Derby County goalkeeper David Marshall has been named the Scotland Player of the Year for 2020.
The Rams’ shot-stopper was pivotal to Scotland’s qualification for next summer’s UEFA European Championships, which will be their first major competition since the World Cup in France in 1998.
Marshall was the penalty-saving hero in October as Scotland overcame Israel in the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final in October. He saved Eran Zahavi’s opening spot kick in the shoot-out success to ensure they faced Serbia in November’s Final.
And he once again repeated the feat at the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade to make himself a national hero. After the game finished 1-1, with Serbia equalising in the final minute of the game, the game had to be settled via penalties.
After nine perfect spot kicks, Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrović stepped up to keep Serbia in the game - but he was denied by Marshall to provoke epic scenes amongst the Tartan Army.
The save ensured Steve Clarke’s side were paired alongside England, Croatia and the Czech Republic at next summer’s tournament, with two of their three group games taking place at Scotland’s Hampden Park stadium.
Marshall won the award following a public vote, beating his Scottish team-mates Ryan Christie, Lyndon Dykes and Declan Gallagher to the accolade.
Marshall, who arrived at Pride Park Stadium from Wigan Athletic in the summer, has won 41 caps for Scotland and has featured 18 times for Derby this season.
He has kept five clean sheets in total, including four in a row during the Rams’ current six match unbeaten run.
