Andy Goram: Rangers legend dies at age of 58 following a short battle with cancer
Former Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram has died at the age of 58 after a short battle with cancer; Goram made 260 appearances for Rangers; he was part of the nine-in-a-row squad; he also played for a number of other clubs including Oldham, Hibernian and Motherwell
Rangers’ legendary goalkeeper Andy Goram has died at the age of 58 after a short battle with cancer.
Goram made 260 appearances for Gers between 1991 and 1998, and won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
The former Oldham Athletic and Hibernian shot-stopper won 43 caps for Scotland and was the first-choice goalkeeper for both Euro 92 and Euro 96 in Sweden and England respectively.
A Rangers statement read: “Rangers Football Club are today deeply saddened to announce the death of our legendary goalkeeper, Andy Goram, following a short battle with cancer.
“The thoughts of the directors, management, players and staff are today with Andy’s family, and would ask that their privacy is respected at this sad time. Funeral details will be communicated in due course.”
Former Scotland manager Craig Brown paid tribute to Goram, whom he managed at international level.
He told Sky Sports News: “He was a very popular guy, not only with his own players but the opposition. He was a wonderful goalkeeper and a very nice chap.
“He’s a cult hero at Ibrox and he’s a Rangers legend, no doubts. The nickname ‘The Goalie’ just tells you everything because they felt that he was the one and the best goalkeeper.”
Remembering one of Scottish football’s greatest ever players
Here Sky Sports looks back on a career which, although turbulent at times, will see him remembered as of Scottish football’s greatest ever players.
Andy Goram’s sporting journey began in England and could have seen him focus on cricket rather than on football.
Born in Bury in 1964, he excelled at both sports as a teenager and actually favoured a career between the wickets rather than the goalposts.
He was captain of Lancashire Schoolboys – the great West Indian batsman Clive Lloyd, who was playing for the county at the time, was his hero.
But, after signing for Ron Atkinson’s West Bromwich Albion as a 15-year-old, his football development became his focus.
His time at The Hawthorns did not go to plan though.
When Atkinson departed for Manchester United a year after his arrival, the new boss Ronnie Allen felt the 5 foot 11 Goram was too small to make it as a ‘keeper and he was released.
His football journey really began at Oldham Athletic.
A 16-year-old Goram made his debut in May 1981 and went on to make 219 appearances for the club across a six-year spell.
By then he had won four Scotland caps and decided to move north, signing for Hibernian in a £325,000 deal.
He spent four years at Easter Road, became Hibs captain, played 163 times and even scored a goal.
