Richard Gough
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard Gough is a former Scottish football
central defender
who enjoyed great success as captain of Rangers
. He also played for Scotland
61 times and had a brief spell as manager
of Livingston
. He is now resident in San Diego.
player Charlie Gough
) and Swedish mother, Gough grew up in South Africa
, Went to school at King Edward VII and began his career playing with the Wits University club. Looking to build a career in British football, Gough went on trial to Rangers, but was turned down. After that had a spell with Univerisity College Dublin After leaving Ireland to return South Africa, he was signed by Scottish Premier Division
team Dundee United
in 1980.
for £
750,000, where he played for slightly over a year, and captained the Tottenham team which lost to Coventry City in the 1987 FA Cup Final
. Although there was no doubt over his talent, Gough began to feel homesick and, early in the 1987-88 season, returned to Scotland, joining Rangers and becoming the first Scottish player to be signed for over £1,000,000. His debut was at Tannadice
in a defeat against former club Dundee United. Gough remained at Ibrox
until 1997, captaining the side that achieved nine consecutive League titles. He was quoted as being "very proud to be the only Rangers player to receive 9 medals". Both Ally McCoist and Ian Ferguson however also received 9 league champions medals during the "9 in a row" run of title wins.
. Gough remained in the league for two seasons, the first with the Kansas City Wizards
, the second with the San Jose Clash
; although Gough only played intermittently in those two seasons, totalling 2 goals and 2 assists in only 36 games, he was named to the MLS Best XI
for his 1997 season with the Wizards.
Gough returned to Rangers after the 1997 MLS season, and played with the club for one more season. In all, he played 318 league games with Rangers, scoring 26 goals.
at Everton
. He played two seasons at Goodison Park
making 38 appearances and scoring once against Southampton. During his time at Everton he was made captain on several occasions.
He also had a brief stint with Nottingham Forest
.
in the 1980s. He made his debut against Switzerland
in 1983, and went on to gain 61 caps. His international career was ended prematurely, however, after he was critical of coaches Andy Roxburgh
and Craig Brown
and withdrew himself from further selection.
team Livingston
. He resigned in May 2005 after saving the club from relegation, having wrangled with the club's owner over the budget for signing players. The club was fined £15,000 by the SFA for a breach of transfer regulations over the signing of Hassan Kachloul
during Gough's time as manager although there is no suggestion that Gough himself was responsible for the breach of regulations.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
central defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who enjoyed great success as captain of Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. He also played for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
61 times and had a brief spell as manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
. He is now resident in San Diego.
Early career
Born to a Scottish father (former Charlton AthleticCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
player Charlie Gough
Charlie Gough
Charlie Gough was a Scottish professional footballer who played four league games in England for Charlton Athletic in the 1964–65 season. Gough also played for Alton Town in England and Highlands Park in South Africa. His son is fellow player Richard Gough.-References:...
) and Swedish mother, Gough grew up in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Went to school at King Edward VII and began his career playing with the Wits University club. Looking to build a career in British football, Gough went on trial to Rangers, but was turned down. After that had a spell with Univerisity College Dublin After leaving Ireland to return South Africa, he was signed by Scottish Premier Division
Scottish Football League Premier Division
The Scottish Football League Premier Division was, from 1975 until 1998, the top division of the Scottish Football League and the entire Scottish football league system...
team Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
in 1980.
First spell in Scotland
He played for Dundee United for six seasons, finishing with 23 goals in 165 appearances and helping them to the League title in 1982-83. In 1986, Gough was sold to English First Division club Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
750,000, where he played for slightly over a year, and captained the Tottenham team which lost to Coventry City in the 1987 FA Cup Final
1987 FA Cup Final
The 1987 FA Cup Final took place on 16 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs were appearing in their third final in seven seasons, having won the trophy in 1981 and 1982 and were strong favourites, while unfancied Coventry were appearing...
. Although there was no doubt over his talent, Gough began to feel homesick and, early in the 1987-88 season, returned to Scotland, joining Rangers and becoming the first Scottish player to be signed for over £1,000,000. His debut was at Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
in a defeat against former club Dundee United. Gough remained at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
until 1997, captaining the side that achieved nine consecutive League titles. He was quoted as being "very proud to be the only Rangers player to receive 9 medals". Both Ally McCoist and Ian Ferguson however also received 9 league champions medals during the "9 in a row" run of title wins.
MLS
In 1997, Gough left the United Kingdom to play in the United States' nascent professional league, Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Gough remained in the league for two seasons, the first with the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, the second with the San Jose Clash
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
; although Gough only played intermittently in those two seasons, totalling 2 goals and 2 assists in only 36 games, he was named to the MLS Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
for his 1997 season with the Wizards.
Gough returned to Rangers after the 1997 MLS season, and played with the club for one more season. In all, he played 318 league games with Rangers, scoring 26 goals.
Everton
After leaving Rangers he linked up with former boss Walter SmithWalter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He played two seasons at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
making 38 appearances and scoring once against Southampton. During his time at Everton he was made captain on several occasions.
He also had a brief stint with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
International
Gough was also a regular in the Scotland national teamScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the 1980s. He made his debut against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in 1983, and went on to gain 61 caps. His international career was ended prematurely, however, after he was critical of coaches Andy Roxburgh
Andy Roxburgh
Andy Roxburgh is a former Scottish football player and coach. He has been UEFA Technical Director since 1994.- Playing career :...
and Craig Brown
Craig Brown (football)
James Craig Brown CBE is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. He is currently manager of Aberdeen....
and withdrew himself from further selection.
Managerial career
On 30 November 2004 Gough landed his first managerial job with Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
team Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
. He resigned in May 2005 after saving the club from relegation, having wrangled with the club's owner over the budget for signing players. The club was fined £15,000 by the SFA for a breach of transfer regulations over the signing of Hassan Kachloul
Hassan Kachloul
Hassan Kachloul is a retired Moroccan footballer. He played for the Moroccan national team and was a squad member at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.-Career:...
during Gough's time as manager although there is no suggestion that Gough himself was responsible for the breach of regulations.