Ronnie_McKinnon

Ronnie McKinnon

Ronnie McKinnon

Scottish footballer (1940–2023)

Ronald MacKinnon (20 August 1940 – 17 September 2023), known as Ronnie McKinnon,[2] was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Rangers and the Scotland national team.

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Club career

McKinnon, a central defender who had been a winger in his youth during early spells at Junior level,[2][5] made his Rangers debut against Hearts on 8 March 1961 in a 3–0 win at Ibrox. He went on to make 487 appearances for the club in all competitions between 1961 and 1971,[3] winning two Scottish League championships, four Scottish Cups and three League Cups.[6][2]

His final Rangers appearance was in the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup second round match against Sporting CP in Lisbon, where he suffered a broken leg.[6] Rangers went on to win the Cup Winners' Cup that season but McKinnon, who had been a regular for a decade but was already in the latter stages of his career, was put out of action entirely for a year due to the complications of the injury and the poor manner in which it was treated.[5][2]

International career

McKinnon won a total of 28 caps for Scotland,[7] making his debut in a 1–0 win over Italy at Hampden Park in 1965, in which Rangers teammate John Greig had scored a memorable late winner.[2] He also played in the 3–2 win over England at Wembley in 1967.[5][8] His only goal for Scotland came in a 3–2 win over Wales, also in 1967. He also represented the Scottish League XI.[9]

Later and personal life

After leaving Rangers in 1973, McKinnon moved to South Africa, where he played local football for a season.[5] He later returned to Scotland and settled on the Isle of Lewis where his mother was born and where he had spent time as a child during World War II.[5][2]

His connection to Rangers continued as he was an Honorary Member & Ambassador of The Lewis & Harris Rangers Supporters Club, and travelled to matches at Ibrox with the island fans at least once a season.

McKinnon's twin brother Donnie was also a professional footballer, spending 14 seasons with Partick Thistle as a centre-half.[10][11] He was also one of the coaches for the Scotland national team for many years.

Death

McKinnon died on 17 September 2023, at the age of 83.[12]

Honours

Rangers[3]

Scotland

References

  1. [1]
    Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 23 September 2023
  2. [2]
    Smith, Aidan (8 January 2011). "Saturday Interview: Ronnie McKinnon: 'We all knew there'd be hell to pay'". The Scotsman. p. 10. ProQuest 822865089. Retrieved 18 September 2023 – via ProQuest.
  3. [3]
    Rangers player McKinnon, Ronnie, FitbaStats
  4. [4]
    Scotland U23 player McKinnon, Ronnie, FitbaStats
  5. [5]
    Spiers, Graham (13 April 2015). "Ronnie McKinnon, the Ranger who roved". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. [6]
    On This Day: Ronnie McKinnon, Rangers FC, 20 August 2019[dead link]
  7. [7]
    Scotland player Ronald McKinnon, London Hearts Supporters Club
  8. [8]
    Scotland were no-hopers but showed the world champions how to play football at Wembley, Daily Record, 15 April 2017
  9. [9]
    "SFL player Ronald McKinnon". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  10. [10]
    Meet the new Captain..., Partick Thistle FC match programme, 8 February 1969 (via Partick Thistle History Archive)
  11. [11]
    Donnie McKinnon, Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  12. [12]
    Wilson, Stewart (17 September 2023). "Rangers legend Ronnie McKinnon dies aged 83". The Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
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