Willie Miller

Infobox Football biography
playername = Willie Miller


fullname = William Ferguson Miller MBE
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1955|5|2
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
height =
nickname =
position = Central Defender
currentclub =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1972-1990
clubs = Aberdeen
caps(goals) = 558 0(20)
nationalyears = 1975-1989
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 065 00(1)
manageryears = 1992-1995
managerclubs = Aberdeen

William Ferguson Miller, MBE (born May 2, 1955 in Glasgow) is a former professional football player who made a club record 558 league appearances for Aberdeen. Miller won 65 international caps for Scotland, which means that he is a member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame. Sir Alex Ferguson described Miller as "the best penalty box defender in the world". [Harry Reid (2005), "The Final Whistle?", Birlinn, 237-8 ISBN 1-84158-362-6]

Miller signed for Aberdeen at the age of seventeen and was made captain four years later. His central defensive partnership with Alex McLeish was integral to Aberdeen's great success in the 1980s, as they won all the major domestic honours and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1983. He retired from playing in 1990 due to an injury picked up whilst playing for Scotland.

In February 1992, he was appointed Aberdeen manager, but despite two second-place finishes in the league and two losing cup finals, Willie was sacked in February 1995. He has since worked for the BBC as a football commentator and analyst. Miller was subsequently appointed to the Aberdeen board in May 2004 and given executive responsibility for football. He played a large role in the appointment of Jimmy Calderwood as manager.

References