Ronnie McKinnon

Ronald McKinnon (born 20 August 1940) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played for Rangers and the Scotland national team.

Ronnie McKinnon
Ronnie McKinnon (left) dueling with Willy van der Kuijlen (1968)
Personal information
Full name Ronald McKinnon
Date of birth (1940-08-20) 20 August 1940
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
Benburb[1]
Dunipace[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1972 Rangers 301 (2)
1973 Durban United
National team
1965–1971 Scotland 28 (1)
1966–1971 Scottish League XI 9 (0)
1968[3] Scotland U23 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Rangers

McKinnon, a central defender (who had been a winger in his youth during early spells at Junior level),[1][4] made his Rangers debut against Hearts on 8 March 1961 in a 3–0 win at Ibrox. He went on to make 487 appearances for the club in all competitions between 1961 and 1971,[2] winning two Scottish League championships, four Scottish Cups and three League Cups.[5][1]

His final Rangers appearance was in the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup second round match against Sporting CP in Lisbon, where he suffered a broken leg.[5] Rangers went on to win the Cup Winners' Cup that season but McKinnon, who had been a regular for a decade but was already in the latter stages of his career, was put out of action entirely for a year due to the complications of the injury and the poor manner in which it was treated.[4][1]

International

McKinnon won a total of 28 caps for Scotland,[6] making his debut in a 1–0 win over Italy at Hampden Park in 1965, in which Rangers teammate John Greig had scored a memorable late winner.[1] He also played in the 3–2 win over England at Wembley in 1967.[4][7] His only goal for Scotland came in a 3–2 win over Wales, also in 1967. He also represented the Scottish League XI.[8]

Later and personal life

After leaving Rangers in 1973, McKinnon moved to South Africa, where he played local football for a season.[4] He later returned to Scotland and settled on the Isle of Lewis where his mother was born and where he had spent time as a child during World War II.[4][1]

His connection to Rangers continues to this day as he is an Honorary Member & Ambassador of The Lewis & Harris Rangers Supporters Club, and still travels to matches at Ibrox with the island fans at least once a season.

McKinnon's twin brother Donnie was also a professional footballer, spending 14 seasons with Partick Thistle as a centre-half.[9][10] He was also one of the coaches for the Scotland national team for many years.

Honours

Rangers[2]

Scotland

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References
  1. Interview: Ronnie McKinnon, Rangers legend, The Scotsman, 7 January 2011
  2. Rangers player McKinnon, Ronnie, FitbaStats
  3. Scotland U23 player McKinnon, Ronnie, FitbaStats
  4. Spiers, Graham (13 April 2015). "Ronnie McKinnon, the Ranger who roved". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  5. On This Day: Ronnie McKinnon, Rangers FC, 20 August 2019
  6. Scotland player Ronald McKinnon, London Hearts Supporters Club
  7. Scotland were no-hopers but showed the world champions how to play football at Wembley, Daily Record, 15 April 2017
  8. "SFL player Ronald McKinnon". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  9. Meet the new Captain..., Partick Thistle FC match programme, 8 February 1969 (via Partick Thistle History Archive)
  10. Donnie McKinnon, Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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