David Goodwillie

At 35 years old, David Goodwillie has this physical status:

Club career

Goodwillie was playing for Carse Thistle in his hometown Stirling before moving to Dundee as a 14-year-old in 2003, having been spotted competing in a Scottish Youth FA trial in Dundee. Goodwillie continued in Duncan Ferguson's footsteps in signing with Carse Thistle, who also played for the Stirling-based boys team. Goodwillie played for the first team in the City of Discovery Cup in July 2005, earning him his 77th spot in the tournament.

In March 2005, he began working for United in commercial capacity. Goodwillie made his competitive debut for United on December 31, 2005, appearing as a late replacement in the loss to Rangers at Ibrox. Goodwillie came off the bench to score a late goal against Hibernian at Easter Road on March 4, 2006, his fifth appearance for United. During the 2005-06 season, Goodwillie made ten substitute appearances for the United Kingdom's first team, the majority of which came in the final few minutes of each match.

Goodwilie agreed to a new deal until May 2010 and the club's first match against Falkirk was on October 2006. Goodwillie's under new manager Craig Levein's second month, the strikers' injuries aided them in their first two months. Following a few signings in January, he became largely an unused substitute for the remainder of the 2006–07 season, with just six times since New Year.

Goodwillie made two substitute appearances during the 2007–08 season, then joined Scottish Second Division side Raith Rovers on a two-month loan in November 2007, which was then extended until the end of the season. Goodwillie scored nine goals in 21 league appearances for the Kirkcaldy side.

In the early rounds of the 2008–09 League Cup, he appeared for Dundee United, scoring three times against lower league opponents. He scored a last-minute equalizer against Hibernian at Tannadice, then netting against Hibernian later this season and also against Aberdeen. Goodwillie was arrested in September 2009 after a nightclub doorman was knocked unconscious. Goodwillie was fined £200 for his role in the incident two months later. Peter Houston, the boss of Dundee United, put Goodwillie under "house arrest" policy in order to prevent more trouble.

Goodwillie began as a regular starter for United in the 2009–2010 season, scoring three goals in the first five games of the season. Goodwillie's efforts were honoured with the Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Year award by mid-April, scoring twelve goals by mid-April. United defeated Ross County by 3–0 in May 2010. Goodwillie scored the first goal in May 2010.

Goodwillie scored in six straight league games early in the 2010-11 season, prompting United chairman Stephen Thompson to state that any other club will have to pay £3 million to buy him. In March 2011, Goodwillie signed a one-year deal with United. Goodwillie scored the winning goal for United against Rangers at Ibrox two days after signing a two-day contract extension. His efforts were recognized with the SPFA Young Player of the Year award for 2010–11.

On June 23, 2011 the City of Cardiff opened talks with Dundee United about moving Goodwillie. United had bids from Rangers and Blackburn Rovers the day before, but both of whom were turned down. On 31 July 2011, Blackburn Rovers and Dundee United agreed a Goodwillie fee that included a £1 million plus £800,000.000 contract, giving the striker permission to negotiate terms with the Lancashire club.

On August 3, 2011, Goodwillie signed for Blackburn Rovers on a four-year deal. "A young Wayne Rooney" was described by club manager Steve Kean upon his arrival at the club.

Dundee United received the player's money six months after Goodwillie had gone to Blackburn. After Blackburn met the deadline for the payment, Dundee United called the Scottish Premier League for assistance. The money, which had been scheduled for 13 February, didn't arrive until 11 days after the appointment had been postponed until 1 March.

Goodwillie scored in a friendly against Kilmarnock on August 6, 2011, defeating Blackburn 4–1. He made his competitive debut for the club against Wolverham Wanderers at Ewood Park on August 13th, losing in the 72nd minute in a 2–1 loss, and scoring his first competitive goal in the second round of the League Cup. Goodwillie scored his first Premier League goal at home against Stoke City in January 2012. This was followed five days later by his first FA Cup goal against Newcastle United. Goodwillie scored his second goal in the Premier League in January when away to Everton in a 1–1 draw.

Goodwillie signed on loan with Crystal Palace until January 2013. However, he cut his loan tenure short in mid-October after playing in just a handful of games, with Eagles Assistant Lennie Lawrence claiming that Goodwillie had "struggled to settle in London."

On July 2, 2013, Goodwillie returned to Dundee United on a six-month loan agreement until January 13, 2014. In a 4–1 victory over Partick Thistle in the 2013-14 Scottish League Cup, he scored a hat-trick. In a 4–1 victory over Kilmarnock in December 2013, Goodwillie scored their fourth goal, extending a streak of United scoring four or more goals in a game. Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson said on January 12, 2014 that the decision was not budget related but rather "has to do with what he's done since returning to the club." Goodwillie returned to Dundee United in 22 appearances.

Goodwillie joined Blackpool under Barry Ferguson's caretaker responsibility on January 24, 2014, and stayed on loan until the end of the season. He left the club by mutual agreement on June 20th, with one year remaining on his deal.

In July 2014, Goodwillie signed a one-year deal with Aberdeen. He made his debut against FC Groningen in the Europa League second qualifying round first leg on July 17th. In a 2–1 loss to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on September 13, he scored his first goal for the Dons. Goodwillie, who had scored five goals and established himself in the first team, signed another one-year deal with Pittodrie, the summer of 2016.

Goodwillie moved to Ross County, a Scottish Premiership club, on loan until the end of the 2015-2016 season. In a 1–1 draw at Heart of Midlothian on May 7, he made nine appearances for the Highland club, scoring a late equalizer.

Goodwillie signed for Plymouth Argyle, EFL Division Two club, on June 29, 2016. Goodwillie, who is affectionately known by the Argyle supporters as "Rupert Badcock," left Plymouth by mutual consent in January 2017, following a civil hearing that found that he assaulted a woman. Goodwillie had asked to leave as he was considering an appeal, according to a club spokesperson. In 22 appearances for Plymouth, Goodwillie scored one goal. His one goal was on his last appearance, leading to a 4–2 home win over Stevenage on Saturday.

Goodwillie, who is returning to Scotland, played briefly for the Caledonian Amateur League team Doune Castle. He signed with Scottish League Two's Clyde on a short-term deal until the end of the 2016–17 season. The decision by Clyde to sign Goodwillie drew skepticism, as politician John Mason said he would not attend their games for the remainder of the season. On April 1, Goodwillie made his Clyde debut against Cowdenbeath, ending his journey as a 66th-minute replacement for Peter MacDonald. Goodwillie beat Clyde 3–2 on April 15, with a hat-trick.

He received a hat-trick of personal awards at the club's Player of the Year awards for 2017-18, winning another award the season after. In 2018, the team won promotion to League One for the first time. He was nominated for Player of the Year and selected in the Year of the Year for League Two in 2018-19 at PFA Scotland.

Goodwillie, the club's first Clyde player to score five goals in a single match in 68 years and the first to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single match, according to the club captain. Both of their feats were achieved in a 6–1 victory over Stranraer. Goodwillie (with his 78th goal) made it to the top ten of the club's all-time top goalscorers in April 2020.

Goodwillie scored 100 goals for Clyde in two games at Peterhead on September 11, 2021.

In January 2022, Goodwillie rejoined the Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship championships. Goodwillie's civil responsibility for rape fueled controversies. Despite the fact that he was never found guilty of any criminal offence for this. Two club directors, several staff members, the women's team captain, and the majority of club volunteers resigned, and shirt sponsor Val McDermid resigned, but she retained the club because of the transfer, which was also criticized by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The women's team has broken with Raith Rovers. A few days after signing Goodwillie, Raith Rovers announced that he would not be allowed to play for the club and that discussions regarding his employment would take place.

Goodwillie was loaned to former club Clyde for the remainder of the 2021–22 season on March 1, 2022. After the club's women's squad resigned en masse and North Lanarkshire Council announced that if Goodwillie was allowed entry, Clyde cancelled the loan agreement and returned him to Raith.

Goodwillie was released from his Raith Rovers contract on September 30th, 2022.

International career

In November 2008, Goodwillie made his Scotland national under-21 football team debut. In November 2010, he received his first call up for the senior team after a friendly against the Faroe Islands. He made his debut in the match, converting Kris Commons as a 76th-minute substitute.

However, his international career stalled after that, but the SFA were hesitant to recruit Goodwillie after he underwent a court process. Goodwillie was charged with sexual harassment, but the trial was not allowed to proceed because there was insufficient evidence to establish the allegation. Scotland boss Craig Levein recalled Goodwillie to the national squad after it was revealed that it would not be charged.

In a 3–1 loss to World Cup holders Spain, he scored his first goal for Scotland on October 11, 2011 from a penalty kick. After being brought on as a substitute, Goodwillie scored with his first touch of the ball. Goodwillie missed a golden chance later in the game when he shot wide of the goal rather than setting up the unmarked Craig Mackail-Smith.

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