David James Marshall (born 5 March 1985) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Marshall started his career at Celtic, where he came through the youth system and starred in a European victory against Barcelona. After losing his place at Celtic to Artur Boruc, Marshall moved to Norwich City (initially on loan) in 2007. He moved to Cardiff City in 2009, and helped them win promotion to the Premier League in 2013. Marshall stayed with Cardiff until 2016, when he was transferred to Hull City for £5 million. After three seasons with Hull, he played for Wigan Athletic, Derby County, Queens Park Rangers and Hibernian before retiring in 2024.
Marshall made his full international debut for Scotland in 2004. He went on to win 47 caps, despite having had to compete with Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor for the goalkeeping position in the national team for much of his career. Marshall played a key role in Scotland's qualification for UEFA Euro 2020, as he made decisive saves in penalty shootouts against Israel and Serbia.
Marshall was born in Glasgow and raised in Riddrie in the east end of the city, where he attended St Andrew's Secondary School. A supporter of Celtic in childhood and a product of their youth academy, he made his first team debut for the club in February 2003 as a substitute for Javier Sánchez Broto in the Scottish Cup against St Johnstone at Celtic Park, and was an unused substitute in the 2003 Scottish League Cup final a month later. Although first-team opportunities were limited, he excelled in Celtic's reserve team under the management of then coach, Kenny McDowall.
Marshall was thrust into the limelight soon after these impressive displays for Celtic reserves in March 2004 in a UEFA Cup fourth-round tie against Spanish giants FC Barcelona. In the first leg at Celtic Park, starting goalkeeper Rab Douglas was sent off at half-time, and 19-year-old Marshall came on in his place as Celtic won 1–0. With Douglas suspended, Marshall played from the start at the Camp Nou in the second leg two weeks later and put in an excellent performance, to secure a goalless draw that put Celtic into the next round 1–0 on aggregate. He went on to save a penalty from Barcelona star Ronaldinho during a Champions League match in the following season.
His Celtic career took a downward turn under the management of Gordon Strachan. In the first two games under Strachan he conceded nine goals: five to Artmedia Bratislava and four to Motherwell. With the signing of Artur Boruc, Marshall was consigned to the bench and remained there for the following 18 months before being sent on loan to Norwich City. In July 2007, Celtic agreed to transfer Marshall to Norwich permanently for an undisclosed fee.
Marshall signed on loan for Norwich in January 2007. He made his Norwich debut was against Blackpool, but was sidelined for the remainder of the 2006–07 season due to an injury sustained in a FA Cup fourth round tie with Chelsea in February after falling awkwardly on his ankle, and returned to Celtic.
On 4 July 2007, Marshall signed a three-year contract with Norwich. Marshall impressed in his pre-season appearances for the club, performing well against Vitesse Arnhem and West Ham United in particular.
Before Norwich's last home game of the 2007–08 season against Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road, Marshall came third in the voting for Norwich City player of the year after a string of impressive displays. He was the only member of the squad to have played every minute of every game in the season.
On 12 May 2009, following Norwich's relegation, Marshall signed for Championship side Cardiff City in a deal worth up to £500,000. He was chosen as the first choice goalkeeper over Finland international Peter Enckelman by manager Dave Jones, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United before conceding his first goal in a 1–1 draw with Blackpool in the following match. Marshall let in three goals in his first South Wales Derby where City went on to lose 3–2 to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Marshall suffered an injury in a 2–1 loss against Ipswich Town, resulting in Peter Enckelman coming on for the last 45 minutes and two goals being scored. Marshall did recover in time for the next game, were Cardiff beat Preston North End 1–0. After his quick return Marshall kept three consecutive clean sheets the other two coming against West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough and also making 150th league appearance against Middlesbrough.
Marshall retained his first team place for the first two months of the following season, before being dropped for second choice keeper, Tom Heaton after a 2–0 defeat to Ipswich Town. Marshall didn't see first team football until the beginning of December in a 1–1 draw with Preston North End but only managed to start the next four games before being injured. But he managed to make his final appearance of the 2010–11 season in a FA Cup game against Stoke City before receiving an elbow injury which ended his season, after it was confirmed he needed elbow surgery.
Marshall returned the following pre-season as first-choice goalkeeper, starting all the warm-up games under new manager and fellow Scotsman, Malky Mackay. He made his full return in the opening game against West Ham United, which Cardiff won 1–0. He made his 100th appearance for the club during the season in a goalless draw with Burnley. Cardiff finished in the play-off a third successive season but lost 5–0 to West Ham United in the semi-finals. At the end of the season, Marshall was out of contract but on 23 May, he signed a new three-year deal keeping him in Cardiff till 2015.
Marshall made his one hundredth league appearance for Cardiff City on 17 August 2012, the opening day of the 2012–13 season against Huddersfield Town, a game in which he also won man of the match. With manager Malky Mackay describing Marshall as the best goalkeeper in the Football League, the shot-stopper kept eighteen clean sheets in the 2012–13 season, more than any other Championship goalkeeper, and was a strong contender for City's Player of The Season Award as the Welsh club achieved promotion to the Premier League.
During Cardiff's one-year stint in the top division, Marshall earned a number of plaudits following some impressive performances. His performances earned him a new four-year contract, keeping him at Cardiff until 2018. He was named in the Sky Sports Premier League team of the year by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher and was awarded the club's Player of the Year award. In July 2014 manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær claimed that Marshall had been the best keeper in the Premier League of the 2013–14 season.
Following the sale of club captain, Mark Hudson, in September 2014, Marshall was given club captaincy.
In the final game of the 2014–15 season against Nottingham Forest, Marshall was sent off for violent conduct, meaning he would miss the first three games of the following season.
Cardiff manager Russell Slade admitted he was unsure whether Marshall would retain the captaincy for the season, if Cardiff got off to a good start. Marshall was subject to a £4.5 million from West Bromwich Albion, which was rebuffed by Cardiff and the club stated the player was not for sale. He received another red card after lashing out at Rotherham United's Matt Derbyshire after he was pulled by the striker, which left Cardiff a goal down, following Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe's penalty.
During the January transfer window, Cardiff placed a £10 million valuation on Marshall following attention from Premier League clubs. Despite pushing for the play-offs for the majority of the season, Cardiff missed out after losing at Sheffield Wednesday.