Brian Irvine (born 24 May 1965 in Bellshill, Scotland) is a former international footballer who played as a central defender for Falkirk, Aberdeen, Dundee, Ross County and managed Elgin City. He was capped nine times by Scotland.[2][3]
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Brian Irvine | ||
Date of birth | (1965-05-24) 24 May 1965 (age 57) | ||
Place of birth | Bellshill, Scotland | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Central defender | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1983–1985 | Falkirk | 38 | (0) |
1985–1997 | Aberdeen | 306 | (28) |
1997–1999 | Dundee | 69 | (4) |
1999–2003 | Ross County | 120 | (13) |
Total | 533 | (45) | |
National team | |||
1990–1994 | Scotland | 9 | (0) |
Teams managed | |||
2006 | Elgin City | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
After working in a bank on leaving school,[3] Irvine began his professional career with Falkirk in 1983, aged 18.[4] During his spell with the Bairns, he became an evangelical Christian.[4][2][3]
After two years and nearly forty league appearances at Brockville, Irvine moved to Aberdeen, the team he had supported as a child,[3] for a fee of £110,000.[3] During twelve years with the Dons, Irvine made over 350 appearances in all competitions, gradually becoming a regular in the defence alongside Alex McLeish as veteran captain Willie Miller's career came to an end.[2] [1]
Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup in 1990, with Irvine scoring the winning penalty in a 9–8 shootout win against Celtic in the final,[4][2][3][5] having also scored in the quarter-final and semi-final.[6][2] He had already come on as a substitute in the League Cup final victory in the same season,[2] and played a part in two other finals[7] and five runners-up finishes in the Scottish Premier Division[8] (losing out to Rangers on every occasion), as well as helping the club avoid what would have been a first-ever relegation via a play-off in 1995.[9] He took over in goals in emergencies (if the goalkeeper was injured or sent off) on several occasions, saving a penalty in a match against Hibernian in 1991.[1][10]
In June 1995 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis,[2][3] returning to action four months after the diagnosis.[4] Irvine left Pittodrie in 1997 (following a testimonial match against Wimbledon)[11] and moved to Dundee, featuring nearly 70 times in two years. In 1999, Irvine moved to Ross County, where he finished his playing career in 2003.[3]
After retiring, Irvine stayed with County as a coach, taking his first managerial job in January 2006 with Elgin City.[12] In December that year, with the club bottom of the table, Irvine left the club.[13][2] In March 2009, Irvine was named assistant manager to Martin Rennie of USL First Division side Carolina RailHawks FC. He was previously Rennie's assistant at USL-2 side Cleveland City Stars.[2]
He has been involved in charity work,[2][3] and in 2016 became a police officer.[6]
Aberdeen[1]
Elgin City F.C. – managers | |
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