Colin Stein

Lore & Background

Stein was part of the Rangers team that won the 1971–72 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, scoring one of the goals in a 3–2 victory against Dinamo Moscow in the final. He also represented Scotland and the Scottish League XI, scoring nine goals in 21 appearances for Scotland, including four goals in a 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Cyprus. On 2 January 1971, during an Old Firm match at Ibrox, Stein scored an equaliser in stoppage time; after full-time, barriers on Stairway 13 collapsed, causing the second Ibrox disaster. Stein registered a hat-trick for Scotland in 1969 with four goals against Cyprus, and held the distinction of being the last player to score a hat-trick for Scotland until 2015.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at Ibrox crackled whenever Stein entered the box. He didn't just play football; he dominated the air with an acrobatic grace that left defenders helpless. In one defining moment, as the ball arced from a corner, the crowd fell silent for a heartbeat before his header connected with a thunderous crack. The net rippled instantly, and the roar that followed echoed through Glasgow. It was this sheer physicality mixed with technical flair—highlighted by famous volleys like his bicycle kick against Celtic—that cemented his status in fans' memories. To watch Stein was to witness a player capable of turning any set-piece into magic, a legacy immortalized in the annals of Rangers' unofficial history.

Reader's Guide

Stein began his career with Armadale Thistle. He went on to play professionally for Hibernian, Rangers and the Scotland national team during the 1960s and 1970s. He also had a spell in England with Coventry City. In the twilight of his career, after leaving Kilmarnock, Stein also played for Elgin City, who were then a Highland League side.

Did You Know?

• Stein scored the opening goal in the 1972 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final.
• He scored four goals in a 1969 World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.
• His elder brother, Bobby Stein, was also a professional footballer.
• He married Linda Smith in 1969 and has a son and a daughter.