Kenny Miller

Kenny Miller (born 23 December 1979) is a Scottish former football player. He was a centre forward. He is one of only five players to ever play for both Rangers and Celtic, and one of only two to ever cross the divide twice.

Kenny Miller
Miller in 2011
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Miller[1]
Date of birth (1979-12-23) 23 December 1979
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1988–1996 Hutchison Vale[3][4]
1996–1998 Hibernian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Hibernian 45 (12)
1998–1999 → Stenhousemuir (loan) 11 (8)
2000–2001 Rangers 30 (8)
2001 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 5 (2)
2001–2006 Wolverhampton Wanderers 164 (50)
2006–2007 Celtic 33 (11)
2007–2008 Derby County 30 (4)
2008–2011 Rangers 81 (49)
2011 Bursaspor 15 (5)
2011–2012 Cardiff City 43 (10)
2012–2014 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 43 (13)
2014–2018 Rangers 114 (35)
2018 Livingston 2 (0)
2018–2019 Dundee 33 (8)
2019–2020 Partick Thistle 21 (5)
Total 670 (227)
National team
2000–2001 Scotland U21 7 (2)
2003 Scotland B 1 (0)
2001–2013 Scotland 69 (18)
Teams managed
2018 Livingston
2022 Falkirk (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Hibernian

Kenny started his career at Hibernian, and made his debut in the 1997/98 season. He was loaned to Stenhousemuir where he scored 10 goals in 11 games. He spent four years at the club, and was the Scottish Premier League top scorer in season 1999/00 and received the Scottish Young Player of the Year award in 2000.

Rangers

Kenny signed for Rangers for £2 million in June 2000.[5] He made his debut in a 4-1 win against FBK Kaunas on 26 July during a Champions League match.[6] His first goal came on 5 August 2000 during an SPL match away to Kilmarnock, scoring the third in a 4-2 win.[7]

Three months later, Miller netted five goals (a Scottish Premier League record) during a 7-1 home defeat of St. Mirren.[8] More goals against Monaco and Aberdeen meant he had ten goals from just fourteen games. However, until the end of the season, Miller only scored once more, against Brechin City in the Scottish Cup.

In September 2001, he went to Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) on a three-month loan, scoring two goals in his first two games. However, during his third match, Miller broke his shoulder in a fall. During the next two months, Wolves and Rangers had talks over his future. Wolves finally bought him on a permanent deal at a cost of £3 million.[9] Miller had made a total of 38 appearances and scored 11 goals for Rangers.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In 2002/03 Miller was playing most games for Wolves, but he had only managed six goals in 19 games. However, during the final six months of the season he scored 18 goals in his final 24 appearances. He equalled a club record of scoring in six consecutive games. That helped Wolves gain promotion into the English Premier League.

In the summer of the 2005/06 season, the newly promoted Premiership team Sunderland wanted to sign Miller, but Wolves rejected their £1m and £1.2m offers[10] and Miller began the new season as a Wolves player. Miller scored 12 goals, and ended the season as top scorer - the third time in Wolves last three seasons. Miller played more than 190 games for Wolves and scored more than 60 goals during his five years with the club.

Celtic

When Miller's contract finished at the end of that season, he transferred to Celtic for free under special rules, called the Bosman ruling. He signed an agreement in January after refusing to sign a new deal at Wolves a month earlier.[11] Miller became only the third player since the war to have played for both sides of the Old Firm - following Alfie Conn and Maurice Johnston.

Despite being praised by many for his overall performances, Miller failed to score in his first nine games for Celtic. He finally scored his first goal, against Old Firm rivals and former employers Rangers at Celtic Park in September 2006.[12] He then went on to score in Celtic's 1–0 Champions League win against Copenhagen from the penalty spot[13] and scored two in the 3–0 win over Benfica.[14] By scoring in the 2006/07 Champions League season, Miller became the first player to score goals in the Champions League for both Rangers and Celtic. However, he ended the season with only four league goals. He did play in the 2007 Scottish Cup final, before being substituted because of an injury. Despite hints from the player himself that he would leave to get more first-team opportunities, Miller vowed to stay at the club and fight for his place at the club. Miller scored his first goal in his first appearance of the 2007/08 season in a 4–1 victory over Falkirk and added to his collection the following week by scoring against Aberdeen. He scored 11 goals in total for the club in 46 appearances.

Derby County

Miller signed a three year deal with newly promoted English Premier League club Derby County on 31 August 2007 for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £3 million, but later confirmed by Derby County manager Paul Jewell to be closer to £2.25m.[15]

Miller started well at his new club, scoring in his first two home matches, including the winner on his league debut for the Rams against Newcastle United in a 1–0 win on 17 September 2007, a strike which won the club's Goal Of The Season award. However, following this initial success Miller netted just twice in his next 28 league fixtures.

With Derby looking like they would be relegated Miller said he would like to move just over 6 months after joining the club - with a return to Rangers his preferred destination,[16] though his manager Jewell insisted any move would have to be financially fair for Derby.[15]

Return to Rangers

A fee of £2m was agreed between Rangers and Derby allowing Miller to move back to Ibrox.[17] The deal was completed on 13 June.[18] Miller's return to Ibrox means he is one of only a few players to cross the Old Firm divide twice.[19]

Miller made his second debut for the club on 30 July 2008 in a UEFA Champions League qualifier gainst FBK Kaunas.[20] He scored in the first Old Firm game of the season on 31 August 2008.[21] He followed this up with a further two goals against former employers Hibernian at Easter Road on 28 September 2008, then adding his sixth goal back in a Rangers shirt at Rugby Park in a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

International career

Since making his Scotland national team debut in 2001, Miller has remained a player in the Scotland team under the management of Berti Vogts, Walter Smith and Alex McLeish.

He has scored goals in crucial games against several teams, including Germany and Ukraine. In 2005, Miller scored in three consecutive internationals, with goals against Austria, Italy and Norway.

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[22][23][24][25][26][27]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[lower-alpha 1]League cup[lower-alpha 2]ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hibernian 1997–98 Scottish Premier Division 700000——70
1998–99 Scottish First Division 710010——81
1999–2000 Scottish Premier League 31115121——3813
Total 4512513100005314
Stenhousemuir (loan) 1998–99 Scottish Third Division 1182200——1310
Rangers2000–01Scottish Premier League27831114[lower-alpha 3]1—3511
2001–02 Scottish Premier League 30000000—30
Total 308311141003811
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2001–02 First Division 2221000—2[lower-alpha 4]0252
2002–03 First Division 43194321—3[lower-alpha 4]15224
2003–04 Premier League 2523221——305
2004–05 Championship 44192011——4720
2005–06 Championship 35102022——3912
Total 1695212575005119363
Celtic 2006–07 Scottish Premier League 31441108[lower-alpha 5]3—448
2007–08 Scottish Premier League 23000000—23
Total 337411083004611
Derby County 2007–08 Premier League 3043200——336
Rangers 2008–09 Scottish Premier League 301053102[lower-alpha 5]0—3813
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 331862115[lower-alpha 5]0—4521
2010–11 Scottish Premier League 182100106[lower-alpha 5]1—2522
Total 8149115311310010856
Bursaspor 2010–11 Süper Lig 15500—0000155
Cardiff City 2011–12 Championship 43100051—2[lower-alpha 4]05011
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2012MLS 13200——1[lower-alpha 6]0142
2013 MLS 21810———228
2014 MLS 9300——00103
Total 4313100000104513
Rangers 2014–15 Scottish Championship 2773020—10[lower-alpha 7]2429
2015–16 Scottish Championship 32146221—3[lower-alpha 8]44321
2016–17 Scottish Premiership 37114360——4714
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 18320112[lower-alpha 5]1—235
Total 114351551122113615549
Livingston 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 200051——71
Dundee 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 3382000——358
Partick Thistle 2019–20 Scottish Championship 2152063—323210
Career total 67021660224215276249823268
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Cup, FA Cup, and Canadian Championship
  2. Appearances in the EFL Cup and Scottish League Cup
  3. Appearances in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.
  4. Appearances in the Championship playoffs
  5. Appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
  6. Appearance in the MLS Cup playoffs
  7. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and Scottish Championship playoffs. Miller has been credited as making four appearances for Rangers in the Scottish Challenge Cup, however, only three appearances have been recorded by media sources, including the club's website and BBC
  8. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland 200110
2002—
200372
200490
200584
200643
200761
200851
200960
201051
201174
201271
201341
Total6918
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Miller goal.
List of international goals scored by Kenny Miller
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
129 March 2003Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Iceland1–02–1Euro 2004 qualification
27 June 2003 Germany1–11–1
317 August 2005Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadion, Graz, Austria Austria1–02–2Friendly
43 September 2005Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Italy1–01–12006 World Cup qualification
57 September 2005Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway Norway1–02–1
62–0
71 March 2006Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Switzerland1–21–3Friendly
82 September 2006Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland Faroe Islands4–06–0Euro 2008 qualification
96 September 2006Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania Lithuania2–02–1
1013 October 2007Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Ukraine1–03–1
1126 March 2008 Croatia1–11–1Friendly
127 September 2010 Liechtenstein1–12–1Euro 2012 qualification
139 February 2011Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Northern Ireland1–03–02011 Nations Cup
1425 May 2011 Wales2–13–1
153 September 2011Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Czech Republic1–02–2Euro 2012 qualification
1611 November 2011Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus Cyprus1–02–1Friendly
1711 September 2012Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Macedonia1–11–12014 World Cup Qualification
1814 August 2013Wembley Stadium, London, England England2–12–3Friendly

Manager
As of matches played 4 May 2022
TeamFromToRecordRef.
GWDLWin %
Livingston30 June 201819 August 2018 7322042.86 [28]
Falkirk (caretaker)14 April 20224 May 2022 3111033.33 [28]
Total 10433040.00 —

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • Football League First Division play-offs: 2003[29]

Celtic

Rangers

  • Scottish Premier League: 2008–09,[32] 2009–10,[33] 2010–11[note 1]
  • Scottish Championship: 2015–16[34] (second tier)
  • Scottish Cup: 2008–09[35]
  • Scottish League Cup: 2009–10[36]
  • Scottish Challenge Cup: 2015–16[37]

Cardiff City

Individual

  • SPFA Young Player of the Year: 1999–2000
  • Scottish FA International Roll of Honour: 2010[39]
  • Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: April 2010,[40] August 2010,[41] September 2010[42]
  • Scottish Championship Player of the Month: January 2016[43]
  • Scottish Premier League Golden Boot: 2010–11[44]
  • Rangers FC Supporters' Player of the Year: 2016–17[45]
  • Rangers FC Players' Player of the Year: 2016–17[45]
  • Rangers FC Goal of the Season: 2016–17[45]

Notes
  1. Miller left Rangers on 21 January 2011, but he made enough league appearances in 2010–11 to qualify for a winners' medal.

References
  1. "Kenny Miller". Barry Hugman's Footballers.
  2. "Kenny Miller". Rangers FC. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. "Smith reveals ethos behind Hutchie success". The Scotsman. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. "Ex Hutchison Vale Players Now Senior Clubs". Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale F.C. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  5. "Rangers conclude Miller deal". BBC Sport website. 26 June 2000.
  6. "Rangers 4-1 FBK Kaunas". Soccerbase. 26 July 2000.
  7. "Kilmarnock 2-4 Rangers". Soccerbase. 5 August 2000.
  8. "Rangers 7-1 St Mirren". Soccerbase. 4 November 2000.
  9. "Wolves seal Miller deal". BBC Sport website. 13 December 2001.
  10. "McCarthy drops interest in Miller". BBC Sport website. 6 July 2005.
  11. "Celtic sign ex-Rangers man Miller". BBC Sport website. 19 January 2006.
  12. "Celtic 2-0 Rangers". BBC Sport website. 23 September 2006.
  13. "Celtic 1-0 Copenhagen". BBC Sport website. 26 September 2006.
  14. "Celtic 3-0 Benfica". BBC Sport website. 17 October 2006.
  15. "Jewell Demands Fair Miller Price". BBC Sport. 6 March 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  16. "Miller would relish Ibrox return". BBC Sport. 10 February 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  17. "Rangers close in on Miller deal". BBC Sport website. 2008-06-10.
  18. "Miller makes way back to Gers". BBC Sport website. 13 June 2008.
  19. "Miller to follow in 100-year-old footsteps" DailyRecord.co.uk (28 May 2008)
  20. "Rangers 0-0 FBK Kaunas" BBC Sport website (30 July 2008)
  21. "Celtic 2-4 Rangers" BBC Sport website (31 August 2008)
  22. "Hibernian Player Kenny Miller Details". fitbastats.com.
  23. "Kenny Miller – Football Stats – Soccer Base". soccerbase.com.
  24. "Rangers Player Kenny Miller Details". fitbastats.com.
  25. "Celtic Player Kenny Miller Details". fitbastats.com.
  26. "Kenny Miller » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  27. "K. Miller". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  28. "Managers: Kenny Miller". Soccer Base. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  29. "Wolves back in big time". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 May 2003.
  30. Moffat, Colin (22 April 2007). "Kilmarnock 1–2 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC.
  31. Taylor, Julian (26 May 2007). "Dunfermline Athletic 1–0 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC.
  32. Campbell, Andy (24 May 2009). "Dundee United 0–3 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC.
  33. Campbell, Andy (25 April 2010). "Hibernian 0–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC.
  34. Burke, Andy (5 April 2016). "Rangers 1–0 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  35. Moffat, Colin (30 May 2009). "Rangers 1–0 Falkirk". BBC Sport. BBC.
  36. Campbell, Andy (21 March 2010). "St Mirren 0–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC.
  37. English, Tom (10 April 2016). "Rangers 4–0 Peterhead". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  38. "Starting Lineups - Cardiff vs Liverpool". Sky Sports. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  39. "Scotland's Kenny Miller retires from international football". BBC Sport. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  40. "Kenny Miller named top SPL player for April". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 May 2010.
  41. "August awards for Rangers boss Smith and striker Miller". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 September 2010.
  42. "Rangers striker Kenny Miller named player of month". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  43. "Rangers duo pick up monthly Championship awards". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 February 2016.
  44. "Miller Collects Golden Boot". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  45. Player of the Year: Kenny Miller, Rangers FC, 24 April 2017
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