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Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile
Jim Leighton Squad Index
Information:
1987-88 Squad Number:
1
Position:
Goalkeeper
Date of Birth:
24th July 1958
Birthplace:
Johnstone
Nationality:
Scottish
Height:
6' 1
Weight:
13st 6lbs
Signed:
12/06/97
Career History:
Dalry Thistle
Aberdeen 28th August 1976 (Provisional)
Devronvale 19th July 1977 to 21st May 1978 (On Loan)
Aberdeen 22nd May 1978
Manchester United 21st May 1988 £750,000
Arsenal 20th March 1991 - 31st May 1991 (On Loan)
Reading 29th November 1991 - February 1992
Dundee 7th February 1992 £200,000
Sheffield United 1st April 1993 - 31st May 1993 (On Loan)
Hibernian 14th July 1993
Aberdeen 12th June 1997, Retiered on 1st July 2000
Aberdeen Goalkeeping coach 1st July 2000 to 26th August 2009
Huntly Goalkeeping Coach 15th February 2010
Aberdeen goalkeeping coach 13th October 2010 to 21st May 2015
 
Profile:
Goalkeeper who first played for the Dons in August 1978. Currently at Pittodrie in a coaching capacity after hanging up the gloves. Made his 500th appearance for the club against Dundee Utd at Tannadice in 1998. In the first of his two spells at Pittodrie, Leighton was part of the all-conquering Dons side of the 80's and is also Scotland's most capped goalkeeper, second only in the all time caps haul to Kenny Dalglish. Retired from the international team in October 1998, Leighton's first class career ended on a low note when after only two minutes of the 2000 Cup Final against Rangers, Leighton was severely injured in a clash with rangers Rod Wallace, so a memorable career was finished. Awarded testimonial against Middlesborough in July 2000.

Senior Aberdeen Debut: show all appearances
Date Result Competition Venue Att. Age at Debut Type
07/08/1978
Aberdeen 3-2 Middlesbrough
Friendly 10,500 20 Start

Appearances
Season League League Cup Scottish Cup Europe Total Other
  App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals
2000-01
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1999-00
26
0
0
3
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
36
0
0
1
1
0
1998-99
22
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
24
0
0
4
0
0
1997-98
34
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
37
0
0
2
0
0
1988-89
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1987-88
44
0
0
5
0
0
6
0
0
4
0
0
59
0
0
4
0
0
1986-87
42
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
2
0
0
48
0
0
5
0
0
1985-86
27
0
0
4
0
0
5
0
0
5
0
0
41
0
0
3
1
0
1984-85
35
0
0
1
0
0
6
0
0
2
0
0
44
0
0
5
0
0
1983-84
36
0
0
10
0
0
7
0
0
10
0
0
63
0
0
5
0
0
1982-83
35
0
0
8
0
0
5
0
0
11
0
0
59
0
0
3
0
0
1981-82
36
0
0
10
0
0
6
0
0
6
0
0
58
0
0
6
0
0
1980-81
35
0
0
5
0
0
2
0
0
4
0
0
46
0
0
7
0
1
1979-80
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
1978-79
11
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
17
0
0
1
2
0
Totals:
385
0
0
54
0
0
49
0
0
47
0
0
535
0
0
49
4
1
Total Appearances/Goals: 535 0  

Scottish International Caps
Season Date
Match
 Tournament
1998-99 10/10/98
SCOTLAND v Estonia
Euro Championship Qualifier
1998-99 05/09/98
Lithuania v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1997-98 23/06/98
Morocco v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1997-98 16/06/98
Norway v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1997-98 10/06/98
Brazil v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1997-98 30/05/98
Usa v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1997-98 22/04/98
SCOTLAND v Finland
Friendly
1997-98 25/03/98
SCOTLAND v Denmark
Friendly
1997-98 11/10/97
SCOTLAND v Latvia
World Cup Qualifier
1997-98 07/09/97
SCOTLAND v Belarus
World Cup Qualifier
1996-97 08/06/97
Belarus v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1996-97 01/06/97
Malta v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1996-97 27/05/97
SCOTLAND v Wales
Friendly
1996-97 30/04/97
Sweden v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1996-97 02/04/97
SCOTLAND v Austria
World Cup Qualifier
1996-97 29/03/97
SCOTLAND v Estonia
World Cup Qualifier
1996-97 10/11/96
SCOTLAND v Sweden
World Cup Qualifier
1995-96 26/05/96
Usa v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1995-96 24/04/96
Denmark v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1995-96 27/03/96
SCOTLAND v Australia
Friendly
1995-96 15/11/95
SCOTLAND v San Marino
Euro Championship Qualifier
1995-96 11/10/95
Sweden v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1995-96 06/09/95
SCOTLAND v Finland
Euro Championship Qualifier
1995-96 16/08/95
SCOTLAND v Greece
Euro Championship Qualifier
1994-95 07/06/95
Faroe Islands v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1994-95 24/05/95
Ecquador v SCOTLAND
Kirin Cup
1994-95 21/05/95
Japan v SCOTLAND
Kirin Cup
1994-95 26/04/95
San Marino v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1994-95 29/03/95
Russia v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1994-95 18/12/94
Greece v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1993-94 27/05/94
Holland v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1993-94 20/04/94
Austria v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1993-94 17/11/93
Malta v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1989-90 20/06/90
Brazil v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1989-90 16/06/90
Sweden v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1989-90 11/06/90
Costa Rica v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1989-90 28/05/90
Malta v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1989-90 28/03/90
SCOTLAND v Argentina
Friendly
1989-90 15/11/89
SCOTLAND v Norway
World Cup Qualifier
1989-90 11/10/89
France v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1989-90 06/09/89
Yugoslavia v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1988-89 30/05/89
SCOTLAND v Chile
Rous Cup
1988-89 27/05/89
SCOTLAND v England
Rous Cup
1988-89 26/04/89
SCOTLAND v Cyprus
World Cup Qualifier
1988-89 08/03/89
SCOTLAND v France
World Cup Qualifier
1988-89 08/02/89
Cyprus v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1988-89 14/09/88
Norway v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1987-88 21/05/88
England v SCOTLAND
Rous Cup
1987-88 17/05/88
SCOTLAND v Columbia
Rous Cup
1987-88 27/04/88
Spain v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1987-88 22/03/88
Malta v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1987-88 17/02/88
Saudi Arabia v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1987-88 02/12/87
Luxembourg v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1987-88 11/11/87
Bulgaria v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1987-88 14/10/87
SCOTLAND v Belgium
Euro Championship Qualifier
1987-88 09/09/87
SCOTLAND v Hungary
Friendly
1986-87 23/05/87
SCOTLAND v England
Rous Cup
1986-87 01/04/87
Belgium v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1986-87 18/02/87
SCOTLAND v Republic Of Ireland
Euro Championship Qualifier
1986-87 12/11/86
SCOTLAND v Luxembourg
Euro Championship Qualifier
1986-87 15/10/86
Republic Of Ireland v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1986-87 10/09/86
SCOTLAND v Bulgaria
Euro Championship Qualifier
1985-86 13/06/86
Uruguay v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1985-86 08/06/86
West Germany v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1985-86 04/06/86
Denmark v SCOTLAND
World Cup Finals
1985-86 28/01/86
Israel v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1985-86 04/12/85
Austria v SCOTLAND
World Cup Play-Offs
1985-86 20/11/85
SCOTLAND v Austria
World Cup Play-Offs
1985-86 16/10/85
SCOTLAND v East Germany
Friendly
1985-86 10/09/85
Wales v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1984-85 28/05/85
Iceland v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1984-85 25/05/85
SCOTLAND v England
Rous Cup
1984-85 27/03/85
SCOTLAND v Wales
World Cup Qualifier
1984-85 27/02/85
Spain v SCOTLAND
World Cup Qualifier
1984-85 14/11/84
SCOTLAND v Spain
World Cup Qualifier
1984-85 17/10/84
SCOTLAND v Iceland
World Cup Qualifier
1984-85 12/09/84
SCOTLAND v Yugoslavia
Friendly
1983-84 01/06/84
France v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1983-84 26/05/84
SCOTLAND v England
British Int'l Championship
1983-84 28/02/84
SCOTLAND v Wales
British Int'l Championship
1983-84 13/12/83
Northern Ireland v SCOTLAND
British Int'l Championship
1983-84 12/10/83
SCOTLAND v Belgium
Euro Championship Qualifier
1983-84 21/09/83
SCOTLAND v Uruguay
Friendly
1982-83 20/06/83
Canada v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1982-83 16/06/83
Canada v SCOTLAND
Friendly
1982-83 01/06/83
England v SCOTLAND
British Int'l Championship
1982-83 28/05/83
Wales v SCOTLAND
British Int'l Championship
1982-83 30/03/83
SCOTLAND v Switzerland
Euro Championship Qualifier
1982-83 15/12/82
Belgium v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1982-83 17/11/82
Switzerland v SCOTLAND
Euro Championship Qualifier
1982-83 13/10/82
SCOTLAND v East Germany
Euro Championship Qualifier
Total Appearances: 91