Danny McGrain

This article is about the Celtic and Scotland player. For the former Clyde F.C. player, see Danny McGrain (footballer born 1953).

Danny McGrain

Personal information
Full name	Daniel Fergus McGrain
Date of birth	1 May 1950 (1950-05-01)
Place of birth	Finnieston, Glasgow, Scotland
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Celtic (Reserve Coach)
Youth career
	Maryhill
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1967–1987	Celtic	439	(4)
1987–1988	Hamilton Academical	21	(0)
National team
1973–1982	Scotland	62	(0)
1973	Scottish League XI	1	(0)
Teams managed
1992–1994	Arbroath
–	Celtic Reserves (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

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.

Club career

McGrain, a talented fullback described as a "footballing legend", was selected for Celtic's all-time greatest XI. He was part of Jock Stein's 9-in-a-row glory days, winning 7 League Championships, 5 Scottish Cups and two League Cups. He spent his final season of his career with Hamilton Academical, where he won them promotion to the premier league.

International career

McGrain is a member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame, having won 62 caps. He played best as a right back.

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.

Coaching career

McGrain is currently assistant coach of the Celtic Development Squad.

Personal life

In 1974, McGrain was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes but was able to continue playing top-level football. 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.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture

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

Player Honours

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League Winner 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1985–86

• Scottish Cup Winner 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1984–85

• Scottish League Cup Winner 1974, 1983

Hamilton

• Scottish League First Division Winner 1987–88

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

External links

• Danny McGrain at scottishfa.co.uk

Preceded by Kenny Dalglish

Celtic F.C. captain 1977-1987

Succeeded by Roy Aitken