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:
33. Number 18 - Kieran Tierney
It’s been Tierney’s curse to find his career overlap that of Liverpool’s world-class left-back Andy Robertson. It’s been Steve Clarke’s good fortune to find that the Arsenal player - who's just completed a loan spell in La Liga at Real Sociedad - is just as good on the underlap. Has virtually redefined the role of a left-sided centre-back and elevates Scotland’s performance level whenever fit enough for selection. Felt like a national calamity when he missed out in the opening game of Euro 2020 against Czech Republic due to a calf problem. Photo: Ross Parker - SNS Group
34. Number 17 - Archie Gemmill
A renowned agitator but captained his country in more than half of his 43 appearances, a sign that he led as effectively as he locked horns. A shoo-in for this list if only for his slaloming assault on the Dutch defence at the World Cup in 1978, a goal that would have been Scotland’s most cherished strike even before its use in the film Trainspotting secured a second cinematic legacy. A ten-year international career brought 43 caps and eight goals in total though only one that is still talked about today – and no wonder. Always features high up when best World Cup goals of all-time are discussed. Photo: SNS Group
35. Number 16 - Barry Ferguson
Came of age in dark blue as Craig Brown’s side beat England at Wembley in the second leg of the Euro 2000 play-off, when he played with poise and purpose up against Paul Scholes and Paul Ince despite still being just 21. Later appointed captain and instrumental in the home and away double over France in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Scored on the night the dream died against Italy in such late, controversial circumstances. Deserves to be remembered for much more than Boozegate, the all-night drinking session following a 3-0 to the Netherlands in Amsterdam in 2009. Ferguson later received a fax at Rangers from the SFA saying he would not play for the country again, and he didn’t, finishing with 45 caps and 3 goals. Should have been a lot more. Photo: SNS Group Alan Harvey
36. Number 15 - Darren Fletcher
A beacon for so long in some dark days for Scotland, Darren Fletcher never let Scotland down, once jumping on a flight to Liechtenstein having been seemingly ruled out with tonsillitis to aid then manager’s Craig Levein cause at the start of another – failed - campaign. The Manchester United midfielder could have done little more to get Scotland to a major finals but it was his fate never to play in one, although he did become the youngest player to skipper the country since the late 1800s when he wore the armband aged just 20 in a friendly win over Estonia. Won 80 caps and scored five goals, including a winner v Lithuania at Hampden in only his second appearance. Photo: SNS Group Alan Harvey