Euro Whites continues as bwfc.co.uk profile a former Wanderer who captained Scotland the last time they qualified for a major tournament
With Scotland the only home nation not to qualify for Euro 2016 as England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland progress to the knockout stages, bwfc.co.uk profile a former Wanderer who featured in their last European Championships appearance and captained the Tartan Army the last time they reached a major tournament.
COLIN HENDRY
SCOTLAND (1993-2001)
51 CAPS 3 GOALS
European Championships: 1 (EURO 1996)
Best Stage Reached: GROUP STAGES
Tournament Appearances: 3
Tournament Goals: 0
A late bloomer at international level having not made his Scotland debut until he was 27, Colin Hendry captained the Tartan Army the last time they qualified for a major tournament – the 1998 World Cup in France.
Beginning his professional career with Dundee in 1983, the defender moved south of the border in 1987 as he started his first stint with Blackburn Rovers, scoring the winning goal at Wembley in their Full Members Cup Final victory over Charlton Athletic within months of moving to Ewood Park.
Stepping up to the First Division with Manchester City in 1989, Hendry returned to Blackburn two years later, helping Rovers win promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs, with his form earning him a belated international debut against Estonia in May 1993.
A maiden international goal quickly followed in only his third game for Scotland, coming against Malta in the Tartan Army’s final 1994 World Cup qualifier as they missed out on a place in the finals in the United States.
Bouncing back to win the Premiership with Blackburn in 1994/95, Hendry also helped the Scots qualify for Euro 1996. Drawn in a group with hosts England, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the defender helped Scotland open their campaign with a 0-0 draw against the Dutch at Villa Park.
Facing off against the Auld Enemy in their second group game at Wembley, Alan Shearer had already given England the lead before 60 second-half seconds would not only define the game, but provide the goal of the tournament as well as a lasting image of Hendry’s career.
Spurning a chance to net an equaliser as David Seaman kept out Gary McAllister’s penalty, England raced up the other end as Paul Gascoigne found himself in possession in the Scotland penalty area.
Calmly chipping the ball over Hendry’s head to cut inside, the flamboyant playmaker then volleyed home into the bottom corner to hand Terry Venables’ side a 2-0 win.
Despite the loss, Scotland still went into their last game capable of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the tournament as they clashed with Switzerland at Villa Park.
But while Ally McCoist secured a 1-0 victory for the Tartan Army, Patrick Kluivert’s late consolation for the Netherlands in their 4-1 defeat to England saw Scotland suffer a premature exit.
Going on to help Scotland qualify for the 1998 World Cup in France, Hendry captained the Scots in the absence of the injured McAllister.
However, it proved to be a tournament to forget for Scotland as they suffered another group-stage exit, losing narrowly to reigning World Champions and eventual runners-up Brazil in their opening match, before drawing with Norway and being thrashed by Morocco.
Returning to Scotland with Glasgow Rangers that summer, Hendry helped the club win the domestic treble in his first season at Ibrox.
Continuing to captain the Scots in Euro 2000 qualification, he led the Tartan Army to the play-offs where they faced England again, only to lose 2-1 on aggregate and miss out on a place in the finals in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Returning to England with Coventry City, Hendry later joined Bolton Wanderers on loan in December 2000, before the move was made permanent the following February.
Still a part of the Scotland camp as they bid to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, the defender netted a brace in a 4-0 victory over San Marino with his what were his first international goals since his maiden strike in 1993.
However, his international career came to a premature end as he was handed a six-match ban by UEFA for elbowing Nicola Albani in the same game.
Enjoying Play-Off Final success with Wanderers against Preston North End just two months later as they won promotion to the Premiership, the defender finished his playing career with stints at Preston and Blackpool before hanging up his boots at the end of the 2002/03 season.
Embarking on a coaching career since his retirement, Hendry has spent time in the managerial hot-seat at both Blackpool and Clyde, while he was most recently on the books at former club Blackburn, serving as part of their backroom set-up before leaving in June 2014.