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:
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.
![Mr Dependable for both his club, Dundee United, and his country, for whom he won 55 caps between 1984 and 1993, playing in three major finals. Remains the Tannadice club’s most capped player and made the left back slot his own under Jock Stein and Andy Roxburgh – and initially Alex Ferguson at Mexico ’86, where he started the first two games against Denmark and West Germany before making way for Arthur Albiston v Uruguay. Later moved to centre-half at United, the only club he played for and whom he led to a maiden Scottish Cup win over Rangers in 1994.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmYwODc1ZmE1LTM3MTQtNDYzYS1iZjNmLWEwYmMyNTU4YzMyMzphMDM1ZDE5MS1lMTM4LTQ5MTEtOTMxNC1jYjFiOWU0MTdjZjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Number 46 - Maurice Malpas
Mr Dependable for both his club, Dundee United, and his country, for whom he won 55 caps between 1984 and 1993, playing in three major finals. Remains the Tannadice club’s most capped player and made the left back slot his own under Jock Stein and Andy Roxburgh – and initially Alex Ferguson at Mexico ’86, where he started the first two games against Denmark and West Germany before making way for Arthur Albiston v Uruguay. Later moved to centre-half at United, the only club he played for and whom he led to a maiden Scottish Cup win over Rangers in 1994.Photo: SNS
![A terrific servant for Scotland during some lean, lean years, he struck 18 goals in 69 caps won while playing for seven different clubs, including Rangers and Celtic. It was a time when the country was crying out for a goalscorer and no one could doubt Miller’s effort – or quality. He scored against major opposition, including Germany, Italy and England – indeed, his last goal, on his final appearance, came at Wembley and was one of his best, when he wrong-footed Gary Cahill on the edge of the box before curling into Joe Hart’s bottom right-hand corner. It was the culmination of 12 years of dedicated and sometimes thrilling international service.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjA0MGZmMjQyLTY0OGUtNDQyYy05NjNhLTc1MzcwZjQ3ZGU4ZjpjMmFhNmY3ZC05NzdjLTQ3ZjctYTk4MS1hZTMzNmQxZGQzZDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Number 45 - Kenny Miller
A terrific servant for Scotland during some lean, lean years, he struck 18 goals in 69 caps won while playing for seven different clubs, including Rangers and Celtic. It was a time when the country was crying out for a goalscorer and no one could doubt Miller’s effort – or quality. He scored against major opposition, including Germany, Italy and England – indeed, his last goal, on his final appearance, came at Wembley and was one of his best, when he wrong-footed Gary Cahill on the edge of the box before curling into Joe Hart’s bottom right-hand corner. It was the culmination of 12 years of dedicated and sometimes thrilling international service.Photo: SNS Group Alan Harvey
![Enjoyed a long international career at a time when Scotland had good teams and played in two World Cups, which is notable in itself. He started off against Portugal in 1971 and closed his international account in 1978 against…Portugal. Great things were always expected of Buchan, who was appointed captain of his local club Aberdeen when he was just 20 and lifted the Scottish Cup with them at 21. He later skippered Manchester United to FA Cup glory in 1977, becoming the first player to captain cup winning teams on both sides of Border. He also captained Scotland twice – against Romania in 1975 and in a bad-tempered clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1977.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQzYWVhNzM0LTIxMGQtNDU4Ni1hZThmLTNjYzE2MTJiZGVlZjpiMWY0ZGFjZC00NGY3LTQzNDItOTcxMC0wN2QwNWJjYzZjYmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Number 44 - Martin Buchan
Enjoyed a long international career at a time when Scotland had good teams and played in two World Cups, which is notable in itself. He started off against Portugal in 1971 and closed his international account in 1978 against…Portugal. Great things were always expected of Buchan, who was appointed captain of his local club Aberdeen when he was just 20 and lifted the Scottish Cup with them at 21. He later skippered Manchester United to FA Cup glory in 1977, becoming the first player to captain cup winning teams on both sides of Border. He also captained Scotland twice – against Romania in 1975 and in a bad-tempered clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1977.Photo: SNS Group
![Regarded as Scotland’s outstanding player at the 1974 World Cup, when Willie Ormond’s side famously exited at the group stage on goal difference without losing a game. Hay came through as one of the Celtic Quality Street gang with the likes of Lou Macari, Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain. He distinguished himself even amongst such stellar company but his career was hampered by an eye problem which led to a cataract operation shortly after he joined Chelsea. He later suffered a detached retina and then sustained a serious knee injury, which was the final straw and led to his premature retirement. Would undoubtedly have won more than 27 caps had the fates been kinder. Indeed, his last Scotland cap was v Yugoslavia at the 1974 World Cup when he was still only 26.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjIyYmUwMzg1LTJkYzEtNDYwYS1iM2JlLWI5YzA2YWIwMzI2NDo0OGEzZTdlYi00NDRlLTQzM2EtOGFhMC0zYTRkZTFhMjE4NzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Number 43 - David Hay
Regarded as Scotland’s outstanding player at the 1974 World Cup, when Willie Ormond’s side famously exited at the group stage on goal difference without losing a game. Hay came through as one of the Celtic Quality Street gang with the likes of Lou Macari, Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain. He distinguished himself even amongst such stellar company but his career was hampered by an eye problem which led to a cataract operation shortly after he joined Chelsea. He later suffered a detached retina and then sustained a serious knee injury, which was the final straw and led to his premature retirement. Would undoubtedly have won more than 27 caps had the fates been kinder. Indeed, his last Scotland cap was v Yugoslavia at the 1974 World Cup when he was still only 26.Photo: SNS Group