FROM a Scottish Cup win with St Mirren to European success with Borussia Dortmund, Paul Lambert’s career has been defined by key moments.
Lambert’s talent was evident from an early age, signing for the Paisley club at age 13 and making his debut at just 15.
Two years later, he was thrust into the spotlight when he played a key role in St. Mirren’s historic Scottish Cup final win in 1987.
The shock 1-0 victory against Dundee United, who had just knocked out Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semi-final, was an incredible achievement, with Lambert a key figure in the team that overcame one of Scotland’s top clubs at the time.
“To beat Dundee United was a big achievement for St Mirren, and I think to this day, it was the last all-Scottish team to win it,” he said.
After turning down a move to Dundee United, Lambert signed for Motherwell, but it was at Borussia Dortmund, where his career truly ascended to the international stage.
After taking advantage of the new Bosman ruling allowing out-of-contract players freedom of movement, Lambert’s short time in Germany would ultimately etch his name into footballing folklore.
After a brief trial period, he was signed by Dortmund, and it didn’t take long for him to endear himself to the club’s fanatical fans.
For Lambert, playing for a club with such passionate supporters, in a team that believed in hard work and determination, was an experience that mirrored his own roots in Scottish football.
“One thing with Borussia Dortmund, if you work really hard, they will love you,” he said. “I could relate to the fan base because Glasgow is pretty similar.”
His first season saw him become a crucial part of a team that would go on to win the 1997 UEFA Champions League – an achievement that remains the greatest in the club’s history.
Playing in a side that included world-class players like Matthias Sammer, Jürgen Kohler, Paulo Sousa and Andy Moller, Lambert played a key role in the final against Juventus, marking Juve star Zinedine Zidane out of the game and providing the cross for Karl-Heinz-Riedle’s opening goal.
“I joined a brilliant side and thankfully the fans took to me really quickly,” he said.
“Without a doubt it was the best team I ever played for – that Dortmund team was super special with a bit of steel.
“For somebody to beat us – they had to be unbelievable.”
Following his success in Germany, Lambert returned to his homeland, signing with Glasgow Celtic in 1997.
He became a lynchpin in the Celtic midfield, playing an instrumental role in the club’s domestic success, including preventing Glasgow rivals Rangers from winning 10 league titles in a row in 1998.
“The pressure on the lads that year was phenomenal.”
During his time at Celtic, the fans adored Lambert, and his connection with the club’s supporters was rooted in mutual respect.
“Celtic is a club that demands effort, every single game,” Lambert said.
“The passion, the intensity, it’s something you feel every time you step onto the pitch.
“The fans expect you to give everything.”
His experiences as a player in the intense environment of Old Firm games, where the passion of Celtic and Rangers supporters created an atmosphere like no other, remain etched in his memory.
“You just got to win it – you have to be full-bodied in challenges,” he said.
“It’s an all-or-nothing game – if you lose you get a week of criticism and if you win you get a week of grace really until the next one.
“I loved the pressure of it, the intensity – for me you can’t play football without pressure, and I think you need it to perform.”
Another highlight for Lambert, capped 40 times by his country, was appearing at the 1998 World Cup finals in France.
However, like his predecessors, he was unable to help Scotland progress past the group stage.
“We played Brazil in the first game and lost 2-1, so we knew we had to beat Norway, but we drew 1-1 and that killed us,” he said.
“Morocco beat us 3-1 in the last game when we had somebody sent off.”
After hanging up his boots in 2005, Lambert quickly transitioned into management.
After a brief spell in Scotland at Livingston, Lambert joined Wycombe Wanderers and reached a League Cup semi-
final but lost to Chelsea over two legs.
More success followed with Colchester United, beginning the 2009-10 season with an extraordinary opening day 7–1 win at promotion favourites Norwich City.
A few weeks later, Lambert ironically left the Essex club for Norwich.
His new side would go on to win the return fixture 5-0 on their way to the League 1 title, earning promotion to the Championship.
Norwich’s good form continued into the 2010-11 season, which saw them gain a second successive promotion – this time to the Premier League.
“I had an unbelievable dressing room, brilliant lads – Grant Holt was a great goal scorer for us,” he said.
“Everybody thought let’s just see how the Championship goes, I think we lost our first game at Watford, and then we went on a run, and I don’t think we lost two in a row that whole season.”
In the Premier League, Lambert continued his managerial success, securing Norwich’s survival in the top division, a feat that many believed was beyond the club’s means.
“I should have left when I got them promoted to the Premier League because I was tired from it,” he said.
“If anything, I needed a break, but then Aston Villa came in.
“Right club but wrong time – the owner was selling it, and you need money to stand still in the Premier League.”
From Aston Villa, Lambert’s journey took him to Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Stoke City, where he faced varying degrees of success and challenges.
His time at Ipswich Town, where he took the reins in 2018, was less fruitful, with Lambert unable to prevent the team’s relegation to League One.
In recent years, Lambert has shifted his focus away from top-level management to working with younger players as Dortmund’s technical director for Asia and the Pacific region, based at local side Wynnum Wolves.
In the modern world of football, where tactics, formations, and systems are constantly evolving, Lambert holds a simple belief that football is a game of intelligence and understanding.
“I’ve met Pep (Guardiola), Jurgen (Klopp) and Carlo (Ancelotti) – all the big guys – and they will tell you the same.
“Systems don’t win you games – good players do.”
