Association | Scottish Football Association | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Scot Gemmill [1] | ||
Most caps | Christian Dailly (35) [2] | ||
Top scorer | Fraser Hornby (10) [3] | ||
| |||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() 12 October 1976 | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() 13 October 2020 [3] | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() 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.
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.
In 2018, an under-21 squad returned to the Toulon Tournament. [9] Despite the loss to Turkey in a penalty-out for third-place. [10] Scotland did receive the tournament Fair Play Award. [11]
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament held on home soil
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Quarter-finals | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 |
![]() | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
![]() | Quarter-finals | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
![]() | Semi-finals | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
![]() | Quarter-finals | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 10 |
![]() | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
![]() | Quarter-finals | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
![]() | did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
![]() | Semi-finals | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 10 |
![]() | did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
![]() | Fourth-place | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 10 |
![]() | did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
![]() | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 12 | |
![]() | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | |
![]() | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |
![]() | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 17 | |
![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
![]() | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | |
![]() | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 11 | |
![]() | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 9 | |
![]() | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 | |
![]() | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 | |
![]() ![]() | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 13 | |
![]() ![]() | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 5 | |
![]() ![]() | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.
Year | Competition | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Toulon Tournament | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | [12] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | [13] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | [14] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | [15] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | [16] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | [17] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | [18] |
![]() | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [19] |
![]() | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [20] [21] |
![]() | Toulon Tournament | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | [22] |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.
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. [23] Stark resigned from the position in November 2014. [24]
Tenure | Head Coach/Manager |
---|---|
1975–1982 | Andy Roxburgh |
1982–1986 | Walter Smith |
1986–1993 | Craig Brown |
1993–1998 | Tommy Craig [25] |
1998–2002 | Alex Smith [25] [26] |
2002–2005 | Rainer Bonhof [26] [27] |
2005–2006 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker) [28] |
2006–2007 | Archie Knox [29] |
2007–2008 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker) [30] |
2008–2014 | Billy Stark [23] [24] |
2014–2015 | Ricky Sbragia (caretaker) [24] |
2015 | Danny Lennon (caretaker) [31] |
2015–2016 | Ricky Sbragia [32] |
2016–present | Scot Gemmill [1] |
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 |
5 | Glenn Middleton | 2018–2022 | Rangers | 22 | 5 | 0.23 |
8 | Shaun Maloney | 2001–2005 | Celtic | 21 | 5 | 0.24 |
9 | Stuart Armstrong | 2010–2014 | Dundee United | 20 | 4 | 0.2 |
9 | Jamie McCunnie | 2001–2005 | Dundee United, Ross County, Dunfermline Athletic | 20 | 1 | 0.05 |
9 | Jordan McGhee | 2013–2017 | Heart of Midlothian | 20 | 0 | 0 |
9 | 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.
Rank | Name | Years | Clubs | Appearances | Goals | GPG Ratio. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fraser Hornby | 2018–2020 | 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 |
8 | Glenn Middleton | 2018–2022 | Rangers | 22 | 5 | 0.23 |
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.
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, [34] [35] [36] similar to the present arrangement in football at the Summer Olympics. [37]
The following players were selected for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Czech Republic and Portugal in September 2025. [38]
Caps and goals updated as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Iceland. Clubs correct as of 26 August 2025.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Ruairidh Adams | 10 July 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Rory Mahady | 16 August 2006 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Liam McFarlane | 26 September 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Callan McKenna | 22 December 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen | 17 June 2004 | 15 | 2 | ![]() | |
DF | Matthew Anderson | 25 January 2004 | 7 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Ben McPherson | 19 March 2004 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Dylan Smith | 21 June 2006 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Sam Cleall-Harding | 26 March 2006 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Luke Graham | 11 February 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Colby Donovan | 7 September 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | David Watson | 12 February 2005 | 6 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Daniel Kelly | 3 October 2005 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Aidan Borland | 25 April 2007 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Findlay Curtis | 1 October 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Cameron Gardner | 22 September 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Ts’oanelo Lets’osa | 6 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Kristi Montgomery | 31 May 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Adedire Mebude | 28 May 2004 | 14 | 2 | ![]() | |
FW | Ryan Oné | 26 June 2006 | 4 | 1 | ![]() | |
FW | Miller Thomson | 20 July 2004 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Emilio Lawrence | 20 September 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Robbie Ure | 24 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | James Wilson | 6 March 2007 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
The following players have also been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad and remain eligible (current clubs shown).
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Murray Johnson | 13 November 2004 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Adam Forrester | 31 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Lenny Agbaire | 4 March 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Charlie McArthur | 12 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Ewan Wilson | 19 November 2004 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Josh Dede | 4 January 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Leon King | 14 January 2004 | 12 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
DF | Kerr Smith | 12 December 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Cam Bragg | 10 April 2005 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Finlay Pollock | 27 June 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Jude Bonnar | 17 November 2005 | 2 | 1 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Bailey Rice | 4 October 2006 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Lennon Miller | 25 August 2006 | 5 | 2 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Ryan Duncan | 18 January 2004 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Ben Summers | 16 June 2004 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Josh Adam | 3 February 2004 | 1 | 0 | Unattached | v. ![]() |
FW | Bobby Wales | 23 June 2005 | 3 | 1 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
FW | Ben Doak | 11 November 2005 | 7 | 2 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
FW | Rory Wilson | 5 January 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
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