David Marshall joins Football Careers as Brand Ambassador

All good things must come to an end… but Scotland hero David Marshall isn’t counting down the days just yet.

At 38, the Hibernian keeper still has plenty of unfinished business before he packs away his gloves.

Marsh has already taken steps to prepare for his post-playing career. He has joined Football Careers as a Brand Ambassador, is currently completing a Master’s degree in Sports Directorship, is in demand as an expert TV pundit and is continuing to add to his UEFA coaching qualifications.

But although he has one eye on the future, his sights are firmly fixed on the season ahead – one that he believes could be huge for the Easter Road club. He said:

“This is a big campaign for us, starting with the Conference League on 27th July, and after the disappointment of early Cup exists last year, we are determined to get the season off to a good start.

“We’ve gone through a transitional period, with three managers in a short space of time, but things now feel a lot more settled.

“Of course, it’s difficult to break the stranglehold of Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, but a club like Hibs should always be challenging for third place, along with the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts. So that’s one target, and doing well in the Cups is another.

“Hibs fans have enjoyed a few great Cup runs over recent years and we want to give them more enjoyment this season.

“From a personal point of view, I just want to carry on playing at a high level for as long as I can. I haven’t set any date for retiring but I’ll know when the time is right.”

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When that time does come, Marshall plans to continue his involvement in football, but hasn’t yet decided on a definite route for the next leg of his long journey in the game.

In his new ambassadorial role with Football Careers, he will utilise his network of contacts to promote the company brand and will provide assistance and support as we look to expand our business operations within the football recruitment sector. He said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Football Careers. I’ve known the directors of the company for many years and I have always been impressed by the quality of the service they provide, from designing bespoke CVs and raising social media profiles to working with clubs on the recruitment side of things.

“For players at the end of their careers who are making the transition into coaching, or other aspects of the game, Football Careers can play a big role in helping them with the next stage in their careers. I’ve consistently recommended the company to many players over the years because I know the level of service they will get, so it’s great to come on board as an Ambassador.”

“I’m also due to finish my degree in Sports Directorship in December, which is something I’ve really enjoyed. It’s taken me out of my comfort zone and I’ve learned so much about many different aspects of football. I’m sure it’ll stand me in good stead when I do eventually retire and start looking toward what I want to do in the future. Being involved in recruitment, or staying in the game as a Sporting Director, is definitely something that interests me.

“I certainly haven’t ruled out a coaching role either. I’ve got my UEFA B Licence and I am completing my Goalkeeping Coaching A Licence, so there are a few options further down the line. In the meantime, though, my full concentration will be on playing and making sure I remain first-choice keeper at Hibs.”

One of the new Hibees keepers aiming to snatch that No1 shirt is Polish youngster Max Boruc, whose cousin Artur was partly responsible for ending Marshall’s spell at first club Celtic in 2007. Marsh said:

“Working with Max brings back memories from a few years back. His cousin was probably the reason I left Celtic! Artur came into the club and was exceptional – one of the best I’ve ever worked with. He quickly became a mainstay of the team and that limited my chances, so I felt it was time to move on.

“So it’s interesting that his cousin has now joined Hibs. Mind you, he’s a completely different character to Artur, much more relaxed. I’ll also have competition from Jojo Wollacott this season, so I need to make sure I’m at the top of my game.”

Marshall is entering the 22nd season of a stellar career jam-packed with memorable highlights and bookended by two standout moments – a stunning UEFA Cup clean sheet for Celtic against Barcelona in the Nou Camp when he was just 19 and the decisive penalty save in Scotland’s shoot-out victory over Serbia that clinched a place in Euro 2020 and ended the nation’s 22-year absence from major international tournaments.

In between times, he has starred for Cardiff City, Norwich City, Hull City. Wigan Athletic, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, winning 47 Scotland caps along the way before retiring from international football after the doomed 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

“I felt the time was right to call it a day then,” he explained. “I’d been playing in England for a few years, with my family back home in Glasgow, and it would have been a big commitment to go through another two-year campaign. But I’m thrilled to see how well the national team is doing. It’s a great group of lads and they’ve had a fantastic start to the Euro 2024 campaign. We’ll definitely make it to the Finals in Germany next year.

“I have no regrets about not being part of that. I loved my time with Scotland and it was brilliant to finally reach a major tournament in 2020, albeit it was during the Covid pandemic so somehow it didn’t feel like a proper Euros.

“The next one will, though, and I’m looking forward to being part of the Tartan Army in Germany. What an experience that will be. I think the whole of Scotland will be planning to head over for this tournament and I can’t wait to take my kids to the games.”

Not surprisingly, that penalty save against Serbia will forever be etched in the memory of the big keeper, whose belated celebrations as he waited for VAR confirmation that he hadn’t strayed from his line were replayed over and over again in the months that followed. He said:

“It’s definitely one of the highlights of my career. We knew how much it meant to the nation and it was such a big deal to finally make it to a major tournament. It was a special moment and the start of something really good.

“Football is all about memories and I’ve been lucky to have a lot of great memories from my career. As a Celtic fan growing up, it was just a thrill to be able to pull on the jersey, and that game in Barcelona was a huge moment for me. People still ask me about it 20 years on. Playing for Celtic in big European games, and in Old Firm games, were occasions that are hard to top.

“Cardiff also gave me some great memories. I played the best football of my career there and it was brilliant to be part of the first-ever Cardiff team to reach the Premier League. That was a really special time for the club. I’ve been fortunate to avoid serious injuries and that’s given me a long career in the game. And I’ve been fortunate to play with and against some great players.”

So who were the greatest of those teammates and opponents?

“Henrik Larsson, no question,” says Marshall. “He was head and shoulders above everyone – just a phenomenal player. It’s rare to have a world-class player playing in Scotland while they’re still in their prime, but Henrik was at his peak when he was at Celtic and he was an unbelievable player. His performance on the night of the UEFA Cup Final in Seville was possibly the best individual performance I’ve ever seen.

“In terms of players I’ve come up against, there are just so many. With Scotland, I played against the German team who had just won the World Cup and they were fantastic. And in England, the likes of Drogba, Rooney, and Gerrard stand out. Then there’s the Barcelona team from 2004 with superstars like Ronaldhino and Xavi.

“Maybe my one regret is that I didn’t get the chance to play against Messi, but he was too young for that Barca team. And that doesn’t half make me feel old!”

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