Andy Goram

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Goram appeared in 43 international matches for Scotland and was selected for their squads at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, UEFA Euro 1992 and UEFA Euro 1996. After his time with Rangers, Goram played for many clubs, most notably at Motherwell and a brief loan spell at Manchester United. He also represented Scotland at cricket, and was one of only four men to play internationally for Scotland in both football and cricket. After retirement from playing, he went on to become a goalkeeping coach at numerous Scottish clubs.

In Their Own Story

The rivalry between Goram and Jim Leighton for the Scotland goalkeeping spot defined his international narrative. After serving as an understudy during the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, Goram became first-choice in 1992, playing all eight qualifiers for Euro 92. However, a 5–0 defeat to Portugal in April 1993 led to knee surgery and a year-long absence from the national side. Upon his return, he played key roles in qualifying for Euro 96, notably saving a header from Kubilay Turkyilmaz against Switzerland in the final minutes of the tournament.

Reader's Guide

Goram began his career at West Bromwich Albion but was released as a teenager. He then joined Oldham Athletic in 1981 and spent nearly seven years with the club, making 195 Football League appearances. In 1987, he returned to Scotland, joining Hibernian for a fee of £325,000. In the summer of 1991, Goram signed for Rangers in a £1 million transfer deal. He played in all ten of their European fixtures in the 1992–93 season, conceding seven goals. He left Rangers at the end of season 1997–98. Later career: brief spells at Notts County and Sheffield United before signing for Motherwell in January 1999. He had a loan spell with Manchester United during their 2000–01 title run-in, playing in two games. In July 2002, Goram signed for Queen of the South, with whom he won the Scottish Challenge Cup. A four-game return to Oldham Athletic followed, and he retired at the end of the 2003–04 season after a season-long spell at Elgin City. In 2010, Goram was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• Goram scored a goal in a Premier Division match for Hibernian against Morton in 1988 with a long kick.
• He was voted Rangers' greatest-ever goalkeeper in a 2001 poll of Rangers fans.
• Goram was one of only four men to play internationally for Scotland in both football and cricket.
• He won both the Scottish Football Writers and Scottish Professional Footballers Association player of the year awards in the 1992–93 season.