Early career Alexander started his career with local youth side Edina Hibs in
Niddrie, Edinburgh and attracted interest from
Arbroath, agreeing scholarship terms with the club. However, at the age of 18, Alexander was spotted by
Stenhousemuir manager
Terry Christie while playing for Edina. Christie had initially gone to watch the side play at a public park with his son after the team coach Bill Harper recommended one of the sides defenders to him but instead spotted Alexander and immediately signed him for Stenhousemuir, despite not knowing his name at the time. Christie later remarked "You could see the talent he (Alexander) had in that one game. He was streets ahead of everyone else". During his time at the club, Alexander attracted attention from various British clubs including
Everton and
old firm duo
Rangers and
Celtic.
Cardiff City On 28 May 2001, he joined
Football League Second Division side
Cardiff City for a nominal fee of £130,000, with chairman
Sam Hammam stating his belief that Alexander had the potential to play at international level in the future. The club had been rejected on several occasions prior to this when attempting to sign a new goalkeeper, failing in bids to sign
Andy Marriott,
Stewart Kerr and
Jamie Langfield, and had originally traveled to watch his Livingston teammate
Ian McCaldon, even preparing a bid for the player, but discovered that Alexander was soon to be out of contract and could be signed for a much lower price. At the time of his arrival, chairman Hammam's investment had seen the club rise from the Third Division to pushing for promotion to the First Division in four years and Alexander remained ever present in league competition during his first season as the club were eliminated in the play-off semi-final by
Stoke City. Following his first season, Alexander stated that his aims were "to be Cardiff City's regular goalkeeper and Scotland's number one." The club went on to achieve promotion by winning the
2003 Football League Second Division play-off final against
Queens Park Rangers following
Andy Campbell's extra-time winner. During his time at Cardiff, Alexander became a fan favourite, despite nearly leaving the club midway through his six-year spell after falling behind
Martyn Margetson and
Tony Warner following their promotion to the First Division under manager
Lennie Lawrence. However, he later regained his position in the first-team and was ever present for the club during the 2005–06 season, playing in all 46 league matches, which lead to him being awarded the club's most improved player award. During the 2006–07 season he became embroiled in a contract dispute with the club over a wage increase which left him refusing to sign a new contract. Following the club's refusal to offer Alexander an improved deal toward the end of the 2006–07 season, Alexander admitted that he had accepted his inevitable departure from the club, stating "I've got used to the fact now that I'm leaving, but I would have loved to have stayed" and commented that it would be a "sad day" when he leaves Cardiff for the final time. Cardiff manager
Dave Jones replaced Alexander as first choice for the last two months of the season with
David Forde, his final appearance for Cardiff coming on 31 March in a 1–0 defeat to
Sunderland. In six years at Ninian Park, he played over 200 games for the Bluebirds and at the time of his departure he was the longest serving player at the club. On his arrival at
Portman Road, Alexander immediately became first choice goalkeeper at the club and made his debut in a 4–1 win against
Sheffield Wednesday on 11 August 2007 in the opening match of the 2007–08 season. In January 2008, after six months with the
Tractor Boys, the club accepted a bid from Scottish side
Rangers and gave Alexander permission to open talks with the club. Ipswich manager
Jim Magilton stated that it had been difficult for Alexander's family to settle in the area since he joined Ipswich and that the move was beneficial to Alexander's hopes of breaking into the Scotland national side, adding that he felt the club could not "stand in his way" over a potential transfer. His final appearance for the club came on 29 January 2008 in a 0–0 draw with
Plymouth Argyle, during which he saved a penalty from
Steven MacLean to keep a clean sheet. During his six-month spell at
Portman Road, Alexander made 31 appearances in all competitions and had been ever present in the league prior to his departure. Alexander made his debut for Rangers on 3 February 2008, coming on as a substitute after
Allan McGregor had been sent off in a
Scottish Cup tie at
Hibernian. On 16 April, Alexander made his
Old Firm debut as a 77th-minute substitute for the injured McGregor. Toward the end of the season, he played a vital role in Rangers'
UEFA Cup and
Scottish Cup semi-final wins, keeping clean sheets in both legs of their UEFA Cup victory over Italian side
Fiorentina, Despite the defeat, Alexander did collect some silverware in his first year at Ibrox, playing in the
2008 Scottish Cup Final as Rangers defeated
Queen of the South 3–2 at
Hampden Park. However, after two seasons as understudy to McGregor, Alexander began to grow frustrated at the lack of playing time and publicly stated that he would consider quitting the club if he was not able to establish himself as the club's first choice. Five months later, Alexander was promoted to first choice keeper at Rangers in April 2009, after McGregor was suspended for a late night drinking session, alongside then Rangers and Scotland captain
Barry Ferguson. Alexander remained in goal until the end of the season, finishing the season with eleven league appearances and helping to clinch a league and cup double. The following season, McGregor returned to first choice goalkeeper despite Rangers manager
Walter Smith stating that the decision was "unfair" on Alexander following his performances. However, Alexander played in all matches of the successful
2009–10 Scottish League Cup campaign, including the
final against
St Mirren. In a pre-season testimonial game for Queen of the South's
Jim Thomson prior to the 2010–11 season, Alexander came on at half time as a substitute for Queens despite being on the Rangers bench after goalkeeper
Roddy McKenzie suffered an injury. Alexander continued as second choice keeper in the 2010–11 season, but signed a new contract with the club. He took the decision to extend his stay at the club despite admitting that his decision to remain as second choice would end his hopes of any further international call-ups. During the 2010–11 season, he played in one league match and four League Cup ties for Rangers and won his third League Cup honour with Rangers on 20 March 2011, in a 2–1 extra time win over
Old Firm rivals
Celtic in the
final.
First-team and departure Rangers entered
administration and were subsequently
liquidated in 2012.
Charles Green purchased the business and assets of Rangers, including player contracts, from the administrator. Alexander was one of three senior players who agreed to have his contract switched to Green's company, and was one of 13 players who turned up for the club's first training session following the sale. Allan McGregor refused to transfer his contract, which meant that Alexander became first choice 'keeper at Rangers as they embarked on a campaign in the fourth tier of the
Scottish football league system. Alexander later commented that he did not see himself as a "
Third Division player" but had decided to remain with the club for the "chance to be number one at such a massive club." He remained ever present through the 2012–13 league campaign for Rangers as the club dominated the Third Division, winning the league title by 24 points from second place
Peterhead. Alexander left Rangers at the end of the 2012–13 season despite expressing his desire to remain at the club. Although he accepted the need to take a pay cut due to the club's financial troubles, he was unhappy with the amount that was offered to him, commenting "I was desperate to stay but the contract offer was just not acceptable. I deserved better." Manager Ally McCoist and goalkeeping coach
Jim Stewart both tried to convince Alexander to stay with the club. After the court case, Alexander claimed that he had received "sickening abuse" from Rangers fans when he returned to the club as a Hearts player.
Crystal Palace After leaving Rangers in the summer, Alexander found it difficult to find a new club and commented that it was a "tough summer". He eventually signed for newly promoted
Premier League side
Crystal Palace on an initial one-year deal on 14 August 2013, as understudy to
Julián Speroni.
Heart of Midlothian In June 2014, Alexander signed for
Heart of Midlothian, the club he supported as a boy, Alexander made his league debut for the club in their following match on the opening day of the
2014–15 Scottish Championship season during a 2–1 win against his former club Rangers but suffered an injury an hour into the match after a collision with teammate
Alim Ozturk. He was replaced by substitute
Scott Gallacher and traveled to a local hospital where it was confirmed that Alexander had suffered a broken cheekbone and was subsequently kept out of action for a month, He went on to make 29 league appearances during the 2014–15 season, as Hearts won the
Scottish Championship and promotion back to the top tier of the
Scottish football league system at the first time of asking. Alexander continued to be the regular goalkeeper the following year, during the 2015–16 season, as Hearts finished third in the
Scottish Premiership. Despite initially opening talks over an extension to his contract and negotiating over a deal for nearly six months, the club then decided to release Alexander at the end of his contract. Neilson later revealed that he took the decision to release Alexander as he felt that his highly rated understudy
Jack Hamilton was ready to take over as the club's first choice goalkeeper.
Aberdeen Alexander signed a one-year contract with
Aberdeen in June 2016, joining alongside fellow goalkeeper
Joe Lewis. Lewis began the season as the club's first-choice goalkeeper and his form saw Alexander remain as backup during the campaign. He chose to remain living in Glasgow, travelling to Aberdeen each day for training and matches. However, he expressed his frustration at his lack of playing time stating the move had "not worked out the way I thought it would" although." In March 2017, Aberdeen manager
Derek McInnes confirmed that Alexander would not be offered an extension to his contract and he left the club at the end of the season without making a first-team appearance.
Livingston Alexander signed for Livingston in July 2017, returning to the club 16 years after he left for Cardiff City. He joined the club "to play matches, to see out my career" and made his second debut in a 1–1 draw with
Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup. The draw resulted in a penalty shootout with Alexander saving three opposition penalties to win the tie for his side. The match was his first competitive appearance since April 2016. making 47 appearances in all competitions. ==International career==