Football is more of a culture than a sports game in Scotland. Its popularity can be seen all over the country during various tournaments.
Though Scotland’s population is just over 5 million, the country boasts some of the world’s footballing icons with impressive records, including Ballon d’Or nominations. The Euros tournament is on, and millions of Scotland fans can’t wait to bet on the national team and their favourite players on the best betting sites in 2024. This can be a tricky decision, considering how much the online betting scene has grown in the last few years – the industry is currently booming and is expected to reach 15.3m users by 2029.
But before then, who are the best present and past players from Scotland worth giving a shout or remembering? We shortlist some of the legends of the game in this article.
1. Kenny Dalglish
There is no conversation about Scottish football that doesn’t feature the great Sir Kenny Dalglish. The legendary footballer is celebrated among Scotland, Celtic and Liverpool fans for his great deeds as a player and coach.
Dalglish’s impressive senior career started in 1969 when he made it into Celtic’s first team. He would go on to win four consecutive Scottish Championships, one Scottish League Cup and four Scottish Cups – all during his eight-season spell at the club.
After his great deeds at Glasgow, Dalglish moved to Liverpool in the English Premier League for a British transfer record of £440,000.
Due to his swagger and goal-scoring abilities, he instantly connected with the Merseyside fans and won four European Cups and six league titles – the last coming as a player/manager. Overall, Dalglish’s football legacy can be described in one word: iconic!
2. Denis Law
Another great striker who shook the net and broke records during his time on the pitch is Denis Law. The Aberdeen-born former Scotland player is famous for being the only Scottish player to win the highly-revered individual prize, the Ballon d’Or, in 1964.
But did you know that Law broke the British transfer record twice? When he moved from Huddersfield Town to Manchester City, the Manchester side splashed a transfer record fee on him.
Another Manchester club that was willing to break the bank for Law’s transfer was Manchester United, which signed him from Torino in 1962. At United, Law played alongside other notable names such as George Best and Bobby Charlton.
The Lawman, as he was fondly called, would later play for another 11 years at the club, hitting the net 237 times in 404 games, and winning the First Division twice.
This goalscoring record makes him the club’s highest goal scorer in a single season, with 43 goals, and the third-highest goal scorer in the club’s overall history.
3. Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness is famous among young football fans worldwide for his punditry, but he’s much more than a football pundit on TV channels. Souness is another prominent Scottish footballer whose career spanned 21 years, from 1970 to 1991.
During his playing days, Souness was a fiery footballer and midfield maestro who was at the heart of the turf for Liverpool. He was renowned for his great leadership abilities in the dressing room and on the pitch.
But beyond that, football fans and players of his generation will remember him for his tough tackling. While at Merseyside, Souness won the European Cup a few months after joining his club, showing early promises of success.
He would also go on to win a record five league titles in six seasons, and two European Cups before departing for Italy, where he joined Sampdoria. His spell in the Italian Serie A was also a success, as the Scottish midfielder won the Coppa Italia in his debut season.
4. Andy Robertson (pictured)
Though Andrew Robertson is younger than the Scottish footballing kings mentioned above, and some may consider his inclusion controversial, I think only great players become their national teams’ captains.
The tireless defender is from the 21st century and he stands out among his contemporaries as one of the best left-backs the EPL has ever produced.
Robo’s club career can be traced back to Dundee United, where he won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award due to his stellar performances on the pitch.
Like many Scottish greats before him, Robertson moved to Liverpool in 2017, and he has been undroppable by Jurgen Klopp since his debut. While at Merseyside, Robertson reached the UCL final in his debut season and won the trophy the following year.
In the domestic league, Robertson won the EPL with Liverpool. He was also part of the Liverpool side that won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the 2021/2022 Premier League season.
Since his national team call-up, Robo has represented the country at UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024. He’s Scotland’s captain and the most capped male player for the national team at the June 2024 Euros tournament.
Robertson’s football career – from the amateur league to his rejection at his boyhood club, Celtic, and his rise in the EPL with Liverpool – represents the significant opportunities that football offers to those who are relentless in pursuing their goals in the game they love.
5. Kim Little
In the women’s category, Kim Little is one of the biggest names from the Scottish football scene. Though she’s a dominant name in contemporary football, Little has commendable records for the national and club sides.
She started her senior career with Hibernian, winning the Scottish Premier League, Women’s Cup and the Scottish Premier League Cup. But this is not all there is to Little’s honours – she’s a proud BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and a key part of Arsenal’s women’s football team in the WSL.
At the London club, Little is a two-time Premier League National Division Winner, a three-time WSL and FA Cup winner, and a five-time League Cup winner. The Mintlaw-born midfielder also pulls the strings in Scotland’s female football team.
She has 140 caps for the country and she was integral to the 2019 Women’s World Cup qualification journey. Little still fills the No. 10 role for Arsenal, where she creates chances with her impressive vision and captains the team.