Scotland national under-21 football team

Last updated

Scotland under-21
Association Scottish Football Association
Head coach Scot Gemmill [1]
Most caps Christian Dailly (35) [2]
Top scorer Fraser Hornby (10) [3]
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First colours
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Second colours
First international
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia 0 0 Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg
12 October 1976
Biggest win
Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino 0 7 Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg
13 October 2020 [3]
Biggest defeat
Flag of England.svg England 6 0 Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg
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.

Contents

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.

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]

Competitive record

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place   Tournament held on home soil  

UEFA European U-21 Championship Record

YearResultGPWD*LGSGA
Flag of Europe.svg 1976 [a] Quarter-finals6501134
Flag of Europe.svg 1978 did not qualify421154
Flag of Europe.svg 1980 Quarter-finals7331147
Flag of Europe.svg 1982 Semi-finals833296
Flag of Europe.svg 1984 Quarter-finals85211410
Flag of Europe.svg 1986 did not qualify411214
Flag of Europe.svg 1988 Quarter-finals631274
Flag of Europe.svg 1990 did not qualify6114713
Flag of Europe.svg 1992 Semi-finals106221810
Flag of France.svg 1994 did not qualify8224811
Flag of Spain.svg 1996 Fourth-place128042110
Flag of Romania.svg 1998 did not qualify102171020
Flag of Slovenia.svg 2000 104241812
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 2002 622266
Flag of Germany.svg 2004 8512118
Flag of Portugal (official).svg 2006 10136617
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2007 200214
Flag of Sweden.svg 2009 8512176
Flag of Denmark.svg 2011 105231811
Flag of Israel.svg 2013 8341169
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg 2015 83231215
Flag of Poland.svg 2017 10226817
Flag of Italy.svg Flag of San Marino.svg 2019 104241313
Flag of Hungary.svg Flag of Slovenia.svg 2021 10532165
Flag of Romania.svg Flag of Georgia.svg 2023 8143610

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.

Other tournaments

YearCompetitionResultGPWD*LGSGARef
Flag of France.svg 1977 Toulon Tournament 6th place411267 [12]
Flag of France.svg 1991Toulon TournamentGroup Stage321053 [13]
Flag of France.svg 1992 Toulon TournamentGroup Stage300307 [14]
Flag of France.svg 1993Toulon TournamentSemi-finals420232 [15]
Flag of France.svg 1994Toulon TournamentGroup Stage311133 [16]
Flag of France.svg 1995Toulon TournamentSemi-finals420247 [17]
Flag of France.svg 1997Toulon TournamentGroup Stage403124 [18]
Flag of Scotland.svg 1999Three Nations Tournament1st place211021 [19]
Ulster Banner.svg 2000Three Nations Tournament1st place211021 [20] [21]
Flag of France.svg 2018 Toulon Tournament4th place522155 [22]

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.

Head coaches

Billy Stark, head coach of the team from 2008 to 2014. Bill Stark - Schottland U-21 (1).jpg
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. [23] Stark resigned from the position in November 2014. [24]

TenureHead 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]
20142015 Ricky Sbragia (caretaker) [24]
2015 Danny Lennon (caretaker) [31]
20152016 Ricky Sbragia [32]
2016present Scot Gemmill [1]

Players

Leading appearances

As of match played 5 June 2022 [33]
RankNameYearsClubsAppearancesGoalsGPG Ratio.
1 Christian Dailly 1990–1996 Dundee United 3550.14
2 Steven Pressley 1993–1996 Rangers, Coventry City, Dundee United 2710.04
3 Allan Campbell 2017–2020 Motherwell 2410.04
4 Paul Hanlon 2009–2012 Hibernian 2330.13
5 Craig Easton 1997–2001 Dundee United 2220.09
5 Gary Naysmith 1996–1999 Heart of Midlothian 2200
5 Glenn Middleton 2018–2022 Rangers 2250.23
8 Shaun Maloney 2001–2005 Celtic 2150.24
9 Stuart Armstrong 2010–2014 Dundee United 2040.2
9 Jamie McCunnie 2001–2005 Dundee United, Ross County, Dunfermline Athletic 2010.05
9 Jordan McGhee 2013–2017 Heart of Midlothian 2000
9 Ross McCrorie 2016–2020 Rangers, Portsmouth, Aberdeen 2010.05

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 5 June 2022 [33]
RankNameYearsClubsAppearancesGoalsGPG Ratio.
1 Fraser Hornby 2018–2020 Everton, Kortrijk, Reims 18100.56
2 Jordan Rhodes 2011–2012 Huddersfield Town 881
2 Scott Booth 1990–1993 Aberdeen 1580.53
4 Chris Maguire 2008–2010 Aberdeen 1260.5
4 Jamie Murphy 2008–2010 Motherwell 1360.46
4 Jim Hamilton 1995–1997 Dundee, Heart of Midlothian 1460.43
4 Mark Burchill 1998–2001 Celtic 1560.4
8 Steven Fletcher 2006–2008 Hibernian 750.71
8 Tony Watt 2012–2013 Celtic 950.56
8 Gerry Creaney 1990–1992 Celtic 1250.42
8 Steven Thompson 1997–1999 Dundee United 1250.42
8 Simon Lynch 2002–2003 Celtic 1350.38
8 Steven Naismith 2005–2008 Kilmarnock, Rangers 1650.31
8 Shaun Maloney 2001–2005 Celtic 2150.24
8 Christian Dailly 1990–1996 Dundee United 3550.14
8 Glenn Middleton 2018–2022 Rangers 2250.23

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.[ 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]

Current squad

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.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Ruairidh Adams (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 21)10 Flag of Scotland.svg East Fife
1 GK Rory Mahady (2006-08-16) 16 August 2006 (age 19)10 Flag of England.svg Leeds United
1 GK Liam McFarlane (2004-09-26) 26 September 2004 (age 20)10 Flag of Scotland.svg Alloa Athletic
1 GK Callan McKenna (2006-12-22) 22 December 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of England.svg Bournemouth

2 DF Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 21)152 Flag of Scotland.svg Dunfermline Athletic
2 DF Matthew Anderson (2004-01-25) 25 January 2004 (age 21)70 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kortrijk
2 DF Ben McPherson (2004-03-19) 19 March 2004 (age 21)50 Flag of Scotland.svg Partick Thistle
2 DF Dylan Smith (2006-06-21) 21 June 2006 (age 19)20 Flag of Scotland.svg Ross County
2 DF Sam Cleall-Harding (2006-03-26) 26 March 2006 (age 19)10 Flag of Scotland.svg Dundee United
2 DF Luke Graham (2004-02-11) 11 February 2004 (age 21)10 Flag of Scotland.svg Dundee
2 DF Colby Donovan (2006-09-07) 7 September 2006 (age 19)00 Flag of Scotland.svg Celtic

3 MF David Watson (2005-02-12) 12 February 2005 (age 20)60 Flag of Scotland.svg Kilmarnock
3 MF Daniel Kelly (2005-10-03) 3 October 2005 (age 19)50 Flag of England.svg Millwall
3 MF Aidan Borland (2007-04-25) 25 April 2007 (age 18)00 Flag of England.svg Aston Villa
3 MF Findlay Curtis (2006-10-01) 1 October 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers
3 MF Cameron Gardner (2005-09-22) 22 September 2005 (age 19)00 Flag of England.svg Grimsby Town
3 MF Ts’oanelo Lets’osa (2004-06-06) 6 June 2004 (age 21)00 Flag of Scotland.svg Partick Thistle
3 MF Kristi Montgomery (2004-05-31) 31 May 2004 (age 21)00 Flag of England.svg Blackburn Rovers

4 FW Adedire Mebude (2004-05-28) 28 May 2004 (age 21)142 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Westerlo
4 FW Ryan Oné (2006-06-26) 26 June 2006 (age 19)41 Flag of England.svg Sheffield United
4 FW Miller Thomson (2004-07-20) 20 July 2004 (age 21)20 Flag of Scotland.svg Dundee United
4 FW Emilio Lawrence (2005-09-20) 20 September 2005 (age 19)10 Flag of England.svg Manchester City
4 FW Robbie Ure (2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21)00 Flag of Sweden.svg IK Sirius
4 FW James Wilson (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 18)00 Flag of Scotland.svg Heart of Midlothian

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad and remain eligible (current clubs shown).

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Murray Johnson (2004-11-13) 13 November 2004 (age 20)20 Flag of Scotland.svg Hibernian v. Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland, March 2025WTH

DF Adam Forrester (2005-03-31) 31 March 2005 (age 20)20 Flag of Scotland.svg Heart of Midlothian v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
DF Lenny Agbaire (2005-03-04) 4 March 2005 (age 20)10 Flag of England.svg Rotherham United v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
DF Charlie McArthur (2005-05-12) 12 May 2005 (age 20)20 Flag of England.svg Newcastle United v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
DF Ewan Wilson (2004-11-19) 19 November 2004 (age 20)50 Flag of Scotland.svg Motherwell v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
DF Josh Dede (2006-01-04) 4 January 2006 (age 19)00 Flag of England.svg Middlesbrough v. Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland, March 2025WTH
DF Leon King (2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 21)120 Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers v. Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium, October 2024WTH
DF Kerr Smith (2004-12-12) 12 December 2004 (age 20)00 Flag of England.svg Aston Villa v. Flag of Malta.svg  Malta, October 2023

MF Cam Bragg (2005-04-10) 10 April 2005 (age 20)20 Flag of England.svg Southampton v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
MF Finlay Pollock (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 21)10 Flag of Scotland.svg Heart of Midlothian v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
MF Jude Bonnar (2005-11-17) 17 November 2005 (age 19)21 Flag of Scotland.svg Ayr United v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
MF Bailey Rice (2006-10-04) 4 October 2006 (age 18)20 Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
MF Lennon Miller (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 19)52 Flag of Scotland.svg Motherwell v. Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan, October 2024
MF Ryan Duncan (2004-01-18) 18 January 2004 (age 21)50 Flag of Scotland.svg Aberdeen v. Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary, November 2023
MF Ben Summers (2004-06-16) 16 June 2004 (age 21)50 Flag of Scotland.svg Celtic v. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain, September 2023
MF Josh Adam (2004-02-03) 3 February 2004 (age 21)10Unattachedv. Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales, March 2023

FW Bobby Wales (2005-06-23) 23 June 2005 (age 20)31 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea City v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, March 2025
FW Ben Doak (2005-11-11) 11 November 2005 (age 19)72 Flag of England.svg Liverpool v. Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary, November 2023
FW Rory Wilson (2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 19)30 Flag of England.svg Aston Villa v. Flag of Malta.svg  Malta, October 2023

  • INJ Player withdrew from the squad for that game due to injury
  • SNR Player withdrew from the squad for that game after being promoted to the senior squad
  • WTH Player withdrew from the squad for that game for an unspecified reason

Past squads

Notes

  1. Under-23 competition.

    References

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    2. "Alltime Club Records". www.fitbastats.com. 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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