David Weir (Scottish footballer)
David Gillespie Weir (born 10 May 1970) is a Scottish football coach and former professional player who is the technical director of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
|
Weir in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Gillespie Weir | ||
| Date of birth | 10 May 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Falkirk, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1992 | Evansville Purple Aces | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1996 | Falkirk | 133 | (8) |
| 1996–1999 | Heart of Midlothian | 76 | (6) |
| 1999–2007 | Everton | 235 | (10) |
| 2007–2012 | Rangers | 162 | (4) |
| Total | 606 | (28) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997–2010 | Scotland | 69 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2013 | Sheffield United | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Falkirk, Weir played as a defender, and began his professional career with his home-town club, Falkirk, after having attended the University of Evansville in the United States. After four seasons with the Bairns, Weir then moved on to Heart of Midlothian where he won the 1998 Scottish Cup. He joined Everton in 1999 and spent seven years with the club, becoming club captain under two different managers. Weir then moved to Rangers in 2007 and became club captain after Barry Ferguson was stripped of the role in April 2009. Weir called time on his playing career in May 2012.
Weir won his first cap for the Scotland national team in 1997 and was selected for their 1998 FIFA World Cup squad. He retired from international football in 2002, when Berti Vogts was the manager, but returned when Walter Smith took charge in 2004. Weir became the oldest Scotland player when he played in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches in 2010. He finished his international career with 69 caps, which makes him Scotland's seventh-most capped player.
Weir had a brief spell as manager of Sheffield United in 2013. He has since assisted Mark Warburton at Brentford, Rangers and Nottingham Forest.