Scotland national under-21 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)

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] The under-21 team has not qualified for a finals tournament since the late 1990s. They 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 29 March 2022[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
5Glenn Middleton2018–PresentRangers2250.23
8Shaun Maloney2001–2005Celtic2150.24
9Stuart Armstrong2010–2014Dundee United2040.2
9Jamie McCunnie2001–2005Dundee United, Ross County, Dunfermline Athletic2010.05
9Jordan McGhee2001–2005Heart of Midlothian200
9Ross 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 29 March 2022[30]
Rank Name Years Clubs Appearances Goals GPG Ratio.
1Fraser Hornby2018–2020Everton, 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
8Glenn Middleton2018–PresentRangers2250.23

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 a 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches with Turkey and Kazakhstan in March 2022.[35][36]

As of after Kazakhstan v Scotland, 29 March 2022.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Cieran Slicker (2002-09-15) 15 September 2002 4 0 Manchester City
12 1GK Nicky Hogarth (2001-07-04) 4 July 2001 0 0 Nottingham Forest
21 1GK Sam Long (2002-11-12) 12 November 2002 0 0 Drogheda United
2 2DF Calvin Ramsay (2003-07-31) 31 July 2003 3 0 Aberdeen
3 2DF Josh Doig (2002-05-18) 18 May 2002 6 0 Hibernian
4 2DF Lewis Mayo (2000-03-19) 19 March 2000 9 0 Partick Thistle
5 2DF Stephen Welsh (2000-01-19) 19 January 2000 7 0 Celtic
6 2DF Tom Clayton (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 4 1 Liverpool
14 2DF Ross Graham (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 1 1 Dundee United
2DF Harrison Ashby (2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 4 1 West Ham United
7 3MF Scott Banks (2001-09-26) 26 September 2001 6 0 Crystal Palace
8 3MF Lewis Fiorini (2002-05-17) 17 May 2002 5 1 Lincoln City
10 3MF Marc Leonard (2001-12-19) 19 December 2001 5 0 Brighton & Hove Albion
15 3MF Scott High (2001-02-15) 15 February 2001 5 0 Huddersfield Town
16 3MF Connor Barron (2002-08-29) 29 August 2002 2 0 Aberdeen
17 3MF Jay Henderson (2002-03-07) 7 March 2002 0 0 St Mirren
18 3MF Jack Burroughs (2001-03-21) 21 March 2001 5 0 Ross County
19 3MF Ben Williamson (2001-08-07) 7 August 2001 5 0 Raith Rovers
20 3MF Connor Smith (2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 0 0 Queen's Park
23 3MF Josh Campbell (2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 2 0 Hibernian
3MF Elliot Anderson (2002-11-06) 6 November 2002 0 0 Bristol Rovers
3MF Lucas De Bolle (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 0 0 Newcastle United
9 4FW Zak Rudden (2000-02-06) 6 February 2000 3 0 Dundee
11 4FW Glenn Middleton (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 22 5 St Johnstone

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 (2001-01-16) 16 January 2001 1 0 West Ham United v.  Belgium, November 2021
GK Archie Mair (2001-02-10) 10 February 2001 1 0 Norwich City v.  Belgium, November 2021
GK Ross Sinclair (2001-05-07) 7 May 2001 2 0 St Johnstone v.  Denmark, October 2021
GK Lewis Budinauckas (2002-06-19) 19 June 2002 0 0 Rangers v.  Turkey, September 2021
GK Harry Stone (2002-04-20) 20 April 2002 0 0 Albion Rovers v.  Turkey, September 2021
DF Adam Montgomery (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 3 0 Aberdeen v.  Belgium, November 2021
DF Aaron Hickey (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 0 0 Bologna v.  Kazakhstan, November 2021
DF Jamie Hamilton (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002 0 0 Hamilton Academical v.  Turkey, September 2021
DF Dane Murray (2003-06-26) 26 June 2003 0 0 Celtic v.  Turkey, September 2021
DF Robbie Deas (2000-02-27) 27 February 2000 1 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle v.  Northern Ireland, June 2021
DF Cameron Harper (2001-11-10) 10 November 2001 1 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle v.  Northern Ireland, June 2021
MF Stephen Kelly (2000-04-13) 13 April 2000 8 0 Salford City v.  Belgium, November 2021
MF Max Anderson (2001-05-17) 17 May 2001 1 0 Dundee v.  Turkey, September 2021
MF Dean Campbell (2001-03-19) 19 March 2001 0 0 Kilmarnock v.  Turkey, September 2021
MF Josh McPake (2001-08-31) 31 August 2001 0 0 Tranmere Rovers v.  Turkey, September 2021
MF Chris Mochrie (2003-04-07) 7 April 2003 0 0 Dundee United v.  Turkey, September 2021
MF Ethan Erhahon (2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 1 0 St Mirren v.  Northern Ireland, June 2021
MF Roddy MacGregor (2001-12-21) 21 December 2001 0 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle v.  Northern Ireland, June 2021
FW Dapo Mebude (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 3 0 AFC Wimbledon v.  Belgium, November 2021
FW Kai Kennedy (2002-03-28) 28 March 2002 1 0 Hamilton Academical v.  Belgium, November 2021
FW Stuart McKinstry (2002-09-18) 18 September 2002 0 0 Leeds United v.  Belgium, November 2021
FW Aaron Pressley (2001-11-07) 7 November 2001 0 0 AFC Wimbledon v.  Belgium, November 2021
FW James Scott (2000-08-30) 30 August 2000 3 0 Hibernian v.  Denmark, October 2021
FW Jack Stretton (2001-09-06) 6 September 2001 0 0 Derby County v.  Denmark, October 2021
FW Daniel MacKay (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 2 0 Kilmarnock v.  Turkey, September 2021
FW Ewan Urain (2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 1 0 Athletic Bilbao B v.  Turkey, September 2021
FW Logan Chalmers (2000-03-24) 24 March 2000 2 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle v.  Northern Ireland, June 2021
FW Kyle Joseph (2001-09-10) 10 September 2001 1 0 Swansea City v.  Northern Ireland, June 2021

Past squads

Notes
  1. Under-23 competition.

    References
    1. "Scotland U21: Coach Ricky Sbragia makes way for Scot Gemmill". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
    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.
    8. "Coach Billy Stark proud of Scotland U21s development". BBC Sport. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    9. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1977". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    10. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1991". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    11. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1992". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    12. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1993". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    13. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1994". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    14. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1995". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    15. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 1997". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    16. "U-21 Three Nations Tournament (Northern Ireland) 2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    17. "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.
    18. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    19. "Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon 2018". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    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.
    22. "Football: Smith protects his youngsters". The Independent. 14 October 1998. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
    23. "Bonhof for Scotland job". BBC Sport. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
    24. "Bonhof chose to leave Scots U-21s". BBC Sport. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
    25. "Malpas is the new Motherwell boss". BBC Sport. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
    26. "Knox lands Scotland under-21 role". BBC Sport. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
    27. "Malpas considering career change". BBC Sport. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
    28. "Danny Lennon in temporary charge of Scotland under-21s". BBC Sport. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
    29. "Ricky Sbragia is new Scotland Under-21 head coach". BBC Sport. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
    30. "Alltime Player Records". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    31. Paul, Ian (20 January 1984). "Scotland to warm up against France". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
    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. "Scotland Under-21 squad named for double-header against Turkey and Kazakhstan". scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
    36. "Squad update". 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.