27 Facts About Jim Leighton

1.

James Leighton was born on 24 July 1958 and is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

2.

Jim Leighton then had spells with Arsenal, Reading, Dundee and Sheffield United, and rebuilt his career after joining Hibernian in 1993.

3.

Jim Leighton returned to Aberdeen in 1997, leading to a career total of over 600 appearances in the league alone.

4.

Jim Leighton was chosen for Scotland's FIFA World Cup squads in 1982,1986,1990 and 1998, playing in the latter three of those tournaments.

5.

Jim Leighton joined Aberdeen from Scottish Junior club Dalry Thistle in 1977, after working in the civil service on leaving school.

6.

Jim Leighton achieved his greatest success under the management of Alex Ferguson in the early to mid-1980s.

7.

Jim Leighton conceded 35 league goals and kept 14 clean sheets, while he conceded more than two goals only once in all competitions.

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8.

Jim Leighton's disappointment was such that when handed the winner's medal by Sealey, he later returned it to his replacement's pocket, and when a medal specifically for Jim Leighton was received by the club due to his appearance in the first match, he declined that too.

9.

Jim Leighton spent a portion of that season on loan with third-tier Reading.

10.

Jim Leighton played in the last dozen league games of the season winning the title in the Scottish second tier and promotion to the top flight.

11.

Jim Leighton was out of favour at Dens Park after Simon Stainrod replaced Munro as manager.

12.

Jim Leighton's career was revitalised after Alex Miller signed him for Hibernian in summer 1993, Leighton playing over 150 games and missing only one league match in four seasons.

13.

Jim Leighton played in the 1993 Scottish League Cup Final defeat to Rangers.

14.

Jim Leighton was recalled to the Scottish national team, collecting 23 of his 91 Scotland caps at Hibs.

15.

Jim Leighton later said he played the best football of his career in his spell at Easter Road and rated Miller the second-best manager he played under.

16.

In 1997 Jim Leighton returned to Aberdeen, where he featured regularly for another three seasons and reached 500 appearances for the club in 1998.

17.

Jim Leighton was captain in the 2000 Scottish League Cup Final defeat to Celtic.

18.

Jim Leighton retired from playing after the 2000 Scottish Cup Final defeat by Rangers.

19.

Jim Leighton was an uncapped squad member for the 1982 World Cup, before making his debut against East Germany on 13 October 1982.

20.

Jim Leighton played all three Scotland matches at the tournament finals and became the last football player born in the 1950s to play in a FIFA World Cup game.

21.

Jim Leighton retired from international football on 10 October 1998.

22.

Jim Leighton's last match was a European Championship qualifier against Estonia when aged 40 years and 78 days.

23.

Jim Leighton is a member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame, having won his 50th cap in 1989.

24.

Jim Leighton played 91 times for Scotland, second only to Kenny Dalglish's 102 appearances.

25.

Jim Leighton became Aberdeen's goalkeeping coach after retiring as a player.

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26.

Jim Leighton parted company with the club in August 2009 when manager Mark McGhee chose to replace him with Colin Meldrum.

27.

Jim Leighton commented soon afterwards that he would look for work outside football, as he was unwilling to relocate from Aberdeen due to other work and family commitments, and subsequently became a sales manager for companies providing services to the city's offshore industry.