Jim Leighton
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | James Leighton[1] | ||
Date of birth | 24 July 1958 | ||
Place of birth | Johnstone, Scotland | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
Eastercraigs Boys Club[3] | |||
Dalry Thistle | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1977–1988 | Aberdeen | 301 | (0) |
1977–1978 | → Deveronvale (loan) | ||
1988–1992 | Manchester United | 73 | (0) |
1991 | → Arsenal (loan) | 0 | (0) |
1991–1992 | → Reading (loan) | 8 | (0) |
1992–1993 | Dundee | 21 | (0) |
1993 | → Sheffield United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
1993–1997 | Hibernian | 151 | (0) |
1997–2000 | Aberdeen | 82 | (0) |
Total | 636 | (0) | |
International career | |||
1982 | Scotland U21[4] | 2 | (0) |
1982–1998 | Scotland | 91 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
James Leighton
Leighton played in 91 international matches for Scotland. He was chosen for Scotland's FIFA World Cup squads in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1998, playing in the latter three of those tournaments.
Playing career
Aberdeen
Leighton joined Aberdeen from Scottish Junior club Dalry Thistle in 1977,[5] after working in the civil service on leaving school.[3] Before breaking into the Aberdeen first team he was loaned out for one season to Highland League club Deveronvale, where he is now an inductee of the club's Hall of Fame.[5] Leighton achieved his greatest success under the management of Alex Ferguson in the early to mid-1980s. With Leighton in goal, Ferguson's Aberdeen won Premier Division titles in 1984 and 1985,[6] the Scottish Cup four times, the Scottish League Cup once, and the European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup in 1983.[7][8]
Brian Clough, a notorious critic of other goalkeepers for the national team during the 1970s and 1980s, has been reported as saying "Jim Leighton is a rare bird – a Scottish goalkeeper that can be relied on."[9]
Manchester United
Ferguson, who had left Aberdeen to manage Manchester United in 1986, signed Leighton for £750,000 in 1988. In his first season with United, the club finished 11th. Leighton conceded 35 league goals and kept 14 clean sheets, while he conceded more than two goals only once in all competitions.
In
Sealey retained the position of first-choice goalkeeper for the
Leighton remained fourth choice United keeper in season 1991–92 behind Peter Schmeichel, Walsh and youngster Ian Wilkinson. He spent a portion of that season on loan with third-tier Reading.
Return to Scotland
In March 1992 Iain Munro signed him for Dundee for a £200,000 fee.[11] He played in the last dozen league games of the season winning the title in the Scottish second tier and promotion to the top flight. He was out of favour at Dens Park after Simon Stainrod replaced Munro as manager. Leighton had another non-playing loan spell at Sheffield United.[3]
His career was revitalised after
In 1997 Leighton returned to Aberdeen, where he featured regularly for another three seasons and reached 500 appearances for the club in 1998.[5] He was captain in the 2000 Scottish League Cup final defeat to Celtic.[13]
He retired from playing after the 2000 Scottish Cup final defeat by Rangers. In that game he was substituted after three minutes, suffering a broken jaw in a challenge from Rod Wallace (requiring the insertion of metal plates into his face).[3] With no substitute goalkeeper available, forward Robbie Winters took over in goal and Aberdeen lost 4–0.[3][14] Leighton's final league appearance that season meant that he set the record for the oldest player in the Scottish Premier League at 41 years and 302 days (since broken by Andy Millen in 2007).[15]
In July 2000 he was given a testimonial against Middlesbrough,[16] the same opponent as in his first appearance for Aberdeen in a 1978 friendly;[17] however he could not actually play in the match due to recovering from his cup final injury.[3] He released his autobiography the same year. In 2004 he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.[5]
International career
Leighton's international career lasted for 16 years, from 1982 to 1998. He was an uncapped squad member for the
After Leighton fell out of favour at club level,
. Leighton played all three Scotland matches at the tournament finals and became the last football player born in the 1950s to play in a FIFA World Cup game.He retired from international football on 10 October 1998. His last match was a European Championship qualifier against
Coaching career
Leighton became Aberdeen's goalkeeping coach after retiring as a player. He parted company with the club in August 2009 when manager
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Aberdeen | 1976–77 | Scottish Premier Division
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 |
1977–78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
1978–79 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 0 | ||
1979–80 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | ||
1980–81 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 0 | ||
1981–82 | 36 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 58 | 0 | ||
1982–83 | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 0 | - | - | 59 | 0 | ||
1983–84 | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | - | - | 63 | 0 | ||
1984–85 | 34 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 43 | 0 | ||
1985–86 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 40 | 0 | ||
1986–87 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 48 | 0 | ||
1987–88 | 44 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 59 | 0 | ||
Total | 301 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 47 | 0 | - | - | 436 | 0 | ||
Deveronvale (loan) | 1977–78 | Highland League | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 40 | 0 |
Manchester United | 1988–89 | First Division | 38 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 48 | 0 |
1989–90 | 35 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 45 | 0 | ||
1990–91 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
Total | 73 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 94 | 0 | ||
Arsenal (loan) | 1990–91 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 |
Reading (loan) | 1991–92 | Third Division | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 0 |
Dundee | 1991–92 | Scottish First Division | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 15 | 0 |
1992–93 | Scottish Premier Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 10 | 0 | |
Total | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 0 | ||
Sheffield United (loan) | 1992–93 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 |
Hibernian | 1993–94 | Scottish Premier Division | 44 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 51 | 0 |
1994–95 | 36 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 44 | 0 | ||
1995–96 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 39 | 0 | ||
1996–97 | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 | ||
Total | 151 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 178 | 0 | ||
Aberdeen | 1997-98 | Scottish Premier Division | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 0 |
1998-99 | SPL | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 0 | |
1999-00 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 0 | ||
Total | 82 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 97 | 0 | ||
Career total | 636+ | 0 | 80+ | 0 | 76 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 881 | 0 |
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Scotland[29] | 1982 | 3 | 0 |
1983 | 8 | 0 | |
1984 | 6 | 0 | |
1985 | 8 | 0 | |
1986 | 7 | 0 | |
1987 | 7 | 0 | |
1988 | 6 | 0 | |
1989 | 8 | 0 | |
1990 | 5 | 0 | |
1991 | — | ||
1992 | — | ||
1993 | 1 | 0 | |
1994 | 3 | 0 | |
1995 | 9 | 0 | |
1996 | 4 | 0 | |
1997 | 8 | 0 | |
1998 | 8 | 0 | |
Total | 91 | 0 |
Honours
Deveronvale
Aberdeen 'A'
Aberdeen
- 1985–86
- 1985–86
- Drybrough Cup: 1980–81[33]
- 1982–83
- European Super Cup: 1983
Manchester United
- 1989–90
- FA Charity Shield: 1990(shared)
Dundee
- Scottish Football League First Division (second tier): 1991–92
Scotland
Individual
- Scotland national football team roll of honour: 1989
- Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductee: 2008[35]
- Aberdeen FC Hall of Fame inductee: 2004[36]
- Deveronvale FC Hall of Fame Inductee: 2019
See also
- List of footballers in Scotland by number of league appearances (500+)
- List of Scotland national football team captains
References
- ^ "Jim Leighton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ Jim Leighton, AFC Heritage Trust
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Pattullo, Alan (14 April 2012). "Interview: Jim Leighton, former Aberdeen and Hibs goalkeeper". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Scotland U21 profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Hall of fame: Jim Leighton". AFC Heritage Trust. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Bobby Clark was still the goalkeeper in 1980.
- ^ a b c d "Dark Blue Dons: Jim Leighton". AFC Heritage Trust. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Jim Leighton considers quitting football after second Dons axing". Evening Express. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Rangers axing Jim Stewart is more proof loyalty doesn't exist in football but do legends deserve special treatment?". Daily Record. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Sir Alex Ferguson: Jim Leighton will never speak to former manager again". BBC Sport. 1 December 2018.
- ^ "Jim Leighton profile". MUFCinfo. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "On This Day: League Cup 1993". Rangers F.C. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Celtic 2–0 Aberdeen, League Cup Final (contemporary newspaper scans)". The Celtic Wiki. 19 March 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Rangers win 4–0 in Scottish Cup final". CBC Sports. 27 May 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ Millen confirmed as SPL's oldest, BBC Sport, 14 May 2007
- ^ "Match Report: Aberdeen 0 Middlesbrough 0 (7–6 pens)". AFC Heritage Trust. 25 July 2000. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Match Report: Aberdeen 3 Middlesbrough 2". AFC Heritage Trust. 7 August 1978. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Football: Leighton saves the day". The Independent. 11 November 1996. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Wright, Angus (25 August 2010). "David Weir in line for milestone after recall to Scotland fold". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ Dons Goalkeeping Coach Moves On Archived 26 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, AFC.co.uk, 23 August 2009
- ^ Huntly snap up Dons Legend Leighton as goalkeeper coach Press and Journal, 16 February 2010
- ^ New Management team Archived 24 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine RedWeb, 13 December 2010
- ^ Gilfeather, Frank (21 May 2015). "Leighton departs Aberdeen with no fanfare, 38 years on". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Aberdeen: Jim Leighton fears end of coaching career". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ "Norsafe Appoints Ex-Scottish International Goalkeeper Jim Leighton MBE". Norsafe. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Hibernian Player Jim Leighton Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Jim Leighton". Deveronvale FC. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Jim Leighton at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "Jim Leighton". Deveronvale FC. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Match Report: Reserve League Cup Final (2L)". AFC Heritage. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Match Report: Aberdeenshire Cup Final 1981". AFC Heritage. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
"Match Report: Aberdeenshire Cup Final 1983". AFC Heritage. Retrieved 3 June 2022. - ^ "Match Report: Drybrough Cup Final". AFC Heritage. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "New Addition: Stanley Rous Cup-Part 1 (1985)". Soccer Nostalgia. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Inductees 2008, Jim Leighton". Scottish Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Jim Leighton – "I knew I wasn't finished with football"". Ally Begg. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
External links
- Jim Leighton at Soccerbase
- Jim Leighton at the Scottish Football Association
- London Hearts profile
- Club profile at sportingheroes.net
- International profile at sportingheroes.net
- Profile and stats at AFC Heritage Trust