James Bett (born 25 November 1959) is a Scottish former professional association footballer who played in central or left midfield. He played with Aberdeen for nine seasons and had shorter spells at other clubs in Belgium, Iceland and Scotland. He earned 26 caps for the Scotland national team over eight years.

A Scottish Schoolboy international born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire,^[3] Bett started his club career with Gartcosh United, Dundee and Airdrieonians before moving to Icelandic side Valur in 1978. A year later he joined K.S.C. Lokeren (282) in Belgium.

Rangers manager John Greig paid £150,000 to sign Bett for the Glasgow club in 1980. In three seasons at Ibrox he won the Scottish Cup (1980–81)^[4] and a League Cup (1981–82).^[3] He left Rangers in 1983 for a second spell with Lokeren.

Bett returned to his native land, joining Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1985 for £300,000.^[3] During his time with the Dons, he collected winner's medals in the Scottish Cup in 1985–86,^[5] and both the League Cup and Scottish Cup in 1989–90,^[6] He also played in three other League Cup finals – all ending in defeat to Rangers,^[7][8][9] and was in squads which finished runners-up behind his former club in the Scottish Premier Division on five occasions.

He left Pittodrie in 1994, after making over 300 first-team appearances. In 2003, Bett was inducted into the Aberdeen FC Hall of Fame as one of the founding members.^[10]

He next moved to KR Reykjavík and won the Icelandic Cup with the club, but left KR at the end of the 1994 Icelandic season. Bett returned to Scotland again to join Hearts with whom he played the 1994–95 Scottish season. After a final season with Dundee United, he retired.

Bett met his Icelandic wife during his time playing for Valur and has maintained a close connection with Iceland since. His sons Baldur and Calum, also both professional footballers, were born there and have represented the country at Under-19 level.^[12] Coincidentally, Bett's only goal for Scotland occurred in a 1–0 win over Iceland in Reykjavík in 1985.^[12]

Rangers^[11]

• Scottish Cup: 1980–81
  • Runner-up 1981–82, 1982–83
• Scottish League Cup: 1981–82
  • Runner-up 1982–83

Aberdeen^[11]

• Scottish Cup: 1985–86, 1989–90
  • Runner-up 1992–93
• Scottish League Cup: 1989–90
  • Runner-up 1987–88, 1988–89, 1992–93

Scotland

• The Rous Cup: 1985^[21]