International Football: 20 Greatest Scottish Footballers of All Time

Scottish football has been in the doldrums of late.

However, there was a time in the not-so-distant past where the Scots were one of the best footballing sides in the world, boasting players from Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers and Celtic.

But sadly, those days are long gone and do not look set to return for a long time.

So let's reminisce and look back at the best players in Scotland's history.

McQueen was a rock at the hearts of both the Leeds and Manchester United defences of the late 70s and early 80s.

The Scotland international, who was recently diagnosed with throat cancer, was one of the brightest talents around at the time.

The Sky Sports pundit will be remembered for his no-nonsense defending and his terrific attitude to the game.

Probably the most surprising choice on the list, James McFadden is the only player from the past decade to have made it onto my list - which reflects the recent fortunes of the national side.

The former Motherwell striker will forever be embedded into Scottish football folklore for his 35-yard howitzer in a stunning 1-0 away victory over France in 2007.

McFadden has been Scotland's talisman for a long time, with crucial goals coming in wins against Holland, Ukraine and Lithuania.

"Faddy" will forever be remembered by the Tartan Army, I guarantee you.

Tommy Burns will always be remembered as a Scottish footballing legend.

The former Celtic star played over 350 times for the Glasgow club in a 14 year period and won the side countless trophies.

He was also First Team Coach at Celtic for several years prior to his tragic death in 2008.

Hail Cesar!

Billy McNeill, who had the unusual moniker of a Roman general, captained Celtic to their most glorious triumph - winning the European Cup in 1967 and becoming the first British side to do so.

McNeill is regarded by some as the greatest footballer in the history of Celtic Football Club, playing nearly 500 times for the side and winning 23 trophies.

One of the most recent players to have made the list, Colin Hendry was part of a solid Scottish defence that qualified for Euro 96 and World Cup 98.

Despite being made to look silly by Paul Gascoigne's now infamous goal at Euro 96, Hendry will forever be remembered for his never-say-die attitude and his fiery blonde mane.

The former Dundee, Rangers, Blackburn and Manchester City defender retired in 2003.

Leighton's reliability and terrific will to win won respect from everyone he came into contact with.

The former Aberdeen and Manchester United goalkeeper's fans included the legendary Peter Shilton, Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson.

His international career spanned 16 years and four World Cups before he retired in October 1998 at the ripe old age of 40.

Hansen is better known these days for his excellent analysis on Match of the Day, but he was once one of Scotland's best players.

The 6' 2" Scot was a superb centre-back in his day and played nearly 500 games for Liverpool Football Club.

The Kop will not forget this man in a hurry.

Souness is another one who is known today for his spot-on punditry skills on Sky, but he is probably best remembered for his time at Liverpool.

Souness was part of a trio of Scots signed by then-manager Bob Paisley, with Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish also arriving, but Souness came into his own and was part of the sides which won three European Cups, five League Championships and four League Cups.

The current Rangers boss is a current Rangers legend.

McCoist will go down as one of the greatest Scotland strikers of all time, mostly due to the near-600 appearances he made for the Glasgow club, while scoring a whopping 355 goals in the process-a record better than a goal every two games.

Super Ally also scored a goal at Euro 96 in a win over Switzerland.

Aston Villa's current manager played during the glory years of Aberdeen Football Club in the 1980's.

The international defender made almost 500 appearances for the Dons and won 77 caps for his country.

His formidable partnership with Willie Miller helped the Scottish side to the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup in 1983 and 1984.

Joe Jordan is one of the most feared Scotland strikers of all time.

Many will remember him for his confrontation with Gennaro Gattuso in last year's Champions League, but most will remember him as "Jaws" after he lost his two front teeth early in his career.

Nickname aside, Jordan was a fearless and committed forward, carving out an illustrious career for himself at Leeds, Manchester United and AC Milan.

A right-sided midfielder, Strachan is best known for his successful stints at Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds, in which he won several domestic and European honours.

Strachan also appeared in two World Cups for his country, and scored a brilliant goal in the 1986 tournament-a cross shot which somehow looped in against West Germany.

The diminutive Scot has now moved into management and is well-known for his wit and humour.

Just watch this.

This is heralded by most of the Tartan Army as the greatest Scottish goal ever scored - and I agree.

The goal however, which was against the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup, overshadows his club career somewhat in which he played over 200 games for Derby County and had several spells in the English First Division.

Jimmy Johnstone was part of the Lisbon Lions who won the European Cup for Celtic in 1967.

The Scot played more than 300 games for the Hoops and is regarded as one of the best players in Celtic's history.

The flying winger described his side's play as "like Holland speeded up" and is known across the world as "Jinky".

Tommy Gemmell is one of Scotland's best full-backs ever.

The Celtic player was one of the Lisbon Lions who won the European Cup in 1967 and was also renowned for his powerful shooting ability.

He made 418 appearances for the side and scored 64 goals.

Voted by Rangers' fans as their greatest ever player, Greig more than deserves his place as one of Scotland's best footballers.

The determined defender played 755 times for the Gers, scoring 120 goals along the way, which is no mean feat.

Greig retired in 1978 having spent his entire career at the club and subsequently took a place in the Rangers' Hall of Fame.

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit once described Cooper as "one of the greatest players I have ever seen."

The Rangers winger was instrumental throughout the 12 years he spent at Ibrox, making over 355 appearances and scoring 49 goals.

He also appeared at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico for his country.

Denis Law holds the accolade for being the only Scottish player ever to win the coveted European Footballer of the Year award.

The former Manchester United striker scored 237 goals in 409 appearances for the Red Devils. Also, he was nicknamed "The King" by supporters and was then given the European award in 1964.

Law is Scotland's international highest goalscorer of all-time with 30 goals, and is also the second-highest goalscorer in the history of Manchester United behind Bobby Charlton.

Jim Baxter is thought by some to be Scotland's greatest ever footballer.

"Slim Jim" helped the Rangers to ten trophies during a five-year spell in the 60s, due to his tactical vision, his technical ability and his dribbling skills.

The left midfielder is also famous for performing "keepy uppies" to taunt the English players in 1967 as he waited for teammates to find a good position.

The current Liverpool boss, as I'm sure you're aware, is loved by the Kop. "King Kenny" was named as the best footballer in the club's history in 2006.

He is also the most capped player in the history of Scotland's national team with 102 to his name, and another accolade for Dalglish is FourFourTwo naming him as "the greatest striker in post-war British football".

Kenny played over 200 times for Celtic before moving to Merseyside in 1977 where he became the most-celebrated Liverpool player ever.