Kevin McNaughton

Kevin McNaughton

McNaughton while at Cardiff City in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Kevin Paul McNaughton [1]
Date of birth	(1982-08-28) 28 August 1982 (age 42) [1]
Place of birth	Dundee, [1] Scotland
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Dundee (youth coach)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2006	Aberdeen	175	(3)
2006–2015	Cardiff City	254	(1)
2013	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	13	(1)
2014–2015	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	9	(0)
2015–2016	Wigan Athletic	2	(0)
2016–2017	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	9	(0)
2017–2018	Forfar Athletic	10	(0)
2018-2020	Kirriemuir Thistle
2022	Bank Street Athletic
Total		472	(5)
International career
2004	Scotland B	2	(0)
2002–2008	Scotland [3]	4	(0)
Managerial career
2022–	Dundee North End
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kevin Paul McNaughton (born 28 August 1982) is a Scottish professional football player and coach. A versatile player able to play anywhere in defence, McNaughton was also used in a defensive midfield role. He began his career in the Scottish Premier League, playing for Aberdeen for six years. He joined Cardiff City in 2006, spending nine years at the Welsh side, making over 250 appearances. He had two loan spells at Bolton Wanderers before joining Wigan Athletic on a permanent basis in 2015. He retired from playing football in 2017, after a year with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but reversed this decision in December 2017 after an injury crisis at Forfar Athletic, where he had joined as a coach the previous month.

Club career

Aberdeen

Beginning his career in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen after coming through the club's youth programme, where he won the Scottish Youth Cup in 2000–01, ^[4] McNaughton was thrust into the first team at 18, making his debut on 5 October in a 2–1 win over St Mirren, and became a regular for the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons in a team containing lots of young players brought through the youth system like Darren Mackie, Russell Anderson and Darren Young. A knee injury sustained in 2002 kept him out for 12 weeks and on his return McNaughton struggled to return to form. It wasn't until new Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood arrived, that he managed to recover his previous form.

During the 2005–06 season, McNaughton was linked with moves to Celtic ^[5] and Fulham, ^[6] but nothing came of either and he remained at Pittodrie.

Cardiff City

McNaughton playing for Cardiff City in 2012

On 26 May 2006, it was announced that he would be joining Football League Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer. ^[7] McNaughton quickly became an important part of manager Dave Jones's plans as he played in the left full-back position, and his form once again earned him a recall to the Scotland national team, although injury robbed him of the chance to take his place in the squad. During his second season at Cardiff, having switched to right-back, McNaughton played in all six matches of the club's run to the 2008 FA Cup Final, including scoring his first goal for the club on 27 January 2008 with a 20-yard volley in a 2–1 victory over Hereford United in the fourth round. ^[8] His first league goal came just a few months later when he scored on the final day of the season against Barnsley in a 3–0 win.

The start of the 2008–09 season saw McNaughton his 100th appearance for the club when he played against Watford on 21 October.

During a pre-season friendly against Celtic on 22 July 2009 he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for the opening two months of the season. After appearing for the club's reserve side, he returned to the first team on 17 October 2009 as an unused substitute during a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace but suffered a recurrence of the injury kept him out until 17 November 2009 when he played 45 minutes of a reserve team game against Hereford United. ^[9] He returned to the line-up on 21 November 2009 against Barnsley, but was taken off in the 21st minute for Paul Quinn with a back injury. On 23 November McNaughton was sent to have a scan on the back injury, ^[10] which the club's medical staff believed to have caused the problem and resulted in him being out for two weeks. ^[11] On 5 December 2009 McNaughton played his first 90 minutes of the season in a 1–0 win over Preston North End. The next season his injury worries ceded and he has played in every league up to and including the game against Barnsley. McNaughton was Cardiff's most consistent defender throughout the 2010–11 season, and won the Player of the Year award. ^[12]

On 2 May 2011, McNaughton was involved in an incident where he collided with assistant referee Sian Massey. He was later cleared when the FA ruled the incident an accident though it attracted hits and comments on YouTube, with some suggesting the player had deliberately barged into the official. ^[13] Also McNaughton had captained the side for the first time in their 3–0 loss to Reading in their play-off second leg, on 17 May.

In 2011–12, McNaughton was named as stand-in captain in Mark Hudson's absence starting on 22 November against Coventry City. He went on to make three further appearances as captain, during which time he made his two hundredth league appearance for Cardiff in a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest on 26 November 2011. He also played a part in the club's League Cup run to their first ever final, which they lost 3–2 on penalties to Liverpool.

McNaughton's 400th league appearance for Cardiff came in a goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on 21 August 2012. McNaughton started over half of City's fixtures in 2012–13, as Cardiff finally achieved promotion to the Premier League. With his contract expiring during the close-season, the club has confirmed that McNaughton has been offered a new deal. ^[14] On 5 July 2013 it was announced on the official Cardiff City website that McNaughton had signed a new one-year contract extension with the Bluebirds. ^[15] On 7 March 2014, McNaughton signed a new one-year contract with the Bluebirds. ^[16]

On 5 May 2015, it was announced after nine years for playing for Cardiff City, McNaughton was to be released at the end of the season upon his contract expiry. ^[17]

Loans to Bolton Wanderers

On 27 September 2013, McNaughton joined Bolton on a 28-day emergency loan deal. ^[18] He made his first appearance for Wanderers four days later in a goalless draw with local rivals Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. ^[19] After becoming the club's first choice right-back during his stay with Bolton, he scored his first goal for the club in the 1–1 draw with Charlton Athletic on 21 December 2013, this was his first goal in the League since scoring for Cardiff against Barnsley in May 2008.

He returned to Bolton on loan in July 2014. ^{[20] [21]}

Wigan Athletic

On 4 August 2015, McNaughton joined League One side Wigan Athletic on a one-year deal. ^[22]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

McNaughton signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle during the 2016 close season. In August 2016, McNaughton suffered an achilles injury. ^[23] He retired from football in July 2017, aged 34. ^[24]

International career

McNaughton's first call-up for the Scotland squad came in 2002 when he was told by manager Berti Vogts that, at the age of 19, he would earn his first cap in a match against France. However, before the match Vogts told the media in a press conference that McNaughton would not be playing as Vogts deemed he was too nervous, despite not telling McNaughton himself. Instead his first cap came against Nigeria in Scotland's next match.

In his second appearance he was substituted at half-time in a friendly against Denmark. In 2007 McNaughton claimed that Vogts had set his career back by two years with his actions during that time. ^[25] His move to Cardiff reignited his international career, winning his fourth cap in a match against Czech Republic in May 2008 and being called-up several times.

Coaching career

In November 2017, McNaughton joined Forfar Athletic as first-team coach, ^[26] later registering himself as a player after an injury crisis at the club. He made his début for Forfar in a 2–0 defeat to Alloa Athletic on 9 December 2017. ^[27] In August 2017, McNaughton left his playing role at Forfar and signed for SJFA East Super League side, Kirriemuir Thistle, his contract, allowed him to keep his Assistant Manager role at Forfar.

As of April 2020, McNaughton was working for Dundee as a youth team coach. ^[28]

Career statistics

As of match played on 23 December 2017

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aberdeen	2000–01 [29]	Scottish Premier League	33	0	2	0	1	0	2 [a]	0	38	0
	2001–02 [30]	Scottish Premier League	34	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	39	0
	2002–03 [31]	Scottish Premier League	22	1	1	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	26	1
	2003–04 [32]	Scottish Premier League	17	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	20	0
	2004–05 [33]	Scottish Premier League	35	2	3	0	2	0	0	0	40	2
	2005–06 [34]	Scottish Premier League	34	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	38	0
	Total		175	3	13	0	7	0	5	0	201	3
Cardiff City	2006–07 [35]	Championship	42	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	44	0
	2007–08 [36]	Championship	35	1	6	1	2	0	0	0	43	2
	2008–09 [37]	Championship	39	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	44	0
	2009–10 [38]	Championship	21	0	2	0	0	0	3 [b]	0	26	0
	2010–11 [39]	Championship	44	0	1	0	0	0	2 [b]	0	47	0
	2011–12 [40]	Championship	42	0	0	0	5	0	1 [b]	0	48	0
	2012–13 [41]	Championship	26	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
	2013–14 [42]	Premier League	5	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	9	0
	2014–15 [43]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		254	1	17	1	11	0	6	0	288	2
Bolton Wanderers (loan)	2013–14 [42]	Championship	13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1
	2014–15 [43]	Championship	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
	Total		22	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	22	1
Wigan Athletic	2015–16 [44]	League One	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle	2016–17 [45]	Scottish Premiership	9	0	0	0	5	0	—		14	0
Forfar Athletic	2017–18 [45]	Scottish League One	3	0	0	0	0	0	—		3	0
Kirriemuir Thistle	2018–19	SJFA East Super League
Career total			465	5	30	1	24	0	8	0	531	6

1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
2. Appearances in Championship play-offs

References

1. "Kevin McNaughton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
2. "Kevin McNaughton: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
3. Kevin McNaughton at the Scottish Football Association
4. "Famous Faces – Youth Cup Final". SFA. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
5. "McNaughton linked with Celtic". BBC Sport. 12 November 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
6. "Fulham deny McNaughton interest". BBC Sport. 17 January 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
7. "Dons' McNaughton joining Cardiff". BBC Sport. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
8. "Hereford 1–2 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 27 January 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
9. "Naughts bristling for action". Cardiff City. 17 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
10. "McNaughton sent to have back scan". BBC Sport. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
11. "Kev out for two weeks". Cardiff City. 24 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
12. "Super Kev wins Player of the Year Award". cardiffcityfc.co.uk. Cardiff City F.C. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
13. Fifield, Dominic (4 May 2011). "Kevin McNaughton's barge on Sian Massey declared accidental". Guardian UK . Retrieved 17 May 2011.
14. "Cardiff City: McPhail departs, McNaughton offered new deal". BBC Sport. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
15. "Naughts Signs New Bluebird Contract". Cardiff City Official Website. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
16. "KEV AGREES CONTRACT EXTENSION". Cardiff City FC. 7 March 2014.
17. "Maynard, Gabbidon and McNaughton to leave Cardiff". Sky Sports. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
18. Mark Denham. "McNaughton joins Bolton on loan". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. Cardiff City F.C. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
19. "Blackpool 0 Bolton 0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
20. Wanderers sign Kevin McNaughton on season-long loan from Cardiff City, The Bolton News
21. Cardiff City: Kevin McNaughton joins Bolton Wanderers on loan, BBC Sport.
22. Kevin McNaughton joins Wigan, Wigan Athletic.
23. "Inverness CT defender Kevin McNaughton has an Achilles injury". Sky Sports. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
24. Skinner, Andy (7 July 2017). "Defender McNaughton announces retirement from football". Press and Journal. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
25. "Berti Vogts blunder set my career back two years, admits Kevin McNaughton" Daily Record Retrieved on 10 December 2008
26. News – Forfar Athletic Football Club – News – Official Website of the Loons
27. Forfar Athletic vs. Alloa Athletic - 9 December 2017 - Soccerway
28. McDermott, Scott (12 April 2020). "Kevin McNaughton on the Cardiff City promotion image that sparked an unlikely second career". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
29. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
30. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
31. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
32. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
33. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
34. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
35. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
36. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
37. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
38. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
39. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
40. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
41. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
42. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
43. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
44. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
45. "Games played by Kevin McNaughton in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.

External links

• Kevin McNaughton at Soccerbase