Having joined his home-town Dundee United, while still only 16, Christian Dailly was in the first team within three weeks. After six seasons at Tannadice, he left Scotland for a long career in the Football League, interrupted only by 18 months with Rangers. By the time he arrived at Championship Southampton, just before his 34th birthday, in 2007, Christian had played almost 300 League games, more than half of them for West Ham, and had collected 63 Scotland caps (he would eventually win 67, to make him the sixth most-capped Scot).

George Burley took him on a one-month loan that would be extended to two, in a quest to steady a defense depleted by injuries to Claus Lundekvam, Chris Makin and Darren Powell.

When Andrew Davies arrived from Middlesbrough, Christian’s job was done and he returned to Upton Park, pending his move to Ibrox. He was back in London in 2009, for two seasons in League One with Charlton. He made but five appearances in 2011-12, shared between Portsmouth and Southend. Whereupon, he concentrated on becoming qualified – with a Sports Science degree and his coaching badges. His son Harvey made his debut for Dundee United in 2017 before moving on to Brechin City.