Born in
Glasgow, Miller was raised in the
Bridgeton area of Glasgow. He had little interest in football as a child, and when he did become drawn to the game he played initially as a
goalkeeper. winning the
SFL Reserve Cup in 1973, established himself in that position in the first team in place of
Henning Boel, as they won all the major domestic honours and the
European Cup Winners' Cup in
1983. He made at least 40 appearances for Aberdeen in 14 consecutive seasons, He had already received a testimonial in 1981 against
Tottenham Hotspur. In 2003, Willie Miller was voted the greatest Aberdeen player of all time in a poll to mark the club's centenary. In 2015 it was no surprise when he was named in Aberdeen's 'greatest ever team' by supporters of the club. Miller was voted
Scottish Football Writers' and
SPFA Players' Player of the Year in 1984. He had been runner-up for the SFWA award in 1983. ==International career==