Richard Gough (soccer)

Charles Richard Gough (born April 5, 1962, in Stockholm, Sweden) is a former Scottish football central defender who enjoyed great success as captain of Rangers before entering management. He also played for the Scottish national team.

Born to a Scottish father and Swedish mother, Gough grew up in South Africa and began his career playing with the Wits University club. Looking to build a career in British football, Gough went on trial to Rangers, butwas turned down. After that he was provisionally signed by Charlton Athletic, for whom his father Charlie had played. After returning to South Africa, he finally secured the move he wanted when he was signed by Scottish Premier Division team Dundee United in 1980. He played for Dundee United for 6 seasons, finishing with 23 goals in 165 appearances and helping them to the League title in 1982-83. In 1986, Gough was sold to English First Division club Tottenham Hotspur for £750,000, where he would play for only slightly over a year. Midway through the 1987-88 season, Gough returned to Scotland, joining the prestigious Rangers becoming the first Scottish play to be signed for over £1,000,000, where he would remain until 1997, captaining the side that achieved nine consecutive League titles.

In 1997, Gough left the United Kingdom to go play in the United States' nascent professional league, Major League Soccer. Gough remained in the league for two seasons, the first with the Kansas City Wizards, the second with the San Jose Clash; although Gough only played intermittently in those two seasons, totalling 2 goals and 2 assists in only 36 games, he was named to the MLS Best XI for his 1997 season with the Wizards.

Gough returned to Rangers after the 1997 MLS season, and would play with the club for one more season. In all, he played 318 league games with Rangers, scoring 26 goals. He then linked up with former boss at Rangers, Walter Smith when he played a season for Everton. He also had a brief stint with Nottingham Forest.

Gough was also a mainstay on the Scotland national team in the 1980s. He made his debut against Switzerland in 1983, and went on to gain 61 caps. His international career was ended prematurely, however, after he was critical of coaches Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown and withdrew himself from further selection.

On November 30, 2004 Gough landed his first managerial job with Scottish Premier League team Livingston. However, he resigned in May 2005, despite saving the club from relegation.