Jim Leighton

Jim Leighton
MBE

Leighton in 2009
Personal information
Full name	James Leighton[1]
Date of birth	(1958-07-24) 24 July 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth	Johnstone, Scotland
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Eastercraigs Boys Club[3]
	Dalry Thistle
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1977–1988	Aberdeen	301	(0)
1977–1978	→ Deveronvale (loan)
1988–1992	Manchester United	73	(0)
1991	→ Arsenal (loan)	0	(0)
1991–1992	→ Reading (loan)	8	(0)
1992–1993	Dundee	21	(0)
1993	→ Sheffield United (loan)	0	(0)
1993–1997	Hibernian	151	(0)
1997–2000	Aberdeen	82	(0)
Total		636	(0)
International career
1982	Scotland U21[4]	2	(0)
1982–1998	Scotland	91	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Leighton MBE (born 24 July 1958) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Leighton started his career with Aberdeen, where he won seven domestic trophies and the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup under the management of Alex Ferguson. Ferguson then signed Leighton for Manchester United in 1988, but dropped him after he conceded three goals in the 1990 FA Cup Final. Leighton then had spells with Arsenal, Reading, Dundee and Sheffield United, and rebuilt his career after joining Hibernian in 1993. He returned to Aberdeen in 1997, leading to a career total of over 600 appearances in the league alone.

Leighton played in 91 international matches for Scotland. He was chosen for Scotland's FIFA World Cup squads in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1998, playing in the latter three of those tournaments.