Forgotten one-cap Scotland star bids emotional farewell to European club

HE was born in Glasgow and became a fully fledged Scottish international.

But it’s in Poland where he’s enjoyed the most successful spell of his career.

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After three years, Barry Douglas had bid an emotional farewell to Lech Poznan.

Now aged 34, Douglas burst onto the scene as a teenager at Queen’s Park.

A goalscoring full-back, he earned a big move to Dundee United in 2010.

Somewhat bizarrely, current Scotland captain Andy Robertson followed in his footsteps at Queen’s Park and then once again at Tannadice when Douglas moved on from the Terrors.

A popular player with United, Douglas decided to head to the continent by joining Lech Poznan in 2013.

He would go onto enjoy a three-year spell, winning the Ekstraklasa in 2015, his first league championship.

That was followed by a spell in Turkey before he returned to the UK with Wolves in 2017.

An integral part of a major transfer revolution at Molineux, Douglas played a key role as Wolves returned to the Premier League as Championship champions.

Despite being such a key player in that promotion season, Douglas was moved on after just one year with the club.

He joined Leeds United and spent three years at Elland Road between 2018 and 2021, a spell that also included a loan stint at Blackburn.

After leaving Leeds, it was back to what he knew.

Douglas made a return to Poland and a return to Lech Poznan.

Once again, he’d taste success by winning his second Polish league title.

After penning a one-year contract extension last summer, Douglas for the second time is now leaving the club.

And he’s taken to Instagram to open his heart on his “rollercoaster” time at Poznan.

In what was a disappointing campaign for Lech, they finished 5th in the table.

He said: “Honestly, I couldn’t find the words in the past few days to say goodbye, my heart was hurting how it all ended and I needed some time to digest it all….

“So here I am finally writing what I felt, the past three years have been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride in my two spells at Lech Poznan.

“I’ve seen the highest of highs and the lowest of the lows but this is what makes football so special.

“To leave the club having won two championships and a Super Cup I feel so much pride knowing I will always be in the club’s history but what’s more important is the people me and my beautiful family met along the way on this magical journey.

“There is so many people I want to thank but really there is too many to single out, so please know I appreciate every single person I came into contact with at Lech, I hope I left a good impression because no matter the situation I always tried to remain kind and positive.

“This season didn’t end how we all wanted and it’s a tough pill to swallow but it’s all part of the journey. Just know I gave my all every time I pulled on that Lech jersey, me and my family have made some amazing memories with you guys that we will cherish forever and we have met team mates and their partners that we are proud to now call friends.

“I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Lech Poznan you have given me so much over the years but it’s finally time to say goodbye and good luck for next and every other season after that. I hope the club gets back to where it belongs.”

While Andy Robertson’s early career followed that of Douglas’, they also had one season as teammates at Tannadice in the 2012/13 campaign.

And they’d cross paths again in 2018 as Douglas won his one and only Scotland cap.

Douglas was called-up by Gordon Strachan in March 2018 at a time when he was starring in Wolves’ promotion season.

And he would go on to make his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Hungary – replacing Robertson.

Robertson, of course, is part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for this summer’s Euros in Germany.

He was named last week in an extended 28-man roster that will be cut down to 26 before finals begin in just over two weeks.

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