The Scotsman has listed the top 50 Scotland players of the past 50 years – and unsurprisingly, there is a heavy Celtic and Rangers connection.
In total, 19 players players who have pulled on either colour of the Old Firm made the list. But which ones made the grade and do you think any of them did not merit inclusion? And did we miss any of the out?
Take a look through this list to see which Celtic and Rangers heroes are up there in the pantheon of Scotland greats, and then take a look here to see where they rank in the ultimate top 50 list.
We have also asked former Scotland internationalist Pat Nevin to compile his greatest XI from The Scotsman’s 50-strong longlist, with the first part of a special Football Show in the player above.
21. 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
22. Richard Gough
Swedish-born, South African-raised Scotland legend. But another revered player whose international career came to an unsatisfying halt, in his case after a fall-out with Andy Roxburgh following the infamous 5-0 mauling by Portugal in 1993 on ‘the night a team died’. Gough went on to lead Rangers to nine-in-a-row and only the year earlier was named in the team of the tournament at the 1992 European Championships, when he showed he could cope with some of the world’s best strikers. Despite the premature end, he still won 61 caps, eight of them as captain, and played at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups. Photo: SNS Group
23. Number three - Danny McGrain
Fractured skull, diabetes – nothing fazed Daniel Fergus McGrain, certainly not opposition wingers, some of whom, although world-class themselves, met their match in a versatile full-back who seemed as at ease at left-back as right-back, his preferred position and where he played most often at Celtic. The presence of Sandy Jardine, number 11 in our list, meant McGrain was used on the left sometimes by Scotland – an unusual Rangers-Celtic alliance that was first deployed in 1973 against England. The pair played 20 times together for Scotland, meaning McGrain played nearly a third of his 62 caps ‘out of position’ and yet still features so highly here, which is testament to his ability. Ended his international career at a fittingly grand stage – the World Cup in 1982, having missed 1978 through injury. He was brought on by Jock Stein as sub against USSR in the final group game. Photo: SNS Group
24. The full Top 50
Fancy seeing the full Top 50 and where these players rank? You can do so by visiting https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scotlands-greatest-50-football-players-of-last-50-years-4656818 Photo: The Scotsman