Gary Naysmith

Hearts

Naysmith started his senior career with Hearts, whom he joined from local side Whitehill's Colts team. He made his professional debut, aged only 17, several months later in a League Cup tie with Celtic. His opportunity arose from a suspension crisis, the Maroons having no fewer than four defenders (Bruno, Weir, Ritchie and Pointon) sent off in their previous match at Rangers. Despite the patchwork nature of their defence, Hearts defeated Celtic 1–0, with Naysmith earning plaudits for his mature display. Within a year he had established himself as the side's first-choice left back, displacing Neil Pointon, and in 1998 helped the Tynecastle club end their 36-year trophy drought by lifting the Scottish Cup. That season he was also named Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year.

A transitional season followed as the loss of Weir, McCann (both transferred) and Colin Cameron (injured) destabilised the side. Naysmith himself had to adapt to a change in the levels of expectation placed upon him, no longer allowed the defence of youthful naïveté. By the 1999–2000 season he had rediscovered his confidence and was being touted for an international call-up. A particular highlight of that season was his display in a 3–2 defeat of Celtic at Parkhead in February 2000. Hearts had trailed 2–0 before battling back to victory, with Naysmith striking a spectacular equalising goal.

As one of Hearts' most valuable assets, Naysmith was also the subject of transfer speculation. Financial concerns at the club heightened these and in October 2000 it appeared that Naysmith was bound for the West Midlands when Coventry City bid for him. However, their offer was bettered by Everton at the eleventh hour, and Naysmith moved to Merseyside instead, in a £1.7 million deal.

Everton

Naysmith first became a regular under Walter Smith and then remained under his successor David Moyes. His mesmerising early performances cemented his place in Evertonians' hearts, who gave him the nickname "El Blanco Carlos", after the Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos. He made 152 appearances for Everton, scoring six goals, although his Toffees career was disrupted by injury. In December 2002 he was the victim of a "blood curdling, x-rated" tackle by Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. A long term ankle injury in 2005 meant that Naysmith lost his first-team place at Everton to Alessandro Pistone in the 2004–05 season, and in the 2005–06 season Portuguese international Nuno Valente claimed the left back slot at Goodison Park.

Naysmith recovered from ankle surgery in time for the start of the 2006–07 season and an injury to Valente in the season's opening game saw him restored to the starting eleven. He kept his place after Valente returned to fitness, however it was not long before injury befell him again, a medial ligament strain in the game against Newcastle United on 24 September 2006 keeping him out for two months.

At the end of the 2004–05 season, he signed a new three-year contract with the Blues. Naysmith was widely rumoured to be a target for Scottish champions Celtic and German club VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2006. However, David Moyes denied any interest from Celtic and he remained at Everton.

On 5 May 2007, Naysmith scored the third goal in a 3–0 victory over Portsmouth The win practically guaranteed that Everton would be playing in Europe during the 2007–08 season. Naysmith made over 130 Premier League appearances for the Toffees before leaving the club to join Championship side Sheffield United for £1 million in July 2007 as part of an exchange deal with Phil Jagielka.

Sheffield United

As part of the deal that took Phil Jagielka to Goodison Park, Naysmith was given permission to speak to Sheffield United to discuss a possible move. He was signed by The Blades and agreed a three-year deal at Bramall Lane, thus ending a six-and-half-year stay with Everton.

Naysmith made his first team début in the opening game of the 2007–08 season in a 2–2 home draw with Colchester United and quickly cemented his place in the side becoming the first choice at left back throughout the rest of the season. Naysmith started 42 games in his first season, 38 of them in the league.

Naysmith started the 2008–09 season as first choice left back, playing 43 games until he suffered serious cruciate ligament damage which ruled him out for the final weeks of the season, thus missing the club's unsuccessful play-off campaign. He made his first start of the season on the opening day in United's 1–0 loss at Birmingham City. Naysmith started 37 league games and made a further two appearances from the bench.

Due to an injury suffered towards the end of the 2008–09 season, Naysmith missed the majority of the 2009–10 season. He returned to the side in December 2009 and was listed as an unused substitute three times before making a successful return to the side for the last two games of the season, the first in The Blades 2–0 win over Swansea City, the second in their final day 3–0 win over Ipswich Town.

Huddersfield Town

Naysmith rejected a new deal at Bramall Lane, opting to sign a two-year deal with Yorkshire neighbours Huddersfield Town on 4 June 2010 on a free transfer. Naysmith revealed that he turned down offers from Premier League clubs where he would have had the chance to be a squad player to move to the Galpharm Stadium.

He made his Terriers debut in the 3–0 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane on 7 August 2010. He was sent off in his home debut for the Terriers against Tranmere Rovers on 14 August, where the match ended 0–0. He then suffered a toe injury in a League Cup second round 5–1 away loss at former club Everton on 25 August 2010, causing him to miss the next five months of the season, making his return in a 2–0 home win over Carlisle United in the league.

He left the club in June 2012, after not being offered a new contract by the manager, Simon Grayson.

Aberdeen

Naysmith returned to Scotland to train with Aberdeen in July 2012, joining the club on a pre-season tour of Germany. After a successful trial and impressing in games against Werder Bremen and FC St. Pauli, Naysmith signed a one-year deal on 1 August, but expressed a desire to earn an extension beyond the summer. On the opening day of the 2012–13 season, Aberdeen faced SPL champions Celtic. Naysmith was named in the starting team that narrowly lost out 1–0 at Celtic Park. It was announced on 13 May 2013 that Naysmith's contract along with another six players would not be extended.

International career

Naysmith represented Scotland at under-21, B and full international levels. Naysmith made his full Scotland debut in May 2000, in a 2–1 victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. He earned 46 caps between 2000 and 2009. His only international goal came in 2002, during a UEFA Euro 2004 qualification game against Iceland. Naysmith scored the second goal in a 2–0 win, with a right-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Naysmith was a regular for Scotland in their 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. His second cap was in the 1–0 win in Latvia on 2 September 2000, when he came on as a half-time substitute for David Weir. He made his second start for the national team in a 2–0 win away over San Marino on 7 October 2000. He then became first choice left-back for Scotland's games against Croatia, 0–0 at home and 1–1 in Zagreb. He was also left back in their 2–0 defeat in Belgium on 5 September 2001.

Naysmith also represented Scotland B once, in their 2–1 home win over the Northern Ireland B on 20 May 2003.

East Fife

On 31 October 2013 Naysmith agreed to stay with League One East Fife until the end of the season in a player-assistant manager role. When manager Willie Aitchison left the club on 28 November 2013, Naysmith was made caretaker manager, and was subsequently appointed as manager on a permanent basis on 18 December 2013.

On 1 December 2016 and after three and a half seasons as player-manager of part-time club East Fife, Naysmith signed for Scottish Championship club Queen of the South as their new manager to go full-time in Dumfries.

Naysmith's intention was to finish his playing career and his time as the Methil club's player-manager by taking charge of the club's Scottish Cup replay against Edinburgh City on 5 December 2016. However, as the match was postponed until 7 December 2016, Naysmith departed East Fife earlier than planned to be in charge of Queens' league match versus St Mirren on 6 December 2016 instead.

Queen of the South

Naysmith signed a contract with Scottish Championship club Queen of the South on 1 December 2016. After becoming team manager in the following week, Naysmith decided to end his playing career.

International goals

Manager

As of 16 September 2017

Player

Manager