Richard Gough

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

Gough played in the successful Dundee United team of the early 1980s, winning the Scottish league title in 1982–83 and reaching the European Cup semi-final in 1984. Gough joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1986 and captained them in the 1987 FA Cup Final. He then moved to Rangers and captained them to nine successive Scottish league titles. He subsequently had spells with Kansas City Wizards, Rangers again, San Jose Clash, Nottingham Forest (on loan) and Everton.

He won 61 international caps for Scotland and played in the finals of three major tournaments.

Gough had a brief spell as manager of Livingston. He is currently an ambassador for Rangers.

Early life Richard Gough was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to a Swedish mother. His father (former Charlton Athletic player Charlie Gough), was from Hillington in Glasgow. Richard's paternal grandfather was from Dennistoun. Gough's parents met when she worked in London as a nurse. The family relocated in 1965 to South Africa where Richard grew up. He attended King Edward VII and Highlands North High School in Johannesburg. He began his career playing with the Wits University club.

Playing career

Club Aged 15, Gough went to Ipswich Town before Gough signed for Charlton Athletic as an apprentice professional in July 1978, staying there a year. He returned to South Africa when enduring home-sickness play for Wits University for a brief period in 1979. He then had trials in Scotland with Rangers, Dundee United and Aberdeen. his trial with United was a reserve game away to Arbroath in which Walter Smith played left-back. During his time at Everton he was made captain for the 2000–01 season and retired from playing in May 2001.

Gough agreed to play as a guest for Australian team Northern Spirit in October 2001, but had to withdraw due to injury.

International Gough was also a regular in the Scotland national team in the 1980s. He made his debut against Switzerland in 1983, and went on to gain 61 caps. Gough played in two World Cups (1986 and 1990). He captained his country in the 1992 European Championships in his birthplace, Sweden.

Gough scored six international goals. In 1985, he scored the only goal of the game when Scotland beat England 1–0 at Hampden Park in the inaugural edition of the Rous Cup. He scored two goals in February 1989 in a 3–2 World Cup qualifier win away to Cyprus, with the second being scored in the sixth minute of added time.

His international career was ended prematurely however, after he was critical of coaches Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown and withdrew himself from further selection.

Managerial career On 30 November 2004, Gough landed his first and only managerial position with the then Scottish Premier League side Livingston. After a difficult season where the club battled relegation, Gough resigned and cited disagreements with the club's owner over the budget for signing players as the reason. The club was also fined £15,000 by the SFA for a breach of transfer regulations over the signing of Hassan Kachloul during Gough's time as manager although there was no suggestion that Gough himself was responsible for the breach of regulations.

Later career Gough supported the Rangers Supporters' Trust and Dave King's takeover of Rangers, and was appointed as a global ambassador for the club on 21 September 2015.

Personal life Gough has resided in San Diego, California, since 1997.

Career statistics International appearances

International goals Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 16 June 1983 Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton 2–0 3–0 Friendly 2. 25 May 1985 Hampden Park, Glasgow 1–0 1–0 1985 Rous Cup 3. 26 March 1986 Hampden Park, Glasgow 2–0 3–0 Friendly 4. 8 February 1989 Tsirion Stadium, Limassol 2–2 3–2 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification 5. 3–2 6. 13 November 1991 Hampden Park, Glasgow 2–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 1992 qualification

Honours Dundee United Scottish Premier Division: 1982–83 Forfarshire Cup: 1979–80, 1984–85

Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup runner-up: 1986–87

Rangers

Individual SPFA Players' Player of the Year: 1985–86 Scottish Football Hall of Fame Scotland national football team roll of honour : 1990 MLS Best XI: 1997 MLS All-Star: 1997, 1998