Premier League legend rejected England for Scotland 'they called me a traitor'

A former Liverpool and Leeds United star chose to represent Scotland over England but insists he didn't make the decision because he wasnt good enough for the Three Lions.

Dominic Matteo was born in Paisley, Scotland, but came through at Liverpool after moving south of the border to Southport at a young age with his adopted parents. Having been spotted playing for Birkdale United by football icon Kenny Dalglish, the versatile defender and midfielder made his Reds first-team debut in 1992 under Graeme Souness and soon caught the eye of Englands youth teams, thanks to his cultured passing and reading of the game.

After impressing during his emergence into the Liverpool team, firstly as a left-sided midfielder, Matteo was capped four times by England U21s between 1994 and 1998, before receiving the nod to the B team. His form at Anfield, having been switched to a sweeper role by Roy Evans, was then eventually rewarded by two call ups to the senior squad. Yet he never made an appearance for the senior side.

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Having made a shock switch from Leeds United to Liverpool in the summer of 2000, Matteo declared he would play for Scotland, making his debut against Australia that autumn. He went on to be capped six times, before injuries forced him to retire from international football to focus on his career at Leeds.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via BetSelect.co.uk, Matteo said: It was a bizarre one for me. Id played in and won a tournament for England U21s. That was a really great team, and at that point, I was thinking it was probably going to be England.

I got called up to the national squad quite quickly, I think because theyd seen I could play a number of different positions. Glenn Hoddle was always talking to me about playing as a sweeper.

"He felt that England had a lot of centre halves, but nobody who could step in and step out with the ball as a sweeper.

That was my position with Liverpool; its where I wanted to play, and I think I had some of my best games playing in that position.

I kept getting injured when playing for England. Dion Dublin had injured me the week before, so I couldnt play in a particular match.

Craig Brown was at the game, and Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] was knocking about.

"He mentioned something along the lines of did you know, Doms actually Scottish? and Im sure Id mentioned it too. Thats where the next conversation started. Craig Brown called me, and I was pleased, actually.

I knew my heritage was Scottish, but no one else did before then. They could have, as my passport and birth certificate said Dumfries.

After doing Long Lost Family, I found out it wasnt Dumfries, it was Paisley. My dads Scottish-Italian, so he went to a lot of Scotland games.

"But whats bizarre is that my birth mother was at the Scotland games, watching me play, and didnt know I was her son.

Matteo clarified that his decision to play for Scotland wasnt because he wasnt good enough to play for England a brush that those who criticised the decision tarnished him with.

He said: People always say, its because you werent good enough to get into the England squad, but thats not true. It wasnt that at all.

I was born in Scotland, grew up in Scotland, lived in Scotland, so it just made more sense to me. There are no regrets; the only thing Im disappointed about is that I did get a bit of stick for it, they called me a traitor. But Ive got thick skin; it is what it is.

The only shame is that I didnt play enough games for Scotland. I loved being in the Scotland squad. I also loved being in the England squad, but the Scotland squad was different.

It was a lot more relaxed in the Scotland squad, even down to the diet. The Scotland team was about going out and enjoying your football, and I felt that from the first day in the squad.

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