Famous Scottish Sportspersons

One of the best British professional tennis players of all time, Andy Murray is popularly known as the Great Scot since he was born in Scotland. He is the only tennis player to have won two Olympic gold medals in singles competition. Also known for his charitable work, Andy Murray has played key roles in raising money for many charity organizations.

Colin McRae was a British rally driver who won the British Rally Championship title in 1991 and 1992. In 1995, he became the youngest person and the first British driver to win the World Rally Championship Drivers' title. Colin McRae's career was cut short by his sudden demise in 2007 when he was killed in a helicopter crash. 

After representing teams such as Manchester City and Torino, Scottish footballer Denis Law had a successful stint with Manchester United. Known as The King, he was the only Scottish footballer to earn a Ballon d'Or and the only man to have 2 statues at the Old Trafford.

Chris Hoy is a British racing driver and former track cyclist. A highly decorated Olympic cyclist, he is the recipient of six gold and one silver medals. He is also an 11-time World Champion. He announced his retirement from competitive cycling in 2013. He is also interested in motorsport and competed at the 2015 Race of Champions.

Liverpool left-back and the captain of the Scottish national football team, Andrew Robertson has also been associated with clubs such as Hull City and Dundee United in the past. He led his team to a UEFA Champions League victory in 2019. He now also runs a charitable foundation for underprivileged kids.

Known as Nikki Cross and Nikki A.S.H., Scottish wrestler Nicola Glencross had been a 3-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. She is best known for her victory at the 2021 Money in the Bank Ladder Match. She has a master’s degree in history and is also a certified fitness trainer.

Eric Liddell was a Scottish athlete who won a gold medal in 400 meters race at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. In his later years, he became a Christian missionary. Though he was of Scottish origin, he was born in China, where he spent most of his life and died eventually.

Scottish footballer and Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser began his career with Aberdeen at age 16. He has previously been part of teams such as AFC Bournemouth and Ipswich Town but has often been criticized for his lack of will to represent the Scottish national team, for withdrawing due to injuries.

Alan Hansen is a former footballer who played as a defender for popular clubs, such as Liverpool. He was also one of the important members of the Scotland national football team. After retiring as a player, Hansen became a football pundit and is known for his honest views. In 2006, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

Scottish-born footballer James McCarthy is now best known as a dependable Celtic midfielder. He also represents the Irish national team, because his grandparents were Irish. He has previously won an FA Cup with Wigan Athletic, beating Manchester City, and has also played for the English club Everton.

Martin Compston began his career as a footballer, playing as a defender for youth teams such as Aberdeen and then for senior teams such as Greenock Morton. However, an audition in high school led him to the lead role in the movie Sweet Sixteen, and he ended up becoming an actor.

Apart from winning the European Golden Boot twice, Scottish footballer Ally McCoist also gained fame as one of the best penalty-box strikers. He is best known for his 9 League Championship wins and 9 Scottish League Cups with the Rangers. He was also part of the 1990 World Cup finals.

Eilish McColgan is a British middle-distance athlete. She competes in the 3000 meters steeplechase and 5000 meters. She represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2016 Olympic Games. She won the Great South Run in Portsmouth in 2018. She has a degree in mathematics and accountancy from the University of Dundee. 

After an illustrious career that saw him play for teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool, Matt Busby did wonders as a manager, director, and president of Manchester United. The Scottish footballer also developed players later known as the Busby Babes, 8 of whom tragically died in the 1958 Munich air crash.

Apart from being the mother of tennis players Andy and Jamie Murray, Judy Murray is also a celebrated tennis coach and had initially coached both her sons. A talented tennis player in her youth, she now owns a charity, too. She was also seen in the dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing.

Former footballer Alex Neil began his career with the Airdrieonians and ended it with Hamilton Academical, even coaching the latter in his managerial career. He then took over the coaching of Norwich in his early 30s, and in his own words, made some recruitment errors, which led to his sacking.

Scottish-born footballer Scott Arfield has not only gained fame as a Rangers midfielder but has also been a promising player of the Canadian national team. He began his senior career with the Scottish club Falkirk and then represented clubs such as Burnley and Huddersfield Town. He has also captained Canada.

Scottish footballer Oliver Burke, who is now a well-know striker/right winger for Sheffield United, had joined his first local club at age 8. While he grew up in Leicestershire, England, he was eligible to play for England as well but chose to represent Scotland, the country of his birth, instead.

Initially representing teams such as the Rangers and Blackpool, Charlie Adam later gained fame as a midfielder for teams such as Liverpool, Stoke City, and Dundee. He also won a League Cup with Liverpool and was a UEFA Cup runner-up with the Rangers. His father, too, was a footballer.

Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck was a 16-year-old prodigy when he began his senior career with Rangers. In late 2021, he collapsed on field during a game versus Reading, sparking rumors that the mishap was due to the COVID vaccine that he had taken, though scientists debunked the vaccine claim later.

Gordon Strachan is a Scottish football coach who has managed teams like Southampton Football Club, Middlesbrough Football Club, Celtic Football Club, and Scotland. A former player, Strachan represented his team in two FIFA World Cups. He also played for popular clubs like Manchester United.

A Leeds United center-back, footballer Liam Cooper also plays for the Scottish national team. Apart from winning an EFL Championship with Leeds United, he has also been part of the 2014 Football League Trophy final with Chesterfield. He now also owns a football academy for children aged 4 to 14.

Scottish MMA fighter and Muay Thai champion Joanne Calderwood now competes for the UFC Women's Flyweight division. She was placed sixth on the UFC women's flyweight rankings in January 2021 and second on the World Professional Muaythai Federation rankings. She has also fought in India's Super Fight League.

WWE wrestler Kimberly Benson, better known by her multiple ring names, such as Piper Niven, Doudrop, and Viper, initially hid her passion for wrestling, afraid that her friends would judge her for liking a “manly” sport. She later won many titles and has been the ICW Women's Champion twice.

Danny MacAskill is a Scottish professional mountain bike trial cyclist who works for Santa Cruz Bicycles. MacAskill, who achieved popularity after showcasing his skills on YouTube, went on to feature in several commercials and promotional videos for brands like Leica Camera. Danny MacAskill is also credited for performing the stunts in the 2012 American action thriller film Premium Rush.

Scottish footballer and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld has also played for various Portuguese clubs before moving to the Canadian MLS club. Known as the Scottish Messi for his attacking style and short stature, he has also had a successful youth career at Dundee United.

Former footballer Derek McInnes began his youth career as a teen with the Greenock Morton and then went on to play for clubs such as Rangers, Dundee United, and St. Johnstone, and even for the Scottish national team. Post-retirement, he has been managing teams such as Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

One of England’s most successful footballers, George Graham has also been one of his country’s best coaches. Nicknamed Stroller, he won a Football League Cup with Chelsea and an FA League Cup with Arsenal, as a player. He has earned an FA Cup and three League Cups as a manager, too.