Sandy Jardine

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Lore & Background

Jardine grew up in Edinburgh near Tynecastle Park, supporting Hearts as a youngster. He earned schoolboy honours at Balgreen Primary and Tynecastle Secondary, and played for North Merchiston Boys Club, United Crossroads Boys Club and Edinburgh Athletic. He signed for Rangers in 1964, made his debut aged 18 in a 5–1 league win over Hearts on 4 February 1967, and scored his first goal on 18 March 1967 against Ayr United. He played in the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, losing 1–0 to Bayern Munich. After settling at right-back under manager Willie Waddell, he made 674 appearances for Rangers. He was an ever-present in the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup win, scoring in the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Between 27 April 1972 and 30 August 1975, he played 171 consecutive matches for Rangers. He helped Rangers win the league in 1974–75 and domestic trebles in 1975–76 and 1977–78. He was given a free transfer to Hearts in 1982 by manager John Greig. At Hearts, he served as assistant manager and later joint-manager with Alex MacDonald, helping the club gain promotion in 1982–83 and finish second in the league in 1985–86. He made his 1000th professional appearance on 16 November 1985 against Rangers. He was sacked as joint-manager in November 1988. After football, he worked for Rangers in public relations and as sales and marketing manager. He led a fans' march to the SFA offices in 2012 protesting sanctions against Rangers. He died on 24 April 2014, 18 months after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

In Their Own Story

By the early 1980s, as Rangers declined, 33-year-old Jardine was given a free transfer by close friend and manager John Greig. This move allowed him to end his playing career at Hearts, the club he had supported since youth. He linked up with former teammate Alex MacDonald, who served as player-manager. Jardine immediately helped instil higher standards of professionalism. In 1982–83, Hearts gained promotion from the First Division. The following years saw them finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Cup. The peak arrived in 1985–86 when Hearts nearly won the Scottish league championship, finishing second to Celtic on goal difference. During that season, Jardine made his 1000th professional appearance on 16 November 1985 against Rangers. At age 37, he won the SFWA Player of the Year award again, becoming the first player to win it with two different clubs. In November 1986, he was appointed joint-manager alongside MacDonald, though poor form in late 1988 led to his sacking by owner Wallace Mercer.

Reader's Guide

Jardine is remembered as a versatile defender who played over 1000 professional games, winning two domestic trebles with Rangers and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972. He was named SFWA Player of the Year twice, with two different clubs. He played 38 times for Scotland, captaining the side on nine occasions, and appeared in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. His 1000th appearance includes friendlies and minor cups. He was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Rangers Hall of Fame. The Govan Stand at Ibrox was renamed the Sandy Jardine Stand in July 2014.

Did You Know?

• Jardine played 171 consecutive matches for Rangers between 1972 and 1975.
• He won the SFWA Player of the Year award in 1974–75 and 1985–86, the first player to win it with two different clubs.
• He scored his only international goal in a 2–0 win over Wales in the 1974 British Home Championship.
• He and Celtic's Danny McGrain were voted the best pair of fullbacks at the 1974 World Cup.