Association | Scottish Football Association | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Scot Gemmill[1] | ||
Most caps | Christian Dailly (35)[2] | ||
Top scorer | Fraser Hornby (10)[3] | ||
| |||
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 | |||
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976[a] | Quarter-finals | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 |
1978 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
1980 | Quarter-finals | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
1982 | Semi-finals | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
1984 | Quarter-finals | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 10 |
1986 | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
1988 | Quarter-finals | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
1990 | did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
1992 | Semi-finals | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 10 |
1994 | did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
1996 | Fourth-place | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 10 |
1998 | did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
2000 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 12 | |
2002 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | |
2004 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |
2006 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 17 | |
2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
2009 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | |
2011 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 11 | |
2013 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 9 | |
2015 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 | |
2017 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 | |
2019 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 13 | |
2021 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 5 | |
2023 | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Toulon Tournament | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | [12] |
1991 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | [13] |
1992 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | [14] |
1993 | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | [15] |
1994 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | [16] |
1995 | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | [17] |
1997 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | [18] |
1999 | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [19] |
2000 | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [20][21] |
2018 | 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]
Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were selected for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Belgium and Kazakhstan in October 2024.[38][39][40][41]
Caps and goals updated as of 11 October 2024, after the match against Kazakhstan. Clubs correct as of 15 October 2024.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Lewis Budinauckas | 19 June 2002 | 2 | 0 | Rangers |
12 | GK | Jack Newman | 12 February 2002 | 1 | 0 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle |
21 | GK | Murray Johnson | 13 November 2004 | 1 | 0 | Airdrieonians |
2 | DF | Max Johnston | 26 December 2003 | 10 | 1 | Sturm Graz |
3 | DF | Josh Doig | 18 May 2002 | 12 | 1 | Sassuolo |
4 | DF | Jack Milne | 10 February 2003 | 3 | 0 | Aberdeen |
5 | DF | Dane Murray | 26 June 2003 | 4 | 1 | Queen's Park |
6 | DF | Lewis Neilson | 15 May 2003 | 12 | 1 | St Johnstone |
15 | DF | Robbie Fraser | 2 April 2003 | 2 | 0 | Rangers |
20 | DF | Jeremiah Mullen | 17 June 2004 | 13 | 2 | Leeds United |
22 | DF | Calvin Ramsay | 31 July 2003 | 6 | 0 | Wigan Athletic |
23 | DF | Ewan Wilson | 19 November 2004 | 3 | 0 | Motherwell |
7 | MF | Lennon Miller | 25 August 2006 | 5 | 2 | Motherwell |
8 | MF | Josh Mulligan | 12 November 2002 | 16 | 2 | Dundee |
14 | MF | Rob Apter | 23 April 2003 | 4 | 0 | Blackpool |
16 | MF | Daniel Kelly | 3 October 2005 | 4 | 0 | Millwall |
17 | MF | Lyall Cameron | 10 October 2002 | 12 | 2 | Dundee |
18 | MF | Miller Thomson | 20 July 2004 | 1 | 0 | Dundee United |
9 | FW | Ryan Oné | 26 June 2006 | 2 | 0 | Sheffield United |
11 | FW | Dire Mebude | 28 May 2004 | 13 | 2 | Westerlo |
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 | Cieran Slicker | 15 September 2002 | 18 | 0 | Ipswich Town | v. Malta, September 2024 |
GK | Vincent Angelini | 12 September 2003 | 0 | 0 | Al-Riyadh | v. Austria, June 2024 |
GK | Jude Smith | 29 May 2003 | 1 | 0 | Carlisle United | v. Belgium, November 2023 |
GK | Jay Hogarth | 18 July 2003 | 2 | 0 | Queen of the South | v. Norway, June 2023 |
GK | Sam Long | 12 November 2002 | 0 | 0 | Bromley | v. Iceland, November 2022 |
GK | Harry Stone | 20 April 2002 | 0 | 0 | Ayr United | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
DF | Leon King | 14 January 2004 | 12 | 0 | Rangers | v. Belgium, October 2024WTH |
DF | Matthew Anderson | 25 January 2004 | 5 | 0 | Admira Wacker | v. Belgium, October 2024 |
DF | Liam Morrison | 7 April 2003 | 11 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | v. Spain, September 2024INJ |
DF | Adam Devine | 25 March 2003 | 9 | 0 | Rangers | v. Austria, June 2024 |
DF | Connor McAvoy | 16 February 2002 | 5 | 0 | Ayr United | v. Austria, June 2024 |
DF | Ibane Bowat | 15 September 2002 | 7 | 0 | Portsmouth | v. Kazakhstan, March 2024 |
DF | Ben McPherson | 19 March 2004 | 5 | 0 | Celtic | v. Kazakhstan, March 2024 |
DF | Kerr Smith | 12 December 2004 | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa | v. Malta, October 2023 |
DF | Josh Reid | 3 May 2002 | 3 | 0 | Ross County | v. Norway, June 2023 |
DF | Adam Montgomery | 18 February 2002 | 4 | 0 | Celtic | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
DF | Aaron Hickey | 10 June 2002 | 0 | 0 | Brentford | v. Kazakhstan, November 2021 |
DF | Jamie Hamilton | 1 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | East Kilbride | v. Turkey, September 2021 |
MF | Connor Barron | 29 August 2002 | 14 | 0 | Rangers | v. Belgium, October 2024SNR |
MF | Lewis Fiorini | 17 May 2002 | 13 | 3 | Stockport County | v. Belgium, October 2024WTH |
MF | David Watson | 12 February 2005 | 4 | 0 | Kilmarnock | v. Belgium, October 2024WTH |
MF | Azeem Abdulai | 9 December 2002 | 6 | 0 | Swansea City | v. Austria, June 2024 |
MF | Kai Fotheringham | 18 April 2003 | 3 | 0 | Dundee United | v. Austria, June 2024 |
MF | Aidan Denholm | 9 November 2003 | 1 | 0 | Ross County | v. Kazakhstan, March 2024 |
MF | Cole McKinnon | 29 January 2003 | 3 | 0 | Rangers | v. Kazakhstan, March 2024 |
MF | Alex Lowry | 23 June 2003 | 2 | 1 | Rangers | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
MF | Finlay Robertson | 12 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | Dundee | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
MF | Ryan Duncan | 18 January 2004 | 5 | 0 | Queen's Park | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
MF | Steven Bradley | 17 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | Hamilton Academical | v. Malta, October 2023 |
MF | Ben Summers | 16 June 2004 | 5 | 0 | Admira Wacker | v. Spain, September 2023 |
MF | Archie Meekison | 4 May 2002 | 2 | 0 | Bohemian | v. Spain, September 2023 |
MF | Connor Smith | 1 February 2002 | 8 | 0 | Hamilton Academical | v. Norway, June 2023 |
MF | Liam Smith | 28 October 2003 | 2 | 0 | Partick Thistle | v. Norway, June 2023 |
MF | Josh Adam | 3 February 2004 | 1 | 0 | Wrexham | v. Wales, March 2023 |
MF | Elliot Anderson | 6 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | v. Iceland, November 2022 |
MF | Matthew Craig | 16 April 2003 | 1 | 0 | Barnsley | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
MF | Michael Craig | 16 April 2003 | 1 | 0 | Reading | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
MF | Lucas De Bolle | 22 October 2002 | 2 | 0 | Unattached | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
MF | Jay Henderson | 7 March 2002 | 1 | 0 | Ayr United | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
MF | Chris Mochrie | 7 April 2003 | 2 | 0 | Airdrieonians | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
MF | Flynn Clarke | 19 December 2002 | 1 | 1 | Lowestoft Town | v. Northern Ireland, September 2022 |
FW | Bobby Wales | 23 June 2005 | 1 | 0 | Kilmarnock | v. Belgium, October 2024WTH |
FW | Kieron Bowie | 21 September 2002 | 12 | 4 | Hibernian | v. Malta, September 2024 |
FW | Michael Mellon | 5 December 2003 | 4 | 0 | Stockport County | v. Austria, June 2024 |
FW | Tommy Conway | 6 August 2002 | 7 | 3 | Middlesbrough | v. Austria, June 2024 |
FW | Ben Doak | 11 November 2005 | 7 | 2 | Liverpool | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
FW | Robbie Ure | 24 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | RSCA Futures | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
FW | Emilio Lawrence | 20 September 2005 | 0 | 0 | Manchester City | v. Belgium, November 2023 |
FW | Rory Wilson | 5 January 2006 | 3 | 0 | Aston Villa | v. Malta, October 2023 |
FW | Tom Dickson-Peters | 16 September 2002 | 3 | 0 | Unattached | v. Wales, March 2023 |
FW | Stuart McKinstry | 18 September 2002 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | v. Iceland, November 2022 |
FW | Kai Kennedy | 28 March 2002 | 1 | 0 | Queen of the South | v. Belgium, November 2021 |
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