Allan McGregor

Allan James McGregor (born 31 January 1982) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. McGregor has previously played for Rangers, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Turkish team Beşiktaş, English club Hull City and Welsh side Cardiff City, and made 42 international appearances for Scotland. A product of the Hutchison Vale youth football club in Edinburgh, McGregor made his first team debut for Rangers in February 2002 in a Scottish Cup match against Forfar Athletic. He was later loaned out to St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic, before becoming a regular Rangers first team player at the start of the 2006–07 season. McGregor made over 200 appearances for Rangers, winning 11 major honours in the process, including a hat-trick of league titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011, three Scottish Cups and five Scottish League Cups. Following the liquidation of Rangers in 2012, McGregor exercised his legal rights to become a free agent. He then signed a two-year contract with Beşiktaş. After one season in Turkey, McGregor moved to Hull City. In May 2018, McGregor signed a two-year contract with Rangers. McGregor made his full international debut for Scotland in May 2007. He was suspended for two weeks by his club, and the Scottish Football Association said that McGregor would never play for Scotland again, after multiple breaches of squad discipline following Scotland's 3–0 defeat to the Netherlands on 28 March 2009. The following year, this ban from international football was overturned by Scotland manager Craig Levein. He made 42 appearances for Scotland in total, and announced his retirement from international play in March 2019. McGregor was capped six times at under-21 level before representing the senior national side. On 30 January 2007, ex-Rangers manager Alex McLeish named McGregor in his first squad as Scotland manager. He made his international debut against Austria on 30 May 2007, playing the first half in goal before being substituted. McGregor received his second cap for Scotland after coming on as a second-half substitute for Craig Gordon in a friendly against Northern Ireland at Hampden in August 2008. He gave away a penalty when he brought down Warren Feeney but saved the resulting spot kick from David Healy and the match ended in a 0–0 draw. McGregor was then first choice goalkeeper for the friendly match against Argentina at Hampden in November 2008; Scotland lost 1–0 but McGregor made a number of notable saves. McGregor made his first competitive start for Scotland when he was selected ahead of Craig Gordon for Scotland's 2010 World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands. On 3 April 2009, McGregor was banned from representing Scotland again after multiple breaches of squad discipline. After returning to their hotel at 4am from the international game with the Netherlands on 28 March, McGregor and then-teammate Barry Ferguson were the last to leave the bar at lunchtime. They were subsequently dropped from the following match against Iceland on 1 April 2009, the incident has been referred to by the media as Boozegate. Gestures made by the players to cameras when they were both unused substitutes in the Iceland match led the SFA to inform the players by fax that they would not be considered for national team selection again. McGregor later apologised and was docked two weeks' wages by Rangers. McGregor was on the verge of being recalled to the national team by manager Craig Levein, but was omitted from the squad after he was attacked on the way home from a night out in Glasgow city centre. On 2 August 2010, McGregor was recalled to the national team for the 3–0 friendly defeat against Sweden. He made a number of important saves in the match to prevent a heavier defeat. McGregor was named as first choice goalkeeper for Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifying matches in 2010, starting the first two matches against Lithuania and Liechtenstein. In the qualifying match against the Czech Republic McGregor was given the Man of the match award even though Scotland lost 1–0. McGregor was then given the man of the match award for his performance against World and European champions Spain even though Scotland were defeated at Hampden 3–2. Spain internationalist Pablo Hernandez believed McGregor to be a world class goalkeeper and said, "He made some amazing saves, it was a fantastic performance," McGregor remained first choice goalkeeper for Scotland when he was selected for the friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium London in March 2011. Scotland lost 2–0. He was then selected for Scotland's first match in the Nations Cup against Northern Ireland in Dublin. Before the second match of the tournament against Wales, McGregor was praised by the Scotland manager Craig Levein as being an "absolute diamond" since Levein had taken over the Scotland team manager's job. McGregor then received his 12th and 13th caps in the tournaments matches against Wales, and Ireland. McGregor received the Scottish Sports Writers International Player of the Year award for season 2010–11. McGregor started both international matches against Denmark and Czech Republic in August and September 2011 but was criticised for making a mistake in the friendly game against Denmark which cost Scotland a goal. McGregor announced his retirement from international football in March 2019, having made 42 appearances for Scotland. His last appearance was in a 2018–19 UEFA Nations League game against Israel, when he produced an important save late on to preserve a 3–2 win.