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:

Played at three World Cups, which says it all, and emerged as the most capped centre half of a gilded generation of centre-halves, although he actually made his Scotland debut in midfield against Portugal in 1980 alongside Graeme Souness and Archie Gemmill. Grew into a colossus for Scotland, often playing alongside clubmate Willie Miller, although Alan Hansen was preferred at the World Cup in 1982 (McLeish came on for half an hour against Brazil). He started one game in Mexico in 1986, all three at Italia 90 but missed out at Euro 92 due to injury. Was recalled amid multiple call-offs for what proved his last cap v Malta at Ibrox in 1993 as Scotland sought to get their USA ’94 campaign back on track, bowing out with 3-0 victory.

29. Number 22 - Alex McLeish

Played at three World Cups, which says it all, and emerged as the most capped centre half of a gilded generation of centre-halves, although he actually made his Scotland debut in midfield against Portugal in 1980 alongside Graeme Souness and Archie Gemmill. Grew into a colossus for Scotland, often playing alongside clubmate Willie Miller, although Alan Hansen was preferred at the World Cup in 1982 (McLeish came on for half an hour against Brazil). He started one game in Mexico in 1986, all three at Italia 90 but missed out at Euro 92 due to injury. Was recalled amid multiple call-offs for what proved his last cap v Malta at Ibrox in 1993 as Scotland sought to get their USA ’94 campaign back on track, bowing out with 3-0 victory. Photo: SNS Group

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Much like Christian Dailly and, later, James McFadden, Highlander Hendry assumed a mascot-like relationship with the Tartan Army, revelling in the nickname Braveheart and helping inspire Scotland to Euro 96 and the World Cup in France two years later, when he was skipper and led Scotland out against Brazil in the opening game. Scored three times, including a double in what proved his last appearance in a 4-0 win against San Marino in 2001. It should have been a memorable way to go out but it wasn’t due to an elbow controversy that he admitted looked terrible after he swung an arm that hit opponent Nicola Albani in the throat. The six-game ban he received from FIFA effectively ended the defender’s international career but should in no way define it.

30. Number 21 - Colin Hendry

Much like Christian Dailly and, later, James McFadden, Highlander Hendry assumed a mascot-like relationship with the Tartan Army, revelling in the nickname Braveheart and helping inspire Scotland to Euro 96 and the World Cup in France two years later, when he was skipper and led Scotland out against Brazil in the opening game. Scored three times, including a double in what proved his last appearance in a 4-0 win against San Marino in 2001. It should have been a memorable way to go out but it wasn’t due to an elbow controversy that he admitted looked terrible after he swung an arm that hit opponent Nicola Albani in the throat. The six-game ban he received from FIFA effectively ended the defender’s international career but should in no way define it. Photo: SNS Group

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Described by his Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson as the one of best penalty box defenders of all time, Miller always had to feature in this list, it was just a case of how high. He won 65 caps in total, scoring once – in just his 4th cap v Wales in 1980. A mainstay of two World Cups in 1982 and 1982, he picked up a knee injury that eventually forced him into retirement on the night Scotland qualified for a fourth successive World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Norway at Hampden in 1989. He played his last Aberdeen game in August 1990 after 797 games and 12 trophies, including the European Cup-Winners’ Cup against Real Madrid on a night of night in Gothenburg. His unflustered play at the back was a mark of the player for both club and county.

31. Number 20 - Willie Miller

Described by his Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson as the one of best penalty box defenders of all time, Miller always had to feature in this list, it was just a case of how high. He won 65 caps in total, scoring once – in just his 4th cap v Wales in 1980. A mainstay of two World Cups in 1982 and 1982, he picked up a knee injury that eventually forced him into retirement on the night Scotland qualified for a fourth successive World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Norway at Hampden in 1989. He played his last Aberdeen game in August 1990 after 797 games and 12 trophies, including the European Cup-Winners’ Cup against Real Madrid on a night of night in Gothenburg. His unflustered play at the back was a mark of the player for both club and county. Photo: SNS Group

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A mercurial performer for Rangers and for a spell the most reliable of Scotland’s attacking threats as the team chased qualification for a fourth consecutive World in 1986. Struck the all-important penalty in Cardiff when under enormous pressure on the night Jock Stein died and hammered home the free-kick which broke the deadlock in the play-off win over Australia. Was described by Rangers teammate Ray Wilkins as like “a Brazilian in a Scotsman’s body” and there could be no higher praise. Played 22 times for Scotland which might, as with Jimmy Johnstone and John Robertson, seem criminally low for someone gifted with such talent and who enjoyed a fine Indian summer with Motherwell, where he won the Scottish Cup.

32. Number 19 - David Cooper

A mercurial performer for Rangers and for a spell the most reliable of Scotland’s attacking threats as the team chased qualification for a fourth consecutive World in 1986. Struck the all-important penalty in Cardiff when under enormous pressure on the night Jock Stein died and hammered home the free-kick which broke the deadlock in the play-off win over Australia. Was described by Rangers teammate Ray Wilkins as like “a Brazilian in a Scotsman’s body” and there could be no higher praise. Played 22 times for Scotland which might, as with Jimmy Johnstone and John Robertson, seem criminally low for someone gifted with such talent and who enjoyed a fine Indian summer with Motherwell, where he won the Scottish Cup. Photo: SNS Group

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