Today would have been the great DAVIE COOPER’S 60th birthday and we look back at the winger’s glittering career.
Cooper made 377 appearances for Rangers, scoring 49 goals.
Cooper is widely regarded, as one of, if not the greatest footballer to come out of Scotland. The former Rangers and Motherwell icon was born in Hamilton on February 25th 1956. Cooper joined Clydebank in 1974, before joining boyhood heroes Rangers in 1977, signing for a reported £100,000. Cooper went on to win three league titles, three Scottish cups and seven-league cups at Ibrox. Cooper moved on to Motherwell in 1989, winning the 1991 Scottish cup. He would later return to Clydebank in 1993 in a player-coach capacity. Tragically, Cooper passed away on March 23rd 1995 after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
Twitter: The iconic Davie Cooper would have been 60 today. We remember the late, great winger here: https://t.co/YvyrgmPKuB https://t.co/Sld84wwyNT (@RangersFC)
Cooper, who made 22 caps for Scotland, scored some memorable goals in royal blue. Walter Smith praised the winger. He once said: “God gave Davie Cooper talent. He would not be disappointed with how it was used”.
Former Ibrox team mate Ray Wilkins went even further in his praise saying of the little wing king: “He was a Brazilian trapped in a Scotsman’s body.”
And Cooper’s brilliance didn’t go unnoticed on foreign soil. Dutch maestro Ruud Gullit was mesmerised by the Scotsman’s talent, describing him as “one of the best football players I have ever seen.” Gullit would later name Cooper in his greatest EVER XI in an interview with Four four two magazine.
IF you have seen or remember Davie Cooper’s greatest goal it is hard to argue against that.
In tribute to one of the greatest talents that has gifted the Scottish game, we have selected a short video below that shows just how gifted Davie Cooper really was.
Who can forget THAT 1979 cup final goal against Celtic?
YouTube: Davie Cooper Six of the Best
