The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Legend’ hanging up boots with no regrets: Smith
Gordon Smith believes Kris Boyd will be hanging up his boots with no regrets despite his meagre tally of Scotland caps.
The Kilmarnock frontman and the Scottish Professional Football League’s all-time top scorer with 222 top-flight goals, is to retire at the age of 35.
Kilmarnock said in a statement released yesterday: “The club can confirm that our club captain and legendary striker Kris Boyd has signalled his intention to retire from professional football.
“Kris will rightly be regarded as a Kilmarnock legend and everyone at the club wishes him all the very best in his future career.
“It may be a long time before we see his like again and Kris will always be welcomed back to Rugby Park with open arms. Thanks for everything Boydy.”
The former Rangers striker won two league titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups during his first goal-laden Ibrox stint before moving on to spells with Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Eskisehirspor and Portland Timbers.
Yet Smith still reckons the Tartan Army were short-changed by seeing Boyd win just 18 caps for his country.
The former Scottish Football Association chief executive was in charge at Hampden in 2008 when Boyd announced he would no longer represent Scotland while George Burley was in charge.
He did return a year later after Craig Levein took over but made just three more international appearances. However, with a cabinet packed with medals and goal records, Smith does not believe Boyd will be looking back and thinking ‘what if?’
He said: “Kris was obviously a bit frustrated by how things were going under George but I think he could maybe have done a bit more for Scotland.
“Scotland were going through a little bad spell at the time but I was disappointed Kris didn’t play as I felt he had something to offer.
“However, he had a career and international football.
“Kris has won trophies at the highest level with Rangers and scored a lot of goals, so when he looks back I think that he will be pretty proud of what he’s done.”