Danny McGrain

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For the former Clyde F.C. footballer, see Danny McGrain (footballer born 1953)

Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain (born 1 May 1950 in Glasgow) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Celtic F.C. in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals. He was also a Scotland international.

McGrain, a talented fullback described as a "footballing legend" [1], was selected for Celtic's all-time greatest XI. He is a member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame, having won 62 caps. He played best as a right back.

In 1974, he was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes but was able to continue playing top-level football. He played for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup, missed the 1978 World Cup because of injury, and was captain of Scotland at the 1982 World Cup.

McGrain supported Rangers (Celtic's Glasgow rivals) as a boy. He wrote two autobiographies, one when his career was at its peak and another shortly after he retired. In both, McGrain (a Protestant) told how he had been spotted by someone doing some scouting for Rangers when he was still a boy but the scout did not recommend him to Rangers, wrongly assuming from his name that he was a Catholic and that Rangers would not sign him because of this. In the first, he made some comments on Scotland's erratic performance in the 1978 World Cup, but said it could not all be blamed on the controversial manager Ally MacLeod.

In 1996 Glasgow Rock-band Big Wednesday immortalised Danny in music in their single entitled "Sliding in like McGrain". Danny appeared on television with the group as part of the promotional activities.

McGrain is currently assistant coach of the Celtic reserve team.

[edit] Honours

• Scottish Premier Division 9
• Scottish Cup 5
• Scottish League Cup 1

[edit] References

• Celtic: My Team, Danny McGrain,Bob Patience 1978, ISBN 0-285-62369-9
• In Sunshine And In Shadow, Danny McGrain and Hugh Keevins, 1987, ISBN 0-85976-191-6

[edit] External links

• Danny McGrain profile at scottishfa.co.uk

v • d • e Scotland squad – 1974 FIFA World Cup 1 Harvey • 2 Jardine • 3 McGrain • 4 Bremner • 5 Holton • 6 Blackley • 7 Johnstone • 8 Dalglish • 9 Jordan • 10 Hay • 11 Lorimer • 12 Allan • 13 Stewart • 14 Buchan • 15 Cormack • 16 Donachie • 17 Ford • 18 Hutchison • 19 Law • 20 Morgan • 21 McQueen • 22 Schaedler • Coach: Ormond

v • d • e Scotland squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Rough • 2 McGrain • 3 Gray • 4 Souness • 5 Hansen • 6 Miller • 7 Strachan • 8 Dalglish • 9 Brazil • 10 Wark • 11 Robertson • 12 Wood • 13 McLeish • 14 Narey • 15 Jordan • 16 Hartford • 17 Evans • 18 Archibald • 19 Sturrock • 20 Provan • 21 Burley • 22 Leighton • Coach: Stein