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James "Jim" Leighton MBE (born 24 July 1958 in Johnstone, Renfrewshire) is a Scottish former football goalkeeper. Among the clubs he played for are Aberdeen (two spells), Manchester United, Arsenal, Dundee and Hibernian. ==Club career== Leighton joined Aberdeen from non-league Dalry Thistle in 1978. Leighton achieved his greatest success under the management of Alex Ferguson in the early to mid-1980s. Ferguson's Aberdeen side won the Scottish Cup four times, the Scottish League Cup twice, as well as the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983 and three Premier Division titles in 1980, 1984 and 1985. Leighton's reliability and terrific will to win gained respect from players and pundits everywhere. English keeper Peter Shilton said of him: "Scotland have solved their goalkeeper problem." Even the outspoken Brian Clough said: "Jim Leighton is a rare bird – a Scottish goalkeeper that can be relied on." Alex Ferguson had departed to Manchester United in 1986, and two years later Ferguson brought him from Pittodrie to Old Trafford for £500,000. His first season at Old Trafford was relatively successful, even though United finished 11th in the league, as he conceded just 35 league goals and kept 14 clean sheets. However, his lack of confidence during 1989–90 let both his team mates and himself down as United finished 13th in the league, although they did reach the FA Cup final – their first major final in five years. His erratic form in the league was particularly evident when United were defeated 5–1 by newly-promoted neighbours Manchester City, 3–0 by Aston Villa on Boxing Day, and then 4–0 by Nottingham Forest in the penultimate league game of the season. This culminated in him being dropped in favour of Les Sealey for the 1990 FA Cup Final replay against Crystal Palace. Leighton had conceded three goals in the first match as United drew 3–3, and Sealey made a series of spectacular saves as United won the replay 1–0. Sealey retained the position of first choice goalkeeper for the following season and Leighton faded from view, eventually returning to Scottish football with Dundee in March 1992, after loan spells with Arsenal, Reading and Sheffield United. After the 1990 FA Cup Final, Leighton made just one appearance for United, against Halifax Town in the Football League Cup on 26 September 1990. A move to Hibernian led to a hugely successful spell where he played over 150 games, missing only one league game in four seasons. The revival in his fortunes included a return to the Scottish national team. During his spell with Hibernian he collected 23 of his 91 Scotland caps. Finally Leighton returned to Aberdeen, retiring from club football after the 2000 Scottish Cup Final defeat against Rangers. This match marked a sad end to a distinguished career, as he was substituted due to injury after just three minutes. With no substitute goalkeeper available, forward Robbie Winters took over in goal and Aberdeen lost 4–0. Leighton's final league appearance that season meant that he set the record for the oldest player in the Scottish Premier League at 41 years and 302 days, a record which was broken by Andy Millen in 2007.〔(Millen confirmed as SPL's oldest ), BBC Sport, 14 May 2007〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Jim Leighton」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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