called up to the Scotland national team for the 1986 World Cup, under interim national coach Alex Ferguson. He made two appearances in the World Cup in Mexico, both as a substitute and both defeats, to Denmark and to West Germany. He won five caps for Scotland, the last against Saudi Arabia in February 1988 in a 2–2 draw in Riyadh. Lifestyle During his playing career he reputedly enjoyed a playboy lifestyle involving drink, drugs and womanising. His lifestyle was the inspiration for a parody character played by Jonathan Watson in the Scottish comedy TV programme, Only an Excuse? In 2000, having been cleared in court of an incident involving the supply of controlled drugs, McAvennie found himself in severe financial difficulties and resorted to selling his medals to Celtic-supporting businessman Willie Haughey for a small sum; these were later returned to him in 2017. On 12 January 2009, McAvennie received a four-month suspended sentence for affray following an incident in July 2008 in which he head-butted a man in Douglas on the Isle of Man. Career statistics International Honours Player St Mirren Renfrewshire Cup: 1984–85 Celtic Scottish Premier Division: 1987–88 Scottish Cup: 1987–88 West Ham United Football League Second Division runner-up: 1990–91 Individual PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year: 1981–82 Hammer of the Year: 1985–86 (2nd) References 1959 births Aston Villa F.C. players Celtic F.C. players 1986 FIFA World Cup players Falkirk F.C. players Living people Premier League players Scotland international footballers Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Hong Kong Scotland B international footballers Scottish Football League players Scottish footballers St Mirren F.C. players Swindon Town F.C. players Expatriate footballers in Hong Kong English Football League players West Ham United F.C. players Cliftonville F.C. players NIFL Premiership players South China AA players Footballers from Glasgow Johnstone Burgh F.C. players Scotland under-21 international footballers Association football forwards Scottish Junior Football Association players Scottish Roman Catholics Sportspeople convicted of crimes