Scotland national under-21 football team

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.

Scotland under-21
AssociationScottish Football Association
Head coachScot Gemmill[1]
Most capsChristian Dailly (35)[2]
Top scorerFraser Hornby (10)[3]
First colours
Second colours
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
Appearances6 (first in 1980)
Best resultSemi-finalists (1982, 1992, 1996)

As a European under-21 team, Scotland compete in the UEFA European Under-21 Football 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
1976Quarter Final[lower-alpha 1]6501134
1978Did not qualify421154
1980Quarter Final7331147
1982Semi Final833296
1984Quarter Final85211410
1986Did not qualify411214
1988Quarter Final631274
1990Did not qualify6114713
1992Semi Final106221810
1994Did not qualify8224811
1996Fourth place128042110
1998Did not qualify102171020
2000104241812
2002622266
20048512118
200610136617
2007200214
20098512176
2011105231811
20138341169
201583231215
201710226817
2019104241313
202110532165

*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
1977Toulon TournamentSixth Place411267[9]
1991Toulon TournamentThird Place321053[10]
1992Toulon TournamentEighth Place300307[11]
1993Toulon TournamentThird Place420232[12]
1994Toulon TournamentSixth Place311133[13]
1995Toulon TournamentFourth Place420247[14]
1997Toulon TournamentNinth Place403124[15]
2000Three Nations TournamentWinners211021[16][17]
2017Toulon TournamentThird Place530287[18]
2018Toulon TournamentFourth Place522155[19]

Head coaches
Billy Stark, head coach of the team from 2008 to 2014.

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]

TenureHead Coach/Manager
1975–1982Andy Roxburgh
1982–1986Walter Smith
1986–1993Craig Brown
1993–1998Tommy Craig[22]
1998–2002Alex Smith[22][23]
2002–2005Rainer Bonhof[23][24]
2005–2006Maurice Malpas (caretaker)[25]
2006–2007Archie Knox[26]
2007–2008Maurice Malpas (caretaker)[27]
2008–2014Billy Stark[20][21]
2014–2015Ricky Sbragia (caretaker)[21]
2015Danny Lennon (caretaker)[28]
2015–2016Ricky Sbragia[29]
2016–presentScot Gemmill[1]

Players

Leading appearances
As of match played 17 November 2020[30]
Rank Name Years Clubs Appearances Goals GPG Ratio.
1Christian Dailly1990–1996Dundee United3550.14
2Steven Pressley1993–1996Rangers, Coventry City, Dundee United2710.04
3Allan Campbell2017–2020Motherwell2410.04
4Paul Hanlon2009–2012Hibernian2330.13
5Craig Easton1997–2001Dundee United2220.09
5Gary Naysmith1996–1999Heart of Midlothian220
7Shaun Maloney2001–2005Celtic2150.24
7Stuart Armstrong2010–2014Dundee United2040.2
7Jamie McCunnie2001–2005Dundee United, Ross County, Dunfermline Athletic2010.05
7Jordan McGhee2001–2005Heart of Midlothian200
8Ross McCrorie2016–2020Rangers, Portsmouth, Aberdeen2010.05

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 17 November 2020[30]
Rank Name Years Clubs Appearances Goals GPG Ratio.
1Fraser Hornby2018–PresentEverton, Kortrijk, Reims18100.56
2Jordan Rhodes2011–2012Huddersfield Town881
2Scott Booth1990–1993Aberdeen1580.53
4Chris Maguire2008–2010Aberdeen1260.5
4Jamie Murphy2008–2010Motherwell1360.46
4Jim Hamilton1995–1997Dundee, Heart of Midlothian1460.43
4Mark Burchill1998–2001Celtic1560.4
8Steven Fletcher2006–2008Hibernian750.71
8Tony Watt2012–2013Celtic950.56
8Gerry Creaney1990–1992Celtic1250.42
8Steven Thompson1997–1999Dundee United1250.42
8Simon Lynch2002–2003Celtic1350.38
8Steven Naismith2005–2008Kilmarnock, Rangers1650.31
8Shaun Maloney2001–2005Celtic2150.24
8Christian Dailly1990–1996Dundee United3550.14

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. 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 Euro 2021 qualification matches with Croatia and Greece in November 2020.[35][36][37]

As of after Greece v Scotland, 17 November 2020.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Brian Kinnear 0 0 Rangers
12 1GK Ross Doohan (1998-03-29) 29 March 1998 13 0 Ross County (on loan from Celtic)
21 1GK Robby McCrorie (1998-03-18) 18 March 1998 7 0 Livingston (on loan from Rangers)
2 2DF Patrick Reading (1999-05-29) 29 May 1999 6 0 Ayr United
3 2DF Daniel Harvie (1998-07-14) 14 July 1998 15 0 MK Dons
4 2DF Ryan Porteous (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 14 0 Hibernian
5 2DF George Johnston (1998-09-01) 1 September 1998 10 0 Feyenoord
7 2DF Nathan Patterson (2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 4 0 Rangers
16 2DF Tom McIntyre (1998-11-06) 6 November 1998 3 0 Reading
17 2DF Stephen Welsh (2000-01-19) 19 January 2000 0 0 Celtic
22 2DF Lewis Mayo (2000-03-19) 19 March 2000 3 0 Rangers
6 3MF Allan Campbell (1998-07-04) 4 July 1998 24 1 Motherwell
8 3MF Lewis Fiorini (2002-05-17) 17 May 2002 1 0 NAC Breda (on loan from Manchester City)
10 3MF Billy Gilmour (2001-06-11) 11 June 2001 12 1 Chelsea
14 3MF David Turnbull (1999-07-10) 10 July 1999 5 1 Celtic
15 3MF Barry Maguire (1998-04-27) 27 April 1998 7 2 Motherwell
19 3MF Lewis Ferguson (1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 11 0 Aberdeen
20 3MF Ross McCrorie (1998-03-18) 18 March 1998 20 1 Aberdeen (on loan from Rangers)
9 4FW Fraser Hornby (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 18 10 Stade de Reims
11 4FW Glenn Middleton (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 15 3 Rangers
18 4FW Connor McLennan (1999-10-05) 5 October 1999 9 4 Aberdeen

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 Kieran Wright (2000-04-01) 1 April 2000 1 0 Partick Thistle (on loan from Rangers) v.  San Marino, October 2020
GK Peter Morrison (1998-02-27) 27 February 1998 0 0 Motherwell v.  San Marino, October 2020
GK Archie Mair 0 0 Norwich City v.  Lithuania, September 2020
DF Harrison Ashby (2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 2 1 West Ham United v.  Croatia, November 2020
DF Aaron Hickey (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 0 0 Bologna v.  Croatia, November 2020
DF Jamie Brandon (1998-02-05) 5 February 1998 2 0 Heart of Midlothian  Greece, November 2019
MF Kai Kennedy (2002-03-28) 28 March 2002 0 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle (on loan from Rangers) v.  Croatia, November 2020
MF Kyle Magennis (1998-08-26) 26 August 1998 5 0 Hibernian v.  Croatia, November 2020
MF Andy Irving (2000-05-13) 13 May 2000 1 0 Heart of Midlothian v.  San Marino, October 2020
MF Kerr McInroy (2000-08-31) 31 August 2000 1 0 Dunfermline Athletic (on loan from Celtic) v.  San Marino, October 2020
MF Stephen Kelly (2000-04-13) 13 April 2000 3 0 Ross County (on loan from Rangers) v.  San Marino, October 2020
MF Dean Campbell (2001-03-19) 19 March 2001 0 0 Aberdeen v.  Lithuania, September 2020
MF Lewis Smith (2000-03-16) 16 March 2000 1 0 Hamilton Academical v.  Lithuania, September 2020
MF Lewis Moore (1998-06-04) 4 June 1998 0 0 Heart of Midlothian March 2020[lower-alpha 2]
MF Ewan Henderson (2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 1 0 Celtic  Greece, November 2019
MF Jordan Holsgrove (1999-09-10) 10 September 1999 4 0 Celta Vigo  Greece, November 2019
MF Kyle McAllister (1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 2 0 St Mirren  Croatia, September 2019
FW Bruce Anderson (1998-09-23) 23 September 1998 0 0 Ayr United (on loan from Aberdeen) v.  San Marino, October 2020
FW Logan Chalmers (2000-03-24) 24 March 2000 1 0 Dundee United v.  San Marino, October 2020
FW James Scott (2000-08-30) 30 August 2000 2 0 Hull City v.  Czech Republic, October 2020
FW Liam McCarron (2001-03-07) 7 March 2001 0 0 Leeds United v.  Lithuania, September 2020
FW Louis Appéré (1999-03-26) 26 March 1999 0 0 Dundee United March 2020[lower-alpha 2]
FW Jamie Gullan (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 0 0 Hibernian March 2020[lower-alpha 2]
FW Mikey Johnston (1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 8 1 Celtic  Greece, November 2019

Past squads

Notes
  1. Under-23 competition.
  2. A squad was named for matches that were due to be played in March 2020, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    References
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    2. "Alltime Club Records". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    3. "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.
    4. "Results List". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    5. Abrahall, Csaba (January 2007). "Age of ascent". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    6. Gibbons, Glenn (5 February 2009). "Craig Brown battles to preserve Scottish football rights by opposing Team GB". The Scotsman. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
    7. "Bonhof hails defeated Scots". BBC Sport. 18 November 2003. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
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      "All eyes are on Miller who proves different class against the Welsh". Herald Scotland. 1 June 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
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    20. "Billy Stark". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
    21. "Scotland: Billy Stark 'steps down' as under-21 coach". BBC Sport. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
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    32. Reynolds, Jim (6 February 1980). "Archibald is only over-age player in Stein's squad". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    33. Traynor, Jim (7 March 1989). "Young ones take on French mantle". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    34. "UEFA defends decision to keep over-age stars out of Olympics". The Argus Press. 3 February 1996. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    35. @ScotlandNT (28 October 2020). "Scot Gemmill has named his #SCO21s squad for our @UEFAUnder21 qualifiers against Croatia and Greece. Croatia: Thursday 12 November, 3pm – Tynecastle Park. Greece: Tuesday 17 November, 4pm – Athens #YoungTeam" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 October 2020 – via Twitter.
    36. Lindsay, Clive (28 October 2020). "Aaron Hickey: Bologna left-back given first Scotland Under-21 call-up". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
    37. @ScotlandNT (10 November 2020). "#SCO21s Squad Update: IN: Lewis Fiorini & Stephen Welsh. OUT: Harrison Ashby, Aaron Hickey, Kai Kennedy & Kyle Magennis. #YoungTeam" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 November 2020 – via Twitter.
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