Scotland national under-21 football team
Association | Scottish Football Association | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Scot Gemmill[1] | ||
Most caps | Christian Dailly (35)[2] | ||
Top scorer | Fraser Hornby (10)[3] | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Czechoslovakia 0 – 0 Scotland 12 October 1976 | |||
Biggest win | |||
San Marino 0 – 7 Scotland 13 October 2020[3] | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
England 6 – 0 Scotland 13 August 2013 | |||
UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
Appearances | 6 (first in 1980) | ||
Best result | Semi-finalists (1982, 1992, 1996) |
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team.
As a European under-21 team, Scotland compete in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which is usually held every other year. The team has qualified for the final stages of these Championships on six occasions, although not since 1996. There is no global tournament for under-21 national teams. Performance in the European Championship determines qualification for football at the Summer Olympics, which Scotland is unable to compete in.
History[]
Scotland played under-23 international matches, mainly friendlies against England and Wales, from 1955 until 1975.[4] Scotland first entered the UEFA competition for under-23 national teams in 1975–76. Scotland reached the quarter-finals, but were eliminated on a penalty shootout by the Netherlands. An under-21 team then came into existence, replacing the under-23 team, when UEFA reduced the age limit.[5]
Scotland under-21s have reached the last four of the European tournament three times (1982, 1992 and 1996), while appearing in the quarter finals on three other occasions (1980, 1984 and 1988). The team qualified for the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics, but were unable to compete due to Scotland not being independently represented in the International Olympic Committee.[6] Similar to the full national side, however, the under-21 team has not qualified for a finals tournament since the late 1990s. The under-21 team reached the playoff round for the 2004 and 2011 tournaments, but lost to Croatia[7] and Iceland[8] respectively.
European Championships[]
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Quarter Final[a] | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 |
1978 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
1980 | Quarter Final | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
1982 | Semi Final | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
1984 | Quarter Final | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 10 |
1986 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
1988 | Quarter Final | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
1990 | Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
1992 | Semi Final | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 10 |
1994 | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
1996 | Fourth place | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 10 |
1998 | Did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
2000 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 12 | |
2002 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | |
2004 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |
2006 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 17 | |
2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
2009 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | |
2011 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 11 | |
2013 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 9 | |
2015 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 | |
2017 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 | |
2019 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 13 | |
2021 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 5 |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.
- Bronze background color indicates third or fourth-place finish (some competitions did not have a third place playoff match).
Other tournaments[]
Year | Competition | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Toulon Tournament | Sixth Place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | [9] |
1991 | Toulon Tournament | Third Place | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | [10] |
1992 | Toulon Tournament | Eighth Place | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | [11] |
1993 | Toulon Tournament | Third Place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | [12] |
1994 | Toulon Tournament | Sixth Place | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | [13] |
1995 | Toulon Tournament | Fourth Place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | [14] |
1997 | Toulon Tournament | Ninth Place | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | [15] |
2000 | Three Nations Tournament | Winners | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [16][17] |
2017 | Toulon Tournament | Third Place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | [18] |
2018 | Toulon Tournament | Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | [19] |
Head coaches[]
Archie Knox left his post as Scotland's National Youth Teams Coach on 30 August 2007 to take up a full-time with Bolton Wanderers as coaching co-ordinator, Maurice Malpas took temporary charge. In January 2008 the SFA appointed a new full-time coach in Billy Stark, who left his job as manager of Second Division side Queen's Park to take the position.[20] Stark resigned from the position in November 2014.[21]
Tenure | Head Coach/Manager |
---|---|
1975–1982 | Andy Roxburgh |
1982–1986 | Walter Smith |
1986–1993 | Craig Brown |
1993–1998 | Tommy Craig[22] |
1998–2002 | Alex Smith[22][23] |
2002–2005 | Rainer Bonhof[23][24] |
2005–2006 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker)[25] |
2006–2007 | Archie Knox[26] |
2007–2008 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker)[27] |
2008–2014 | Billy Stark[20][21] |
2014–2015 | Ricky Sbragia (caretaker)[21] |
2015 | Danny Lennon (caretaker)[28] |
2015–2016 | Ricky Sbragia[29] |
2016–present | Scot Gemmill[1] |
Players[]
Leading appearances[]
- As of match played 2 June 2021[30]
Rank | Name | Years | Clubs | Appearances | Goals | GPG Ratio. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Christian Dailly | 1990–1996 | Dundee United | 35 | 5 | 0.14 |
2 | Steven Pressley | 1993–1996 | Rangers, Coventry City, Dundee United | 27 | 1 | 0.04 |
3 | Allan Campbell | 2017–2020 | Motherwell | 24 | 1 | 0.04 |
4 | Paul Hanlon | 2009–2012 | Hibernian | 23 | 3 | 0.13 |
5 | Craig Easton | 1997–2001 | Dundee United | 22 | 2 | 0.09 |
5 | Gary Naysmith | 1996–1999 | Heart of Midlothian | 22 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Shaun Maloney | 2001–2005 | Celtic | 21 | 5 | 0.24 |
7 | Stuart Armstrong | 2010–2014 | Dundee United | 20 | 4 | 0.2 |
7 | Jamie McCunnie | 2001–2005 | Dundee United, Ross County, Dunfermline Athletic | 20 | 1 | 0.05 |
7 | Jordan McGhee | 2001–2005 | Heart of Midlothian | 20 | 0 | 0 |
8 | Ross McCrorie | 2016–2020 | Rangers, Portsmouth, Aberdeen | 20 | 1 | 0.05 |
Note: Club(s) represents the clubs the player was with while he played for the Scotland under-21 team. Those players in bold are eligible to play for the team now.
Leading goalscorers[]
- As of match played 2 June 2021[30]
Rank | Name | Years | Clubs | Appearances | Goals | GPG Ratio. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fraser Hornby | 2018–Present | Everton, Kortrijk, Reims | 18 | 10 | 0.56 |
2 | Jordan Rhodes | 2011–2012 | Huddersfield Town | 8 | 8 | 1 |
2 | Scott Booth | 1990–1993 | Aberdeen | 15 | 8 | 0.53 |
4 | Chris Maguire | 2008–2010 | Aberdeen | 12 | 6 | 0.5 |
4 | Jamie Murphy | 2008–2010 | Motherwell | 13 | 6 | 0.46 |
4 | Jim Hamilton | 1995–1997 | Dundee, Heart of Midlothian | 14 | 6 | 0.43 |
4 | Mark Burchill | 1998–2001 | Celtic | 15 | 6 | 0.4 |
8 | Steven Fletcher | 2006–2008 | Hibernian | 7 | 5 | 0.71 |
8 | Tony Watt | 2012–2013 | Celtic | 9 | 5 | 0.56 |
8 | Gerry Creaney | 1990–1992 | Celtic | 12 | 5 | 0.42 |
8 | Steven Thompson | 1997–1999 | Dundee United | 12 | 5 | 0.42 |
8 | Simon Lynch | 2002–2003 | Celtic | 13 | 5 | 0.38 |
8 | Steven Naismith | 2005–2008 | Kilmarnock, Rangers | 16 | 5 | 0.31 |
8 | Shaun Maloney | 2001–2005 | Celtic | 21 | 5 | 0.24 |
8 | Christian Dailly | 1990–1996 | Dundee United | 35 | 5 | 0.14 |
Note: Club(s) represents the clubs the player was with while he played for the Scotland under-21 team. Those players in bold are eligible to play for the team now.
Eligibility[]
The team is for players born in the year 21 years before the starting year of each tournament. As each tournament normally takes two years to complete, players can continue to play for the under-21 team after their 22nd birthday. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the under-21s, senior side and then return to the under-21 side.[citation needed] It is now also possible to play for one country at youth level and another country at senior level (providing the player is eligible).[5] For instance, Nigel Quashie played for England under-21s and Scotland.[5] Until the late 1980s, teams were allowed to select some over-age players in the under-21 team,[31][32][33] similar to the present arrangement in football at the Summer Olympics.[34]
Current squad[]
The following players were selected for a 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match with Turkey in September 2021.[35] The squad for that game was largely revised after players based in England were withdrawn due to UK government guidance regarding travel to Turkey.[36]
- As of after Turkey v Scotland, 7 September 2021.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Lewis Budinauckas | 0 | 0 | Rangers | ||
GK | Ross Sinclair | 1 | 0 | St Johnstone | ||
GK | Harry Stone | 0 | 0 | Partick Thistle | ||
DF | Josh Doig | 18 May 2002 | 1 | 0 | Hibernian | |
DF | Jamie Hamilton | 1 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | Hamilton Academical | |
DF | Lewis Mayo | 19 March 2000 | 4 | 0 | Partick Thistle | |
DF | Adam Montgomery | 18 February 2002 | 1 | 0 | Celtic | |
DF | Dane Murray | 26 June 2003 | 0 | 0 | Celtic | |
DF | Calvin Ramsay | 31 July 2003 | 1 | 0 | Aberdeen | |
DF | Stephen Welsh | 19 January 2000 | 2 | 0 | Celtic | |
MF | Max Anderson | 17 May 2001 | 1 | 0 | Dundee | |
MF | Dean Campbell | 19 March 2001 | 0 | 0 | Aberdeen | |
MF | Stephen Kelly | 13 April 2000 | 5 | 0 | Rangers | |
MF | Chris Mochrie | 7 April 2003 | 0 | 0 | Dundee United | |
MF | Ben Williamson | 7 August 2001 | 1 | 0 | Livingston | |
MF | Kai Kennedy | 28 March 2002 | 1 | 0 | Dunfermline Athletic | |
FW | Daniel MacKay | 19 April 2001 | 2 | 0 | Hibernian | |
FW | Glenn Middleton | 1 January 2000 | 17 | 5 | St Johnstone | |
FW | Zak Rudden | 6 February 2000 | 2 | 0 | Partick Thistle | |
FW | James Scott | 30 August 2000 | 3 | 0 | Hibernian | |
FW | Ewan Urain | 10 March 2000 | 1 | 0 | Athletic Bilbao B |
Recent call-ups[]
The following players have also been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad within the last year and remain eligible (current clubs shown).
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Brian Kinnear | 16 January 2001 | 1 | 0 | Rangers | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
GK | Cieran Slicker | 15 September 2002 | 1 | 0 | Manchester City | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
GK | Archie Mair | 10 February 2001 | 0 | 0 | Norwich City | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
GK | Kieran Wright | 1 April 2000 | 1 | 0 | Rangers | v. San Marino, October 2020 |
DF | Harrison Ashby | 14 November 2001 | 2 | 1 | West Ham United | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
DF | Tom Clayton | 16 December 2000 | 1 | 0 | Liverpool | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
DF | Robbie Deas | 27 February 2000 | 1 | 0 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
DF | Cameron Harper | 10 November 2001 | 1 | 0 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
DF | Nathan Patterson[b] | 16 October 2001 | 4 | 0 | Rangers | v. Greece, November 2020 |
DF | Aaron Hickey | 10 June 2002 | 0 | 0 | Bologna | v. Croatia, November 2020 |
MF | Scott Banks | 26 September 2001 | 1 | 0 | Crystal Palace | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
MF | Jack Burroughs | 21 March 2001 | 1 | 0 | Ross County | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
MF | Lewis Fiorini | 17 May 2002 | 1 | 0 | Lincoln City | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
MF | Scott High | 15 February 2001 | 0 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
MF | Josh McPake | 31 August 2001 | 0 | 0 | Morecambe | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
MF | Ethan Erhahon | 9 May 2001 | 1 | 0 | St Mirren | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
MF | Roddy MacGregor | 21 December 2001 | 0 | 0 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
MF | Billy Gilmour[b] | 11 June 2001 | 12 | 1 | Chelsea | v. Greece, November 2020 |
MF | Andy Irving | 13 May 2000 | 1 | 0 | Türkgücü München | v. San Marino, October 2020 |
MF | Kerr McInroy | 31 August 2000 | 1 | 0 | Celtic | v. San Marino, October 2020 |
MF | Lewis Smith | 16 March 2000 | 1 | 0 | Hamilton Academical | v. Lithuania, September 2020 |
FW | Dapo Mebude | 29 July 2001 | 0 | 0 | AFC Wimbledon | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
FW | Jack Stretton | 6 September 2001 | 0 | 0 | Derby County | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
FW | Logan Chalmers | 24 March 2000 | 2 | 0 | Dundee United | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
FW | Kyle Joseph | 10 September 2001 | 1 | 0 | Wigan Athletic | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
FW | Kieron Bowie | 21 September 2002 | 1 | 0 | Fulham | v. Northern Ireland, June 2021 |
FW | Liam McCarron | 7 March 2001 | 0 | 0 | Leeds United | v. Lithuania, September 2020 |
Past squads[]
- 1996 European Championship squad
Notes[]
- ^ Under-23 competition.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Has played matches for the senior side.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Scotland U21: Coach Ricky Sbragia makes way for Scot Gemmill". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ "Alltime Club Records". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "San Marino U21s 0-7 Scotland U21s: Hornby sets scoring record in Euro qualifying thrashing". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ "Results List". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Abrahall, Csaba (January 2007). "Age of ascent". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Gibbons, Glenn (5 February 2009). "Craig Brown battles to preserve Scottish football rights by opposing Team GB". The Scotsman. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Bonhof hails defeated Scots". BBC Sport. 18 November 2003. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Coach Billy Stark proud of Scotland U21s development". BBC Sport. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1977". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1991". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1992". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1993". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1994". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1995". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1997". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "U-21 Three Nations Tournament (Northern Ireland) 2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Goalscorer Notman will demand transfer to find greater glory". Herald Scotland. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
"All eyes are on Miller who proves different class against the Welsh". Herald Scotland. 1 June 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2019. - ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 2018". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Billy Stark". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Scotland: Billy Stark 'steps down' as under-21 coach". BBC Sport. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Football: Smith protects his youngsters". The Independent. 14 October 1998. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bonhof for Scotland job". BBC Sport. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ "Bonhof chose to leave Scots U-21s". BBC Sport. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ "Malpas is the new Motherwell boss". BBC Sport. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ "Knox lands Scotland under-21 role". BBC Sport. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Malpas considering career change". BBC Sport. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Danny Lennon in temporary charge of Scotland under-21s". BBC Sport. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ "Ricky Sbragia is new Scotland Under-21 head coach". BBC Sport. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Alltime Player Records". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Paul, Ian (20 January 1984). "Scotland to warm up against France". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Reynolds, Jim (6 February 1980). "Archibald is only over-age player in Stein's squad". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Traynor, Jim (7 March 1989). "Young ones take on French mantle". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "UEFA defends decision to keep over-age stars out of Olympics". The Argus Press. 3 February 1996. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Scotland Under-21 squad named for EURO qualifier". scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Scotland Under-21: Scot Gemmill names revised squad after quarantine issue". BBC Sport. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
External links[]
- SFA (under 21s)
- Uefa Under-21 website Contains full results archive
- Complete U21 results and player statistics at FitbaStats
- Complete U23 results and player statistics at FitbaStats
- European national under-21 association football teams
- National youth sports teams of Scotland