Top 10 Scottish Players to Grace the English League
Over the years there have many great Scottish players that have plied their trade in the English leagues. But just who have been the best 10 Scottish players to play in England?
There was a time when it seemed as though every top flight English team had a Scottish player in the squad. This phenomenon has faded in recent times so here’s a little trip down memory lane.
Alan Hansen
A stylish defender, the BBC pundit made over 600 appearances for Liverpool. He was in the great Liverpool sides of the late 70’s and early 80’s winning 8 league titles and 3 European Cups.
Alex James
Star player of Arsenal’s great team of the early 1930’s. The side won 4 league titles and two FA cups in a 5-year spell of dominance. James was not a regular goal-scorer but he set up many of the goals for this prolific side. They scored an Arsenal record of 118 goals in a season, a feat that even the current crop would struggle to match.
Billy Bremner
Voted as Leeds United’s greatest player of all time Bremner led the Yorkshire club throughout the glory days of the late 60’s and early 70’s, culminating in the losing European Cup Final of 1975. A ferocious tackler (see Dave Mackay) Bremner was never far from confrontation but he was also a talented player earning 54 national caps in a very strong era of Scottish football.
Darren Fletcher
The stand out Scotsman in the Premier League, Fletcher is the only real contender from the modern day. Previously he was not highly rated by many, yet he was trusted by Sir Alex and has gradually changed the opinion of most United fans. He has a fantastic record winning 3 league titles and the FA Cup and Champions League.
Dave Mackay
Mackay won 3 FA Cups and a league title with Tottenham and was part of the great “pass and move” Spurs Double winning side. He then went on join Brian Clough at Derby County. He also had an infamous confrontation with Bremner in 1966, remonstrating with his national teammate for a late, over the top tackle on Mackay’s return from a broken leg.
Denis Law
The Aberdeen born striker is part of United folklore and is the only Scotsman to win the European Player of the Year award. He scored 217 goals in English football and never played for a Scottish professional side.
Frank McLintock
An Arsenal stalwart McLintock led the Gunners to their first League and Cup Double in 1971. He captained Arsenal for 6 years yet only won 9 Scotland caps.
Graham Souness
A fierce competitor, Souness could strike fear into any opposition. An extremely talented midfielder he was at the heart of the great Liverpool sides winning 5 league titles. He was voted the Kop’s 9th greatest ever player.
John Robertson
Currently the assistant manager at Aston Villa Robertson was an outstanding winger in his day. Playing under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, Robertson became a two-time European Cup winner (scoring the winner in the 1980 final).
Kenny Dalglish
Last year crowned as the greatest post-war striker in British football Dalglish was a clear winner on this list. He was a magician scoring 193 goals for Liverpool and receiving over 100 Scotland caps. He claimed 6 league titles and 3 European Cups in his stay at Anfield.
Please let me know what you think of this list and of any players that you think I have missed.
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You’ve left out Alan Hutton!
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What about the two that always gets overlooked John White & Alan Gilzean
Both outstanding players, White obviously cut short in his prime, but Gilly was ther perfect foil for Greaves, Chivers, Peters etc
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Surprisingly Alan Hutton wasn’t even included on my shortlist!!! John White was in a group of two or three that just missed out on the final spot. Gilzean was not on my shortlist but his 300+ Spurs performances is very impressive so would have a strong case for inclusion.
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Gordon McQueen, Andy Gray, Gordon Strachan, Joe Jordan, Duncan Ferguson. A few that surely merit a mention.
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Yes Davie they are all very good players. Strachan, Jordan and Gray were all considered. I did not think about McQueen and i still would not consider Ferguson as worthy of the list. A good striker but he won very little if anything in England, whereas many of the 10 in the list were multiple league and European champions. Is so hard to cut off a top 10 as there have been some great Scottish players.
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no way does hutton deserve a mention he has no way near proved himself in england.
you left out, davie weir, james mcfadden, steve archibald, john collins,gordon strachan
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graeme sharp, duncan ferguson, alan hutton, steven mcginn
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What about Hughie Gallacher and Slim Jim Baxter
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Craig Gordon, Frank McLintock,Dave Mackay, Alan Hansen, Gordon McQueen, Gordon Strachan, John Robertson, Alex James, Billy Bremner, Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish, Jim Leighton, Andy Gray, Jim Baxter, Graham Souness, Eddie Gray, Alan Gilzean, Joe Jordan, Darren Fletcher and for managers Sir Alex Ferguson, Bill Shankly, Sir Matt Busby, How on earth have scotland not won the world cup!!!!!!!!
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Surely John Wark should have been included. One of the greatest goal scoring midfielders of all time and a capable defender towards the end of his career.
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