Richard Gough

Charles Richard Gough (born 5 April 1962) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, to a Swedish mother and a Scottish father—former Charlton Athletic player Charlie Gough—the family moved to South Africa in 1965. Gough grew up there, attending schools in Johannesburg and beginning his career with Wits University. At 15, he went to Ipswich Town before signing as an apprentice professional with Charlton Athletic in July 1978. Homesickness led him back to South Africa and Wits University briefly in 1979, after which he trialled with Rangers, Dundee United, and Aberdeen. Jim McLean signed him for Dundee United in February 1980.

Over six seasons at Dundee United, Gough scored 23 goals in 165 appearances. He helped the club win the Scottish league title in 1982–83 and reach the European Cup semi-final in 1984. In 1986, Tottenham Hotspur paid £750,000 for him, and he captained the side that lost to Coventry City in the 1987 FA Cup Final.

Gough returned to Scotland early in the 1987–88 season, joining Rangers for a fee over £1 million—the first Scottish player transferred to a Scottish club for that sum. His debut came at Tannadice Park in a defeat to his former club. He was named SFWA Footballer of the Year in 1988–89. At Rangers, he captained the team to nine consecutive league titles, winning nine league championships, three Scottish Cups, and six League Cups in 427 games, scoring 37 goals.

In May 1997, Gough moved to MLS side Kansas City Wizards. He returned to Rangers in October 1997 due to injury issues, then resumed his MLS career with the San Jose Clash in 1998. He played 36 MLS games, scored two goals, and was named to the MLS Best XI for 1997. He also had a loan spell at Nottingham Forest from March to May 1999, playing seven matches as the club was relegated. After leaving San Jose, he joined former boss Walter Smith at Everton, playing two seasons, making 38 appearances, and scoring once against Southampton. He captained Everton for the 2000–01 season and retired in May 2001. A planned guest appearance for Australian side Northern Spirit in October 2001 fell through due to injury.

Internationally, Gough made his Scotland debut against Switzerland in 1983 and earned 61 caps. He played in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups and captained Scotland at the 1992 European Championships in his birthplace, Sweden. He scored six international goals, including the only goal in a 1–0 win over England in the inaugural Rous Cup in 1985, and two goals in a 3–2 World Cup qualifier win away to Cyprus in February 1989—the second in the sixth minute of added time. His international career ended early after he criticised coaches Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown and withdrew from selection.

Gough’s only managerial role came with Livingston, appointed on 30 November 2004. He resigned after a relegation battle, citing disagreements with the owner over the player budget. The club was fined £15,000 for a transfer regulation breach during his tenure, though Gough was not implicated.

Since 1997, Gough has lived in San Diego, California. He supported the Rangers Supporters’ Trust and Dave King’s takeover of the club, and was appointed a global ambassador for Rangers on 21 September 2015.