Lee Wilkie (born 20 April 1980) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played as a central defender. He spent the majority of his career in Dundee, playing for both Dundee and Dundee United. Wilkie started his career with Dundee, making over 100 appearances in the Scottish Premier League. He won 11 Scotland international caps between 2002 and 2003, during the tenure of Berti Vogts. Soon after this he suffered from a series of knee injuries, which led to Wilkie being released by Dundee in August 2006. Wilkie then signed for Dundee United and he again played regularly for a while, but ongoing knee problems forced his retirement from professional football in April 2010.
Club career
Wilkie had been with city rivals Dundee for his entire professional career, having ended his contract with them in August 2006. During his time at Dens Park, he had short loan spells in England with Plymouth Argyle and Notts County, plus nine games with Falkirk.
Wilkie suffered serious anterior cruciate ligament injuries in January 2004 (ironically, against United) and in April 2005, which left him without the ligament. Unable to receive an operation, he hoped to continue playing professional football by strengthening the knee muscles to compensate for the lack of ligament.[2]
Despite interest from other clubs, Wilkie announced his intention to give first option on a contract to the team he has supported all his life, Dundee United.[3] In October 2006, it was announced that Dundee United would offer Wilkie a 'pay as you play' contract,[4] with Wilkie's signing confirmed on 10 October 2006.
In early-November 2006, new manager Craig Levein stated his intention to send Wilkie out on loan for "about a month", feeling he was "not ready to play first-team matches at this [SPL] level."[5] Subsequently, in December 2006, Lee joined Scottish First Division side Ross County on a one-month loan deal.[6]
Following his spell at Ross County, Wilkie returned to Dundee United and played in a 1–0 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 20 January 2007. After the match, Wilkie cast doubt on his future at Tannadice by expressing doubts over his ability to play in the SPL due to his ongoing injury and fitness issues, and stated he will review his situation in the near future.[7] Wilkie, like defensive colleagues David McCracken and Lee Mair, was to be out of contract at the end of 2006–07, but signed a two-year deal in March 2007 to take him to summer 2009.[8]
In January 2009 Wilkie signed a new three-year contract until May 2012[10] but announced his retirement on 3 April 2010 due to ongoing knee problems.[11]
International career
Prior to his injury problems, Wilkie was a regular in the Scottish national team. He was given his international debut by Berti Vogts, in a Reunification Cup match against South Africa in May 2002. His only international goal secured a 2–1 victory over Iceland at Hampden in March 2003. Wilkie's last international appearance was an unhappy experience, as the Scots suffered a 6–0 defeat against the Netherlands in November 2003 that ended their hopes of reaching UEFA Euro 2004.
Wilkie was offered a return to international football in November 2007 through the Scotland B team, but he declined selection because he needed more games to be ready to compete at international level. After playing regularly for the whole of season 2007–08 and completing pre-season training for 2008–09 without any serious injury problems, Wilkie said he wanted to be selected.[12] A recall never came, however, leaving him with a total of 11 caps.[13]
Managerial career
After retiring from his playing career, Wilkie joined Premier Sports Management as a client manager.[14] He became assistant manager of Montrose in the summer of 2012 but left the following May because of family and other work commitments.[15]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
