Zico Meets…Brian McClair

September 8, 2026

A Celtic great, a regular visitor to Zico’s and one of the characters who always brings a good story with him.

Since Zico Fashion Boutique opened at the Barras, we’ve been fortunate to welcome plenty of interesting faces through the doors — but Brian McClair has become something of a regular.

Brian has popped into Zico’s on numerous occasions and is always great company. He’s got plenty of stories to tell, a sharp sense of humour and is one of those people who can happily stand chatting about football, life and everything in between.

Of course, Brian needs little introduction to football fans in Scotland.

A hugely successful player with Celtic, he became one of the club’s most recognisable players of the 1980s before going on to enjoy a distinguished career with Manchester United. His career also included international honours with Scotland.

From Zico’s to the Celtic Greats XI

Our connection goes beyond Brian simply being a customer at Zico’s.

I was fortunate enough to play alongside Brian in the Celtic Greats XI, taking on the Rangers Greats XI — one of those occasions where you get to share a dressing room and a pitch with players whose careers you grew up watching.

It’s fair to say that having Brian McClair on your team certainly adds a bit of credibility!

Life with Brian

Brian also invited me onto his Life with Brian podcast as a guest, giving us another opportunity to sit down and talk.

It’s been a great relationship that has developed over the years and rekindled through Zico’s — from football teammates and now as podcast guest. Brian is always fascinating and great company and his football knowledge and tales are as memorable as his goals. A true Scottish football legend and a great man and a great friend of the shop!

That is one of the things we particularly enjoy about Zico’s. The shop has become more than somewhere to buy a football shirt or a T-shirt. Over the years, it has become a place where football people, musicians, writers, actors and supporters meet, chat and share stories.

And Brian is very much part of that story.

Brian McClair — career at a glance

Brian McClair, nicknamed “Choccy”, was one of Scotland’s most successful footballers of the 1980s and 1990s.

Motherwell (1981–83): Broke into senior football after initially spending time with Aston Villa. His hat-trick against Rangers in January 1983 and two goals against Celtic shortly afterwards established him as a major prospect.
Celtic (1983–87): Became a prolific goalscorer, finishing as Celtic’s top scorer in each of his four seasons. He won the Scottish Cup in 1985 and Scottish League title in 1986. His 35-goal league campaign in 1986–87 earned him both the Scottish Football Writers’ and Players’ Player of the Year awards.

Manchester United (1987–98): Signed by Alex Ferguson for around £850,000 and spent 11 years at Old Trafford. He made 471 appearances and scored 127 goals, winning four league titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup.
Scotland: Won 30 caps, scoring twice. He was part of Scotland’s squad at Euro 1992.
Later career: Returned briefly to Motherwell in 1998 before moving into coaching, including spells with Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United. He eventually became Manchester United Academy Director, helping develop the club’s next generation of players.