# 1998–99 Motherwell F.C. season

The 1998-99 season was Motherwell's 1st season in the Scottish Premier League, and their 14th consecutive season in the top division of Scottish football.

## Season events

On 25 June, Brian McClair signed for Motherwell on a three-year contract, having been given a free transfer by Manchester United.
On 13 January, Andy Goram signed for Motherwell on a contract until the end of the season.

## Squad

    As of match played 23 May 1999
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Stevie Woods | GK | (1970-02-23)23 February 1970 (aged 29) | Preston North End | 1994 | | | |
| 27 | Phillip Bannister | GK | (1980-08-06)6 August 1980 (aged 18) | Academy | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Andy Goram | GK | (1964-04-13)13 April 1964 (aged 35) | Sheffield United | 1999 | 1999 | 16 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Eddie May | DF | (1967-08-30)30 August 1967 (aged 31) | Falkirk | 1994 | | | |
| 3 | Steve McMillan | DF | (1976-01-19)19 January 1976 (aged 23) | Troon | 1993 | | | |
| 4 | Jamie McGowan | DF | (1970-12-05)5 December 1970 (aged 28) | Falkirk | 1998 | | 35 | 1 |
| 6 | Greig Denham | DF | (1976-10-05)5 October 1976 (aged 22) | Youth team | 1994 | | | |
| 15 | Tony Thomas | DF | (1971-07-12)12 July 1971 (aged 27) | Everton | 1998 | | 11 | 1 |
| 19 | Michel Doesburg | DF | (1968-08-10)10 August 1968 (aged 30) | AZ Alkmaar | 1998 | | 34 | 0 |
| 21 | Stephen Craigan | DF | (1976-10-29)29 October 1976 (aged 22) | Blantyre Victoria | 1995 | | | |
| 22 | Jered Stirling | DF | (1976-10-13)13 October 1976 (aged 22) | Partick Thistle | 1998 | | 7 | 1 |
| 26 | David White | DF | (1979-09-09)9 September 1979 (aged 19) | Ipswich Town | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Shaun Teale | DF | (1964-03-10)10 March 1964 (aged 35) | Tranmere Rovers | 1998 | | 34 | 1 |
| 31 | Steven Reilly | DF | (1981-08-29)29 August 1981 (aged 17) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Sandy Hodge | DF | (1980-10-04)4 October 1980 (aged 18) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | David Doherty | DF | (1980-05-08)8 May 1980 (aged 19) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Craig Callachan | DF | (1981-08-26)26 August 1981 (aged 17) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 5 | Ged Brannan | MF | (1972-01-15)15 January 1972 (aged 27) | Manchester City | 1994 | | | |
| 7 | Ian Ross | MF | (1974-08-27)27 August 1974 (aged 24) | Youth team | 1995 | | | |
| 8 | Simo Valakari | MF | (1973-04-28)28 April 1973 (aged 26) | FinnPa | 1996 | | | |
| 10 | Mark Gower | MF | (1978-10-05)5 October 1978 (aged 20) | on loan from Tottenham Hotspur | 1999 | | 9 | 1 |
| 16 | Billy Davies | MF | (1964-05-31)31 May 1964 (aged 34) | Dunfermline Athletic | 1993 | | | |
| 18 | Lee McCulloch | MF | (1978-05-14)14 May 1978 (aged 21) | Youth team | 1994 | | 83 | 6 |
| 20 | Rob Matthaei | MF | (1966-09-20)20 September 1966 (aged 32) | Volendam | 1998 | | 19 | 0 |
| 23 | Dougie Ramsay | MF | (1979-04-26)26 April 1979 (aged 20) | Youth team | 1998 | | 4 | 1 |
| 24 | Greg Miller | MF | (1976-04-01)1 April 1976 (aged 23) | Livingston | 1998 | | 6 | 0 |
| 30 | Pat Nevin | MF | (1963-09-06)6 September 1963 (aged 35) | Kilmarnock | 1998 | | 33 | 0 |
| 37 | David Dunn | MF | (1981-11-01)1 November 1981 (aged 17) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Derek Adams | MF | (1975-06-25)25 June 1975 (aged 23) | Ross County | 1998 | | 29 | 3 |
| | Keith Lasley | MF | (1979-09-21)21 September 1979 (aged 19) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Stephen Halliday | FW | (1976-05-03)3 May 1976 (aged 23) | Hartlepool United | 1998 | | 6 | 1 |
| 11 | Stevie Nicholas | FW | (1981-07-08)8 July 1981 (aged 17) | Stirling Albion | 1998 | | 7 | 1 |
| 25 | Daniel Kemp | FW | (1980-01-20)20 January 1980 (aged 19) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Scott Crawford | FW | (1980-07-22)22 July 1980 (aged 18) | Youth team | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | John Spencer | FW | (1970-09-11)11 September 1970 (aged 28) | Everton | 1999 | | 24 | 7 |
| 44 | Don Goodman | FW | (1966-05-09)9 May 1966 (aged 33) | on loan from Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1999 | 1999 | 8 | 1 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| | Hervé Bacqué | FW | (1976-07-31)31 July 1976 (aged 22) | Luton Town | 1999 | | 1 | 0 |
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 5 | Holm Kraska | DF | (1975-07-30)30 July 1975 (aged 23) | Atlas Delmenhorst | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Brian McClair | MF | (1963-12-08)8 December 1963 (aged 35) | Manchester United | 1998 | 2001 | | |
| 11 | Owen Coyle | FW | (1966-07-14)14 July 1966 (aged 32) | Dundee United | 1997 | | | |
| 12 | Jan Michels | MF | (1970-09-08)8 September 1970 (aged 28) | Go Ahead Eagles | 1998 | | 11 | 0 |
| 13 | Mikko Kavén | GK | (1975-02-19)19 February 1975 (aged 24) | HJK | 1998 | | 17 | 0 |
| 14 | Kevin Christie | DF | (1976-04-01)1 April 1976 (aged 23) | East Fife | 1997 | | | |
| 15 | Eliphas Shivute | FW | (1974-09-27)27 September 1974 (aged 24) | Alemannia Aachen | 1997 | | 25 | 3 |
| 29 | Kai Nyyssönen | FW | (1972-06-10)10 June 1972 (aged 26) | Córdoba | 1998 | | 4 | 1 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 25 June 1998 | MF | Brian McClair | Manchester United | Free |
| 1 July 1998 | GK | Mikko Kavén | HJK | £50,000 |
| 1 July 1998 | DF | Holm Kraska | Atlas Delmenhorst | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | DF | Jamie McGowan | Falkirk | Free |
| 1 July 1998 | DF | Michel Doesburg | AZ Alkmaar | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | DF | Jered Stirling | Partick Thistle | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | DF | David White | Ipswich Town | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | DF | Shaun Teale | Tranmere Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | MF | Jan Michels | Go Ahead Eagles | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | MF | Rob Matthaei | Volendam | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | MF | Greg Miller | Livingston | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | MF | Derek Adams | Ross County | £200,000 |
| 1 July 1998 | FW | Stephen Halliday | Hartlepool United | £50,000 |
| 1 July 1998 | FW | Kai Nyyssönen | Córdoba | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 1998 | FW | Stevie Nicholas | Stirling Albion | £100,000 |
| 3 September 1998 | MF | Pat Nevin | Kilmarnock | Free |
| 25 October 1998 | MF | Ged Brannan | Manchester City | £350,000 |
| 16 December 1998 | DF | Tony Thomas | Everton | £150,000 |
| 1 January 1999 | FW | Hervé Bacqué | Luton Town | Undisclosed |
| 13 January 1999 | GK | Andy Goram | Sheffield United | Undisclosed |
| 28 January 1999 | FW | John Spencer | Everton | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| 26 October 1998 | FW | John Spencer | Everton | 27 January 1999 |
| 12 March 1999 | MF | Mark Gower | Tottenham Hotspur | End of season |
| 23 March 1999 | FW | Don Goodman | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | End of season |

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 January 1999 | GK | Mikko Kavén | Vålerenga | Undisclosed |
| 1 January 1999 | DF | Holm Kraska | Lok Stendal | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 1999 | MF | Jan Michels | Den Bosch | Undisclosed |
| 1 April 1998 | FW | Kai Nyyssönen | Haka | Undisclosed |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 19 March 1999 | MF | | Dougie Ramsay | East Fife | 19 April 1999 | |
| 1 May 1999 | FW | | Hervé Bacqué | Lyn | End of season | |

### Released

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | Joined | Date | Ref. |
| 17 December 1998 | MF | | Brian McClair | Retirement | Retirement | |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Premier League | 1 August 1998 | 23 May 1999 | Matchday 1 | 7th | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 54 | −19 | 027.78 |
| Scottish Cup | 24 January 1999 | 6 March 1999 | Third round | Quarterfinal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 066.67 |
| League Cup | 8 August 1998 | 18 August 1998 | Second round | Third Round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 050.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 41 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 41 | 59 | −18 | 031.71 |
Last updated: 23 May 1999 Source: Soccerway

### Premier League
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 5 | Dundee | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 36 | 56 | −20 | 46 |
| 6 | Heart of Midlothian | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 42 |
| 7 | Motherwell | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 54 | −19 | 41 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 43 | 71 | −28 | 37 |
| 9 | Dundee United | 36 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 37 | 48 | −11 | 34 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: Fir Park Corner

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | L | L | L | W | D | D | W | D | L | D | W | L | W | D | L | W | L | L | D | L | D | W | L | L | L | W | D | L | W |
| Position | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |

#### Results

Source:

### Scottish League Cup

Source:

## Squad statistics

    As of match played 23 May 1999

### Appearances

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | SCO | Stevie Woods | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | SCO | Eddie May | 14 | 0 | 10+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SCO | Stephen McMillan | 33 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Jamie McGowan | 35 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | ENG | Ged Brannan | 28 | 6 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | SCO | Greig Denham | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | SCO | Ian Ross | 13 | 0 | 8+4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | FIN | Simo Valakari | 39 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Stephen Halliday | 6 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Mark Gower | 9 | 1 | 8+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Stevie Nicholas | 7 | 1 | 1+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Tony Thomas | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | SCO | Billy Davies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | SCO | Lee McCulloch | 32 | 4 | 14+13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | NED | Michel Doesburg | 34 | 0 | 29+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | NED | Rob Matthaei | 19 | 0 | 14+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | NIR | Stephen Craigan | 12 | 0 | 6+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | SCO | Jered Stirling | 7 | 1 | 4+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | SCO | Dougie Ramsay | 4 | 1 | 0+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | SCO | Greg Miller | 6 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Shaun Teale | 34 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | SCO | Andy Goram | 16 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | SCO | Pat Nevin | 33 | 0 | 14+16 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | SCO | Derek Adams | 29 | 3 | 11+15 | 3 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | FW | SCO | John Spencer | 24 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | FW | ENG | Don Goodman | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| | FW | FRA | Hervé Bacqué | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Motherwell but left during the season: ||||||||||||
| 10 | MF | SCO | Brian McClair | 13 | 0 | 8+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | IRL | Owen Coyle | 29 | 8 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | NED | Jan Michels | 11 | 0 | 7+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | FIN | Mikko Kaven | 17 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | SCO | Kevin Christie | 6 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | NED | Eliphas Shivute | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | FIN | Kai Nyyssönen | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Ranking | Nation | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | | 11 | Owen Coyle | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | FW | | 40 | John Spencer | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | MF | | 5 | Ged Brannan | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | MF | | 18 | Lee McCulloch | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | MF | | 39 | Derek Adams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | DF | | 3 | Steve McMillan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | FW | | 44 | Don Goodman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | | 10 | Mark Gower | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | 4 | Jamie McGowan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | | 11 | Stevie Nicholas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | | 29 | Kai Nyyssönen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | | 23 | Dougie Ramsay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | 22 | Jered Stirling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | 28 | Shaun Teale | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | 15 | Tony Thomas | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | | 9 | Stephen Halliday | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | | | | Own goal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 35 | 5 | 1 | 41 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Premier League | Premier League | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | Eddie May | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Stephen McMillan | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | Jamie McGowan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | Ged Brannan | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Ian Ross | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Simo Valakari | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Stevie Nicholas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Tony Thomas | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | Lee McCulloch | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 19 | DF | Michel Doesburg | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | Rob Matthaei | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | Shaun Teale | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 39 | MF | Derek Adams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | FW | John Spencer | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 44 | FW | Don Goodman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Players who left Motherwell during the season: ||||||||||||
| 11 | FW | Owen Coyle | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Jan Michels | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Kevin Christie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | Kai Nyyssönen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 61 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 6 |