Ronald McKinnon (born 20 August 1940) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played for Rangers and the Scotland national team.
![]() Ronnie McKinnon (left) dueling with Willy van der Kuijlen (1968) | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Ronald McKinnon | ||
Date of birth | (1940-08-20) 20 August 1940 (age 82) | ||
Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
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) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
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]
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]
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.
Rangers[2]
Scotland
Rangers F.C. – Hall of Fame | ||
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