Colin Hendry
A fearless, aerial-defending Scottish warrior who captained his country and became a cult hero for his uncompromising style on the pitch.
Born 1965 (age 61)·Scottish football coach and player·Birthday: December 7·Generation X
Biography
With a mane of blonde hair and a tackle that could shake the foundations of a stadium, Colin Hendry was the archetypal Scottish defender of the 1990s. Nicknamed 'Braveheart,' his game was built on sheer commitment and a preternatural ability to win headers, making him a formidable presence in both penalty areas. His journey from the Scottish leagues to Blackburn Rovers coincided with the club's rise, culminating in a Premier League title in 1995 where he was an indispensable pillar. For Scotland, he was a leader, marshaling the defense through memorable campaigns and scoring crucial goals, embodying a nation's fighting spirit. Hendry's career was never about finesse; it was a testament to the power of heart, will, and leaving everything on the grass.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Colin was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the English Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers in the 1994-95 season as a key starting defender.
- Captained the Scotland national football team and earned 51 caps, scoring three goals.
- Played in every minute of Scotland's campaign at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
- Won the Scottish Cup with Dundee in 1994, scoring in the final against Rangers.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified pilot and has flown light aircraft.
Hendry played for nine different clubs throughout his professional career in Scotland and England.
His daughter is a professional rugby union player for Scotland.
He famously headed a goal off the line to preserve a win for Scotland against Sweden in a 1996 European Championship qualifier.
“You give everything on the pitch, and you make sure they remember you.”
