Brilliant Bravehearts: Rating Serie A’s Scottish Stars | OneFootball

If one country can lay claim to having the most surprisingly significant impact in Italy this season it is surely Scotland. Giancarlo Rinaldi grades the famous five who flourished around the peninsula.

Somewhere up in footballing heaven, Johnny Moscardini must surely be looking down with a smile. More than a century has passed since the Scottish-born striker plied his trade with Pisa and Lucchese, but suddenly it feels like all things Caledonian are all the rage in Italy. Long gone are the days when Denis Law found Serie A too tactically suffocating and his countrymen seem to be loving life in Naples, Turin, Bologna and beyond.

Not even the most optimistic, whisky-fuelled dream could have forecast what a year this would be for this Tartan Army. League titles, a Coppa Italia and an impressive number of goals were the order of the day as they took their surroundings by storm. With good food, fine weather and an excellent lifestyle – none of them seem likely to be suffering from homesickness any time soon. They seem to love Italy, and Italy loves them.

Scott McTominay (Napoli) – 10/10 Even his own most ardent fans would have struggled to predict the impact the former Manchester United man would have in Naples. Almost from day one he started to deliver match winning performances and goals as he thrived in the role carved out for him by Antonio Conte. Any sadness he might have felt at being shown the door at Old Trafford was surely more than made up for by celebrating a title in the Stadio Maradona. He is already a legend for the Partenopei even if he never scored another goal. He will surely find that his Italian tomatoes – which he famously professed his love for – are tasting even sweeter now.

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Billy Gilmour (Napoli) – 7.5/10 It was a slow burn start for the midfield schemer, but when he was asked to step up in a more regular role, he more than delivered. Many thought he might be no more than an understudy for Stan Lobotka but he emerged as a key contributor in his own right and another vital cog in the Scudetto march. If any player looked ideally suited to the more tactical climes of Serie A it is surely him. Not the eye-grabbing performances of McTominay, perhaps, but the more astute observers understood that his contribution was a significant one too.

Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) – 7/10 Undoubtedly, the mark would be even higher if he hadn’t been so long on the sidelines with injury. Still, when he came back the former Aberdeen man was able to confirm the qualities he showed last term. Leading the Rossoblu to their first trophy in a lifetime in the Coppa Italia was the icing on the cake and secured another European campaign. His vision, organisation and drive were at the heart of his team’s efforts in the closing stages of the season and the club will hope they have him available full-time next term.

VENICE, ITALY – MARCH 29: Lewis Ferguson of Bologna and Issa Doumbia of Venezia in action during the Serie A match between Venezia and Bologna at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on March 29, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Che Adams (Torino) – 7.5/10 It was not a thrilling Torino season but the Scottish striker confounded his critics by delivering a double-figure goal haul between league and cup. There were also a few assists which was no mean feat as part of a team which only averaged just over a goal a game in Serie A this term. He might have hoped that his new employers might have finished a bit higher up the table but overall he made a pretty positive impact and will surely have sharpened his skills for when his country comes calling once more.

Liam Henderson (Empoli) – 6.5/10 Perhaps the forgotten man of the Scots in Italy but he is now a familiar face and accomplished performer. He will be frustrated that his team ultimately got relegated but few could point much blame in his direction after another solid season. A regular in the referee’s notebook, he was the kind of player nobody would relish coming up against with a determination and commitment that made him a stern opponent. It might be Serie B next term but there will be plenty of sides in the top division who would not be averse to having such a seasoned performer in their ranks.