn’t always easy to follow Scotland. He also scored the winner v the Netherlands as Scotland teased the Tartan Army at the Euro 2004 play-off before a 6-0 trouncing in the second leg. McFadden ended up with 48 caps and a healthy tally of 15 goals.

18. Number 33 - James McFadden

Responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Scottish international football. His 35-yard strike and winner against France was a genuine jaw-dropping moment. Not many players would have tried their luck from that distance and McFadden was certainly one of a kind and a throwback to an era of the tanner ba’ player. Loved by the Tartan Army, he lit up a period when it wasn’t always easy to follow Scotland. He also scored the winner v the Netherlands as Scotland teased the Tartan Army at the Euro 2004 play-off before a 6-0 trouncing in the second leg. McFadden ended up with 48 caps and a healthy tally of 15 goals. Photo: Michael Steele

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Decorated goalkeeper who won the English league title with Don Revie's revered Leeds United team of the 1970s and was once involved in a spat with clubmate - international teammate - Gordon McQueen. But he was better with his hands when it came to stopping goals and he won the top 'keeper award at the 1974 World Cup, despite playing just three games (he conceded only once). Famously left it all behind to become a postman in Orkney and is now based in Dumfries and Galloway. Finished on the losing side just three times in 16 caps, including a 2-0 win over England in 1974.

19. Number 32 - David Harvey

Decorated goalkeeper who won the English league title with Don Revie's revered Leeds United team of the 1970s and was once involved in a spat with clubmate - international teammate - Gordon McQueen. But he was better with his hands when it came to stopping goals and he won the top 'keeper award at the 1974 World Cup, despite playing just three games (he conceded only once). Famously left it all behind to become a postman in Orkney and is now based in Dumfries and Galloway. Finished on the losing side just three times in 16 caps, including a 2-0 win over England in 1974. Photo: Colorsport/Shutterstock

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Never played in a World Cup, much to his understandable chagrin, but was first choice at both Euro 92 and Euro 96. Born in Bury because his dad - also a goalie - was playing for the local team at the time, he made his debut in 1985 v East Germany, when the fans sang: "you're not English anymore!" After Alan Rough exited the scene Goram embarked on a long spell of vying with Jim Leighton for the No 1 spot, a battle he won at Euro 96, when Leighton was also in the squad, but lost at France 98, when he learned from Craig Brown he would only be the back-up following Leighton’s renaissance at Hibs and back at Aberdeen. "The Goalie" - as Goram was dubbed - duly walked out of the squad at the training camp in the States and didn't play for Scotland again but is remembered as an excellent goalkeeper at a time when the nation was spoilt for choice.

20. Number 31 - Andy Goram

Never played in a World Cup, much to his understandable chagrin, but was first choice at both Euro 92 and Euro 96. Born in Bury because his dad - also a goalie - was playing for the local team at the time, he made his debut in 1985 v East Germany, when the fans sang: "you're not English anymore!" After Alan Rough exited the scene Goram embarked on a long spell of vying with Jim Leighton for the No 1 spot, a battle he won at Euro 96, when Leighton was also in the squad, but lost at France 98, when he learned from Craig Brown he would only be the back-up following Leighton’s renaissance at Hibs and back at Aberdeen. "The Goalie" - as Goram was dubbed - duly walked out of the squad at the training camp in the States and didn't play for Scotland again but is remembered as an excellent goalkeeper at a time when the nation was spoilt for choice. Photo: Getty Images

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