Gary Mackay-Steven

Scottish association football player

Gary Mackay-Steven

Mackay-Steven playing for Celtic in 2017

Personal information
Full name|  Gary Sean Mackay-Steven[1]
Date of birth|  (1990-08-31) 31 August 1990 (age 34)[2]
Place of birth|  Thurso, Scotland
Height|  5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s)|  Winger
Team information

Current team

|  Ross County
Youth career
|  Ross County
2007–2009|  Liverpool
2009–2011|  Fulham
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2011|  Airdrie United|  19|  (0)
2011–2015|  Dundee United|  110|  (21)
2015–2017|  Celtic|  46|  (8)
2017–2019|  Aberdeen|  51|  (9)
2019–2020|  New York City|  35|  (3)
2021–2023|  Heart of Midlothian|  53|  (6)
2023–2025|  Kilmarnock|  19|  (1)
2025–|  Ross County|  1|  (0)
International career‡
2012|  Scotland U21|  3|  (1)
2013–2018|  Scotland|  2|  (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:37, 3 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 December 2021

Gary Sean Mackay-Steven (born 31 August 1990) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ross County.

Having not made the first team at English clubs Liverpool and Fulham, he began his professional career with Airdrie United in January 2011, spending half a season there before moving to top-flight team Dundee United. He remained with Dundee United until February 2015, when he was signed by Celtic for £250,000. He joined Aberdeen in 2017, and later moved to New York City FC when his contract expired in July 2019. Mackay-Steven returned to Scottish football in 2021 with Heart of Midlothian.

Mackay-Steven has made two full international appearances for Scotland.

## Club career

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

Born in Thurso, Caithness, Mackay-Steven began his youth career with Ross County before moving to English Premier League side Liverpool in 2007.[3] After spending two years in the reserve and youth sides, Mackay-Steven was released after an injury-plagued season.[4] He trained with Fulham before eventually returning to Scotland.[4]

### Airdrie United

[edit]

On 11 January 2011, Mackay-Steven joined Scottish Second Division side Airdrie United.[4] He made his debut a week later in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, starting against Greenock Morton at Cappielow Park and scoring the opening goal of a 2–2 draw from 25 yards out.[5] A week later, in the replay at the Excelsior Stadium, Mackay-Steven scored again, albeit in a 5–2 defeat.[6] He played 19 league matches in the remainder of the season, but did not score.

### Dundee United

[edit]

On 13 July 2011, Mackay-Steven signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premier League club Dundee United.[7] He made his debut eight days later as an 80th-minute substitute for Johnny Russell in a UEFA Europa League match against Śląsk Wrocław, which his club won 3–2 but were nonetheless eliminated on the away goals rule.[8] On 24 July, he made his league debut for the club on the opening day of the season, coming on for Barry Douglas for the last 30 minutes of a 1–1 draw against Kilmarnock at Tannadice Park.[9] On 29 August, Mackay-Steven scored his first goal for the club (and his first career league goal), netting in the 3–3 draw at St Johnstone.[10] By the end of the 2011–12 season, Mackay-Steven had established a regular starting place in the first team and become a huge fans' favourite thanks to his large role in helping turn around United's poor start to the season. Mackay-Steven signed an extended contract with the club in January 2012.[11]

Blackburn Rovers scouts were reported to have been watching Mackay-Steven on 24 August 2013, in Dundee United's 4–0 victory over St Johnstone, a game in which he scored.[12] On 12 April 2014, he scored Dundee United's second goal in a 3–1 win against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi–final at Ibrox.[13] In the final on 17 May, he started in a 2–0 defeat to St Johnstone at Celtic Park, being substituted for Ryan Gauld after 64 minutes.[14]

He scored twice as Dundee United won the Dundee derby 6–2 against Dundee on 1 January 2015.[15]

### Celtic

[edit]

Mackay-Steven in action in a friendly against Rapid Vienna in July 2017

On 16 January 2015, Mackay-Steven signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic at the end of the season on the expiry of his Dundee United contract.[16] In the January transfer window, he had been pursued by Nigel Clough, manager of English League One club Sheffield United, who made three bids up to £100,000 while Dundee United wanted a minimum of £250,000.[16] On the transfer deadline day, 2 February, Celtic made an offer of £250,000 and the move was completed immediately, with his Dundee United teammate Stuart Armstrong joining in a separate deal at the same time.[17] Five days later, the pair watched from the stands as Celtic won 2–0 at Dundee in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.[18]

Mackay-Steven made his debut on 11 February away to Partick Thistle, scoring after 37 seconds in a 3–0 victory.[19] His first goal at Celtic Park came on 1 March as the third in a 4–0 win over Aberdeen, with a shot from 20 yards.[20] On 15 March Celtic won the Scottish League Cup final against Dundee United, but Mackay-Steven was cup-tied, having already represented Dundee United in the tournament that season.[21]

### Aberdeen

[edit]

On 12 July 2017, Mackay-Steven signed a two-year contract with Aberdeen for an undisclosed fee.[22] He made his debut the following day in a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round first leg at home to NK Široki Brijeg, starting in a 1–1 draw. In the second leg in Bosnia a week after, he scored to wrap up a 2–0 win and advancement.[23]

Mackay-Steven scored his first league goal for Aberdeen on 14 October, the only one of a victory at Hibernian.[24] On 16 December, against the same opponents, he scored his first senior hat-trick in a 4–1 win.[25] Mackay-Steven won the Scottish Cup Goal of the Fourth round award for his strike in the 4–1 win against St Mirren.[26]

In the 2018 Scottish League Cup final against former club Celtic on 2 December 2018, Mackay-Steven was stretchered from the field after being knocked unconscious by a clash of heads with Dedryck Boyata shortly before the end of the first half (Aberdeen lost 1–0).[27] He was released from hospital after a few days[28] and returned to playing towards the end of January 2019.[29]

### New York City FC

[edit]

On 24 June 2019, Mackay-Steven joined Major League Soccer side New York City on a free transfer, effective from the start of the league's transfer window on 9 July.[30] He made his debut on 14 July during the Hudson River Derby away to the New York Red Bulls as an 84th-minute substitute for Valentín Castellanos in a 2–1 loss.[31] He scored his first goal on his 29th birthday on 31 August in a 3–1 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, after replacing the injured Héber.[32]

Following their 2020 season, Mackay-Steven departed the club after New York City opted to decline their contract option for Mackay-Steven.[33]

### Heart of Midlothian

[edit]

On 8 January 2021, Mackay-Steven returned to Scotland to sign with Heart of Midlothian on a deal to run until the summer of 2023.[34]

Mackay-Steven only made six appearances for Hearts during the 2022–23 season, as he suffered a foot injury in December.[35] Hearts announced in May that Mackay-Steven would leave the club at the end of the season,[36] although he was allowed the use of their facilities as he recovered from the foot injury.[35]

### Kilmarnock

[edit]

Mackay-Steven started training with Kilmarnock during October 2023,[35] and he signed a short-term contract with the club in December.[37]

## International career

[edit]

Mackay-Steven made his first international appearance for Scotland on 15 November 2013, replacing Craig Conway for the last six minutes of a goalless friendly draw against the United States at Hampden Park.[38]

He was recalled to the Scotland squad in October 2018, for a friendly against Portugal.[39] He came on as a substitute in the 67th minute, and assisted Steven Naismith in scoring Scotland's only goal of the game.[40]

## Personal life

[edit]

On 27 August 2017, Mackay-Steven was rescued from the River Kelvin in Glasgow after falling in. He was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia.[41][42]

## Career statistics

[edit]

As of match played 18 May 2025[43]
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
Airdrie United | 2010–11[44] | Scottish Second Division | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2
Dundee United | 2011–12[45] | Scottish Premier League | 31 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 36 | 5
2012–13[46] | Scottish Premier League  | 23 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 29 | 7
2013–14[47] | Scottish Premiership | 35 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 41 | 10
2014–15[48] | Scottish Premiership  | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 25 | 5
Total  | 110 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 131 | 27
Celtic | 2014–15[48] | Scottish Premiership  | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 15 | 4
2015–16[49] | Scottish Premiership  | 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7[b] | 0 | 37 | 6
2016–17[50] | Scottish Premiership  | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 10 | 0
Total  | 46 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 62 | 10
Aberdeen | 2017–18[51] | Scottish Premiership  | 31 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | 42 | 9
2018–19[52] | Scottish Premiership  | 20 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2[a] | 1 | 30 | 7
Total  | 51 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 72 | 16
New York City | 2019[43] | Major League Soccer | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 1
2020[53] | 23  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 2[d] | 0  | 25  | 2
Total  | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 3
Heart of Midlothian | 2020–21[54] | Scottish Championship | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 4
2021–22[55] | Scottish Premiership  | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 40 | 4
2022–23[56] | Scottish Premiership  | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0
Total  | 53 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 8
Kilmarnock | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership  | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1
2024–25 | Scottish Premiership  | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0
Total  | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1
Career Total  | 333 | 48 | 31 | 12 | 21 | 5 | 24 | 2 | 409 | 67

1. ^ a b c d e Appearances in the Europa League
2. ^ Five appearances in the Champions League and two in the Europa League
3. ^ Appearance in the Champions League
4. ^ Appearances in the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament

## Honours

[edit]

Celtic

* Scottish Premiership: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17[57]
* Scottish League Cup: 2016–17[58]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Game Report – Game ID #6504903". U.S. Open Cup. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
2. ^ a b "Gary Mackay-Steven: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
3. ^ "Liverpool sign up Ross County kid". BBC Sport. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
4. ^ a b c "Airdrie bring in former Liverpool youth". Scottish Football League. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
5. ^ "Morton 2-2 Airdrie". BBC Sport. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
6. ^ "Airdrie 2-5 Morton". BBC Sport. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
7. ^ "Winger Gary MacKay-Steven joins Dundee United". BBC Sport. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
8. ^ "Dundee Utd 3-2 Slask Wroclaw". BBC Sport. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
9. ^ "Dundee United 1-1 Kilmarnock". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
10. ^ "St Johnstone 3 Dundee United 3: Perth men count cost of late madness". The Courier. 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
11. ^ "Dundee United's Gary Mackay-Steven extends contract until 2015". BBC Sport. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
12. ^ "Dundee United star Gary Mackay-Steven aims to show Scotland boss Gordon Strachan what he's missing". Daily Record. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
13. ^ Wilson, Richard (12 April 2014). "Rangers 1-3 Dundee United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
14. ^ Wilson, Richard (17 May 2014). "St Johnstone 2-0 Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
15. ^ Campbell, Andy (1 January 2015). "Dundee Utd 6-2 Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
16. ^ a b "Celtic: Gary Mackay-Steven agrees summer switch". BBC Sport. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
17. ^ Spence, Jim (2 February 2015). "Stuart Armstrong & Gary Mackay-Steven join Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
18. ^ McVake, Roddie (7 February 2015). "Dundee 0-2 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
19. ^ "Partick Thistle 0-3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
20. ^ Wilson, Richard (1 March 2015). "Celtic 4-0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
21. ^ Wilson, Richard (14 March 2015). "Dundee Utd 0-2 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
22. ^ "Gary Mackay-Steven joins Aberdeen from Celtic on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
23. ^ Parks, Gordon (20 July 2017). "Aberdeen ignore Siroki warnings of hell as Stewart and Mackay-Steven goals leave Dons in heaven – big match verdict". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
24. ^ "Derek McInnes salutes Aberdeen star Gary Mackay-Steven after bagging winner against Hibs". Daily Record. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
25. ^ "Aberdeen 4 – 1 Hibs: Mackay-Steven nets treble in thumping win". The Scotsman. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
26. ^ "Gary Mackay-Steven wins William Hill Scottish Cup Goal of the Fourth Round award". Scottish FA. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
27. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (2 December 2018). "Ryan Christie fires Celtic to victory over Aberdeen in Scottish League Cup final". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
28. ^ Mackay-Steven breaks silence to thank medical staff for treatment after horror Betfred Cup final injury, Evening Express, 7 December 2018
29. ^ Rd 22: Gary Mackay-Steven: Hamilton Accies Preview Archived 22 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Aberdeen FC, 22 January 2019
30. ^ New York City FC Signs Gary Mackay-Steven, New York City FC, 24 June 2019
31. ^ Boehm, Charles (14 July 2019). "New York Red Bulls 2, New York City FC 1 – 2019 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com.
32. ^ "NYCFC dispose of Whitecaps for 4th straight win". ESPN FC. Reuters. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
33. ^ "New York City FC Announces Roster Moves For 2021 | New York City FC".
34. ^ "GMS joins Jambos | Heart of Midlothian Football Club". heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
35. ^ a b c Paton, Ewan (19 October 2023). "Gary Mackay-Steven Kilmarnock contract chances addressed". The Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
36. ^ "Trio to leave". heartsfc.co.uk. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
37. ^ "Mackay-Steven joins Kilmarnock on short-term deal". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
38. ^ Lamont, Alasdair (15 November 2013). "Scotland 0-0 USA". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
39. ^ Lewis, Jane (13 October 2018). "Scotland: Charlie Mulgrew, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney and Robert Snodgrass withdraw from squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
40. ^ English, Tom (14 October 2018). "Scotland 1–3 Portugal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
41. ^ "Footballer Gary Mackay-Steven is pulled from River Kelvin". BBC News. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
42. ^ "Gary Mackay-Steven opens up over River Kelvin incident". The Scotsman. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
43. ^ a b Gary Mackay-Steven at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
44. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
45. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
46. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
47. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
48. ^ a b "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
49. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
50. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
51. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
52. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
53. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2020/21". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
54. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
55. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
56. ^ "Games played by Gary Mackay-Steven in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
57. ^ Watch Celtic Invincibles lift the Premiership trophy, Scottish Professional Football League via YouTube, 21 May 2017
58. ^ English, Tom (27 November 2016). "Aberdeen 0–3 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2016.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gary Mackay-Steven.

* Gary Mackay-Steven at Soccerbase

* v
* t
* e

2011–12 PFA Scotland SPL Team of the Year

* GK: Randolph
* DF: Matthews
* DF: Gunning
* DF: Mulgrew
* DF: Dixon
* MF: Forrest
* MF: Davis
* MF: Mackay-Steven
* FW: Russell
* FW: Daly
* FW: Hooper

* v
* t
* e

Kilmarnock F.C. – current squad

* 1 Stryjek
* 2 Brandon
* 3 Ndaba
* 5 Mayo
* 6 Deas
* 7 McKenzie
* 8 Lyons
* 9 Dackers
* 10 Kennedy
* 11 Kiltie
* 12 Watson
* 14 Stanger
* 16 Magennis
* 17 Tiffoney
* 18 Lowery
* 19 Anderson
* 20 McCrorie
* 22 Thomson
* 23 Watkins
* 25 Brown
* 26 Brannan
* 27 Leslie
* 28 Craik
* 29 Daniels
* 31 Polworth
* 32 Ellis
* 33 Barlow
* 34 Mersey
* 37 Burke
* — Beach
* Manager: Kettlewell

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Thomson]: Jack Thomson
*[Brown]: Ethan Brown
*[Leslie]: Kian Leslie
*[Craik]: Zander Craik
*[Ellis]: Ruari Ellis
*[Barlow]: Duncan Barlow
*[Mersey]: Ethan Mersey
*[Burke]: Cole Burke