A piece of British footballing trivia that could surprise a fan or two is that Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of ten games as Scotland's national team manager. Many think of the iconic coach's exploits at Manchester United, guiding the Red Devils to 13 Premier League titles in 26 seasons.
International management wasn't something Ferguson was interested in pursuing for an extended period. His time managing the Tartan Army came temporarily after the late great Jock Stein's passing in 1986.
That said, Sir Alex coached some of Scottish football's all-time greats during his brief stint, including former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas and his trusted goalkeeper Jim Leighton, whom he brought with him to United from Aberdeen.
Neither of those made it into Ferguson's list of Scotland's four greatest players in history; he went with a quartet he had never managed at club level. A Liverpool and Rangers hero was named among a star-studded four-man list of Scots.
Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish Liverpool
There haven't been many attackers who dominated British football quite like Kenny Dalglish, whose incredible versatility, footballing brain and winning mentality saw him thrive as a player and manager. He was a clinical goalscorer who was the perfect strike partner, able to make clever runs and exploit spaces as his team surged forward.
Dalglish was simply breathtaking to watch while leading the line at Celtic and Liverpool, where he forged his name in the history books. He finished his career having won eight league titles at Anfield and four at Celtic Park while finding the back of the net for fun.
King Kenny, as Liverpool fans famously call him, has become footballing royalty because of his legendary exploits in front of the Kop. He bagged 30 goals and eight assists in 102 caps for Scotland, two goals coming in eight World Cup outings, including in a 3-2 win over the Netherlands in Argentina '78.
Ferguson suggested back in March 2011 that Dalglish embodied Scottish courageousness (via The Guardian):
"He was a great player but people often forget that the one quality great players need is courage. Kenny was as brave as a lion. He would take a kick from anyone and come back for more."
Denis Law
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Ferguson made his very first steps into football management the same year Denis Law called time on his illustrious career. It was a passing of the torch in some sense, certainly at Old Trafford where both Scot's influence has made them the behemoth of a club they are today.
Law was key in the Manchester United side that won the European Champions Club's Cup and two Premier League titles under Sir Matt Busby. He developed into a clinical finisher who relished spearheading both the Red Devils and Scottish national team's attacks, registering 237 goals in 405 games at United, and many fans that watched him in action will argue he warrants a place in an all-time XI.
Ferguson may well back that stance given he thinks he's the very best player to emerge from Scottish shores. He told MUTV after Law's passing in January 2025 (via the club website):
"He was the best Scottish player of all time. Kenny Dalglish soon after, some fantastic players, but Denis was a fantastic player. He summarised a Scotsman, the fighting element, he could fight in an empty house! An incredible human being.
Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
There aren't many players who would be willing to bump heads with Ferguson but Graeme Souness was certainly one of them. The iconic Scottish midfielder was as hot-headed as they come, a fiercely competitive captain who possessed a win at all costs mentality.
Souness was more than just a bruiser in the middle of the park as he was also extremely technically gifted. He was exceptional for Liverpool in the 1970s and early 1980s, winning three European titles along with five English top-flight titles.
Ferguson managed Souness during his Scotland tenure and the fiery midfielder claimed in his autobiography that it was the only time in his career he was dropped after he was named on the bench in a World Cup group stage draw with Uruguay. But the former Rangers player-manager explained that Sir Alex informed him that he held him in high regard.
While many Liverpool fans will point towards Steven Gerrard being their best-ever midfielder, that wasn't Ferguson's view in 2013:
"Along with Graeme Souness, (Gerrard is) probably the best midfield player Liverpool have ever had, although I have Souness just above them all."
Dave Mackay
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The only player on this list whom Ferguson came up against as a player was Dave Mackay and he's glad it remained that way. The former Rangers forward said that Mackay was "hard" and "one of the hardest men of all time."
Ferguson ranked Mackay, who earned 22 caps for the Tartan Army, up there with the very best when paying tribute in May 2015 (via Express):
"A great Scottish player, when you think of Dennis Law, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness. You can put Dave Mackay along with them."
Dave Mackay (6) grabs a player's shirt
Mackay was a leader of men who was the beating heart of Hearts and Tottenham Hotspur, adapting to any role, including as a left half and later as a weeper. He won the Scottish league title in 1958 before helping usher in a golden era at Spurs, by winning the league title in 1961 as well as the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963.