Jim Steele

Dundee Dundee signed him as a 17-year-old and he made his debut in the first team with a solitary appearance in the 1967–68 season against Stirling Albion at Annfield.

The highlight of his Dundee career was in their 1971–72 UEFA Cup run, when Dundee beat German side FC Koln, but went out to AC Milan despite a 2–0 victory in the home leg. These high-profile games brought him to the attention of English clubs and soon Leeds United and Southampton (alerted by their former player and scout, Campbell Forsyth) expressed an interest.

Southampton His transfer to English first division club Southampton for a club record fee of £80,000 was shrouded in secrecy as manager Ted Bates moved swiftly to secure Steele's services from under the noses of many bigger clubs.

The pinnacle of his career came in Southampton's 1976 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United and his performance at the centre of Saints' defence, alongside Mel Blyth, earned him the man of the match award.

After the first few games of the 1976–77 season, he was replaced by Malcolm Waldron and was briefly loaned out to Rangers in November 1976, playing five games, including the Old Firm derby against Celtic but did not fit into Jock Wallace's plans and returned to The Dell. He was sent off in the replay on 8 March against United by referee Clive Thomas after a series of bad-tempered exchanges with Jimmy Greenhoff.

In total he made 201 appearances for Southampton, scoring just two goals. He served as player-coach during the 1978 NASL indoor season while head coach Gordon Bradley was away scouting. On 21 September 1979, he signed on loan from the Diplomats with the Pittsburgh Spirit of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two games into the season. This led to a legal mess in which the Diplomats were considered legal action against the Spirit for the loss of Steele. In 1981, he signed with the Chicago Sting, but saw no first team games – the knee injury bring an end to his playing career.

Honours As a player Southampton FA Cup: 1975–76