Players - Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson
Birthdate: 27 December 1991
Birthplace: Livingston, Scotland
Other clubs: Rangers (2008-10), Blackpool (loan 2012), Bristol City (loan 2012), Hearts (loan 2013), Hearts (2013-15), Rangers (2/ 2015-18), Colorado Rapids (2018-24), Queens Park (2024-)
Signed from: Rangers
Signed for LFC: £2m, 21.07.2010
International debut: 16.11.2010 vs. Faroe Islands
International caps: 4/1 - 27.03.2011
Liverpool debut: 22.09.2010
Last appearance: 24.08.2011
Contract expiry: 01.07.2013
Win ratio: 22.22% W:2 D:4 L:3
League games / goals / assists: 2 / 0 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 9 / 0 / 0

Player Profile

"Liverpool can't win the League without a Scotsman in their side." Reds have heard that quite often, but the thing is... it's the God's honest truth. Liverpool have always had great Scottish influence in their side from the Team of Macs in 1892 to Alex Raisbeck, who was Liverpool's captain when the Reds won their first two championships in 1901 and 1906. Jock McNab and Donald Mackinlay were the mainstay of Liverpool's defence in the side that won two years in a row in the 20's. Billy Liddell was Liverpool's most dangerous weapon in 1947 and Bill Shankly based his championship teams on Ian St John and Ron Yeats. The holy trinity of Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen achieved unparallel success in the club's history from the late 70's all the way to Liverpool's latest championship in 1990.

With just a single season of professional football behind him, Wilson became Liverpool’s fourth acquisition during the summer of 2010 when he left Glasgow Rangers and signed a three-year deal with Liverpool. The defender came through the youth system at Rangers, was captain of their Under-19 team and tipped to have a big future in the game before he had even made the professional debut that eventually came in a Scottish League Cup tie against Dundee in October 2009. Wilson became the youngest-ever player to represent Rangers in the Champions League when he was handed a start in an away match at Unirea Urziceni a month later. Wilson made 24 first-team appearances for the Glasgow club in 2009/10, scoring once in a victory over Hearts in Edinburgh. Despite his youth and comparative inexperience, he not only won the Young Player of the Year award voted for by Rangers’ supporters but was also crowned as Young Player of the Year by both the Scottish Football Writers’ Association and the Scottish Professional Footballers’ Association. He also won the Scottish Premier League and Co-operative Insurance Cup with Rangers. Not bad for a first season!

The 18-year-old was offered the biggest ever financial deal for a player in his age group at Ibrox, £12,000 a week, a considerable rise from £700 a year previously, upon signing a new contract at Rangers which had only one year left. Rangers were reluctant to let WIlson go who moved south to England with his career still in its infancy. Four months later Wilson made his debut for Scotland's senior squad in a friendly at Aberdeen's Pittodrie stadium against the Faroe Islands. He started the match and scored the opening goal in a 3-0 victory. Wilson would have no doubt hoped to play in Liverpool's first team more than the eight appearances he managed in his first season; two in the Premier League, five in the Europa League and 1 in the League Cup. Unfortunately for him he was involved way less in his second season.

Centre-half Wilson was said to be a very mature player but it quickly became evident that he had a lot to learn and the presence of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger kept out of the first 11. He was now mainly used in the unfamiliar role of left-back. The Daily Record sports journalist, Gordon Parks, reckoned when Wilson moved to Liverpool that he had "the potential to become the outstanding young Scottish defender of his generation." However, he also added: "He may take time to find his way at Liverpool but the fans will see a youngster of genuine class. They will appreciate his ability to use the ball from the back which is a trademark of the Liverpool style." Wilson was loaned out to Championship club Blackpool on 31 December 2011 where he made only four League appearances plus a further four in the FA Cup. On 22 November 2012 Wilson joined Championship club Bristol City on a two-month emergency loan. On 18 January 2013 Wilson moved, again on loan, to Edinburgh club Hearts for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.

Wilson impressed on loan at Hearts and at the end of the 2012/13 season, with his contract at Liverpool expired, he signed a three-year contract to remain at the Edinburgh club. The Scottish Premier League initially refused to ratify this contract because the Edinburgh club was in administration and therefore barred from signing new players. But this decision was rescinded at the end of June 2013, leaving Wilson free to sign a permanent deal with Hearts. He was relegated with the Edinburgh side but helped them back up to the Premiership at the first attempt, but rejoined his first club Rangers in the summer of 2015, helping them to promotion back to the Scottish Premiership. With his contract approaching its end, he left in January 2018 and signed a three year deal with MLS side Colorado Rapids. He had a reasonable first campaign there, playing 23 times in the MLS and only missing out when ill or injured. In 2019 he was mainly used as a defensive midfielder, scoring twice in twenty games and he stayed with Rapids for the Covid hit 2020 season as well as 2021 when he remained an integral part of the side. In February 2024, Wilson returned to Scotland, joining Queens Park.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 2 0 2 5 0 9
2010-2011 2 0 1 5 0 8
2011-2012 0 0 1 0 0 1
2012-2013 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
2 180 Sparta Prague
1 120 Northampton Town
1 90 Exeter City
1 90 Steaua Bucharest
1 90 Utrecht
1 90 Braga
1 90 West Ham United
1 65 WBA
Total Started/substitutions
8 Started
19 On the bench
1 Substitute
0 Substituted
Total Venue
5 Away
4 Home
Total Competition
5 Europa League
2 League Cup
2 Premier League
Total W D L Win % Manager
6 2 2 2 33.3% Kenny Dalglish
3 0 2 1 0% Roy Hodgson
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 22.09.2010 Northampton Town Anfield League Cup
Related Articles
An insight into Danny Wilson, a potential Liverpool FC star

"Liverpool can't win the League without a Scotsman in their side." Reds have heard that quite often, but the thing is... it's the God's honest truth.

Wilson will shine for Reds

Liverpoolfc.tv caught up with Daily Record sports journalist Gordon Parks to get the lowdown on the 18-year-old defender.

Danny Wilson already feels at home at Liverpool

Interview with Danny Wilson from Scottish Herald on 10th August 2010.

Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Rangers 2009-2010 Scotland Premiership 14 0 21 0
Blackpool 2011-2012 England Championship 6 0 10 0
Bristol City 2012-2013 England Championship 1 0 1 0
Hearts 2012-2013 Scotland Premiership 13 0 15 0
Hearts 2013-2014 Scotland Premiership 32 3 37 4
Hearts 2014-2015 Scotland Championship 31 5 33 5
Rangers 2015-2016 Scotland Championship 30 1 39 1
Rangers 2016-2017 Scotland 1 22 0 27 0
Rangers 2017-2018 Scotland 1 14 3 15 3
Colorado Rapids 2018 United States 1 23 0 24 0
Colorado Rapids 2019 United States 1 20 2 21 2
Colorado Rapids 2020 United States 1 8 0 10 0
Colorado Rapids 2021 USA 1 29 2 30 2
Colorado Rapids 2022 USA 1 26 0 29 0
Colorado Rapids 2 2022 USA 3 1 0 1 0
Colorado Rapids 2023 USA 1 29 1 33 1
Total 299 17 346 18