Scotland national under-21 football team
National under-20 association football team representing Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| 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  (Plzeň, Czechoslovakia; 12 October 1976) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Scotland 12–0 Gibraltar  (Dundee, Scotland; 10 October 2025)[4] | |||
| 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) | ||
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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[8] and Iceland[9] respectively.
In 2018, an under-21 squad returned to the Toulon Tournament.[10] Despite the loss to Turkey in a penalty-out for third-place.[11] Scotland did receive the tournament Fair Play Award.[12]
Competitive record
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament held on home soil
UEFA European U-21 Championship Record
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
 1976[a] | Quarter-finals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| 1978 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |||||||
| 1980 | Quarter-finals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 5 | |
| 1982 | Semi-finals | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | |
| 1984 | Quarter-finals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 6 | |
| 1986 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| 1988 | Quarter-finals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 1990 | Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 | |||||||
| 1992 | Semi-finals | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 5 | |
 1994 | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | |||||||
 1996 | Fourth place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 | |
 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 | ||||||||
 2025 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 11 | ||||||||
  2027 | In Progress | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 7 | |||||||
| Total | Semi-finals | 20 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 193 | 84 | 42 | 67 | 294 | 231 | |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.
Other tournaments
| Year | Competition | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Toulon Tournament | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | [13] |
| 1991 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | [14] |
| 1992 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | [15] |
| 1993 | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | [16] |
| 1994 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | [17] |
| 1995 | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | [18] |
| 1997 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | [19] |
| 1999 | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [20] |
 2000 | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | [21][22] |
| 2018 | Toulon Tournament | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | [23] |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.
Head coaches
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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.[24] Stark resigned from the position in November 2014.[25]
| Tenure | Head coach/Manager |
|---|---|
| 1975–1982 | Andy Roxburgh |
| 1982–1986 | Walter Smith |
| 1986–1993 | Craig Brown |
| 1993–1998 | Tommy Craig[26] |
| 1998–2002 | Alex Smith[26][27] |
| 2002–2005 | Rainer Bonhof[27][28] |
| 2005–2006 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker)[29] |
| 2006–2007 | Archie Knox[30] |
| 2007–2008 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker)[31] |
| 2008–2014 | Billy Stark[24][25] |
| 2014–2015 | Ricky Sbragia (caretaker)[25] |
| 2015 | Danny Lennon (caretaker)[32] |
| 2015–2016 | Ricky Sbragia[33] |
| 2016–present | Scot Gemmill[1] |
Players
Leading appearances
- As of match played 31 March 2026[34]
| 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 |
| 8 | Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen | 2023–Present | Leeds United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dunfermline Athletic | 22 | 3 | 0.14 |
| 10 | Stuart Armstrong | 2010–2014 | Dundee United | 20 | 4 | 0.2 |
| 10 | Jamie McCunnie | 2001–2005 | Dundee United, Ross County, Dunfermline Athletic | 20 | 1 | 0.05 |
| 10 | Jordan McGhee | 2013–2017 | Heart of Midlothian | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 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.
Leading goalscorers
- As of match played 31 March 2026[34]
| 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.
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).[6] For instance, Nigel Quashie played for England under-21s and Scotland.[6] Until the late 1980s, teams were allowed to select some over-age players in the under-21 team,[35][36][37] similar to the present arrangement in football at the Summer Olympics.[38]
Current squad
The following players were selected for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Czech Republic and Portugal in March 2026.[39]
Caps and goals updated as of 31 March 2026, after the match against Portugal.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Ruairidh Adams | 10 July 2004 | 4 | 0 | East Fife |
| 12 | GK | Liam McFarlane | 26 September 2004 | 0 | 0 | Alloa Athletic |
| 21 | GK | Woody Williamson | 7 July 2006 | 0 | 0 | Ipswich Town |
| 2 | DF | Dylan Lobban | 26 August 2005 | 4 | 0 | Aberdeen |
| 5 | DF | Luke Graham | 11 February 2004 | 3 | 0 | Dundee |
| 18 | DF | Sam Cleall-Harding | 26 March 2006 | 8 | 1 | Airdrieonians |
| 19 | DF | Mitchel Frame | 25 January 2006 | 2 | 0 | Aberdeen |
| 20 | DF | Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen | 17 June 2004 | 22 | 3 | Dunfermline Athletic |
| 22 | DF | Connor Allan | 10 January 2004 | 4 | 0 | Falkirk |
| DF | Matthew Anderson | 25 January 2004 | 12 | 0 |  Kortrijk | |
| DF | Colby Donovan | 7 September 2006 | 1 | 0 | Celtic | |
| 6 | MF | Kyle Ure | 14 January 2006 | 4 | 0 | Ayr United |
| 14 | MF | David Watson | 12 February 2005 | 14 | 1 | Kilmarnock |
| 16 | MF | Tyler Fletcher | 19 March 2007 | 1 | 0 | Manchester United |
| 17 | MF | Ryan Carr | 23 September 2004 | 4 | 0 | Ipswich Town |
| MF | Cam Bragg | 10 April 2005 | 2 | 0 | Southampton | |
| 4 | FW | Josh Dede | 4 January 2006 | 0 | 0 | Middlesbrough |
| 7 | FW | Adedire Mebude | 28 May 2004 | 19 | 4 |  Çaykur Rizespor |
| 8 | FW | Barney Stewart | 7 April 2004 | 4 | 0 | Falkirk |
| 9 | FW | James Wilson | 6 March 2007 | 7 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 10 | FW | Ryan Oné | 26 June 2006 | 11 | 1 | Lincoln City |
| 11 | FW | Emilio Lawrence | 20 September 2005 | 7 | 4 | Manchester City |
| 15 | FW | Taylor Steven | 17 September 2004 | 3 | 1 | St Johnstone |
| 23 | FW | Andy Tod | 26 February 2006 | 3 | 0 | Dunfermline Athletic |
| FW | Robbie Ure | 24 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | IK Sirius | |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad within the last twelve months and remain eligible (current clubs shown).
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Rory Mahady | 16 August 2006 | 1 | 0 | Leeds United |
v.  Bulgaria, 18 November 2025 |
| GK | Callan McKenna | 22 December 2006 | 0 | 0 | Bournemouth |
v. Portugal, 9 September 2025 |
| GK | Murray Johnson | 13 November 2004 | 2 | 0 | Hibernian |
v.  Republic of Ireland, March 2025WTH |
| DF | Ben McPherson | 19 March 2004 | 9 | 0 | Partick Thistle |
v. Bulgaria, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | Lenny Agbaire | 4 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | Rotherham United |
v.  Azerbaijan, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Dylan Smith | 21 June 2006 | 2 | 0 | Ross County |
v. Portugal, 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Adam Forrester | 31 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian |
v.  Iceland, March 2025 |
| DF | Charlie McArthur | 12 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | Newcastle United |
v. Iceland, March 2025 |
| DF | Ewan Wilson | 19 November 2004 | 5 | 0 | Motherwell |
v. Iceland, March 2025 |
| MF | Kristi Montgomery | 31 May 2004 | 1 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers |
v. Czech Republic, 27 March 2026WTH |
| MF | Ethan Sutherland | 25 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
v. Bulgaria, 18 November 2025 |
| MF | Daniel Kelly | 3 October 2005 | 7 | 0 | Millwall |
v. Bulgaria, 18 November 2025 |
| MF | Macaulay Tait | 27 August 2005 | 0 | 0 | Livingston |
v. Azerbaijan, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Rudi Molotnikov | 23 May 2006 | 1 | 0 | Hibernian |
v. Azerbaijan, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Findlay Curtis | 1 October 2006 | 0 | 0 | Rangers |
v. Azerbaijan, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Aidan Borland | 25 April 2007 | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa |
v. Portugal, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Cameron Gardner | 22 September 2005 | 0 | 0 | Grimsby Town |
v. Portugal, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Ts’oanelo Lets’osa | 6 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | Partick Thistle |
v. Portugal, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Finlay Pollock | 27 June 2004 | 1 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian |
v. Iceland, March 2025 |
| MF | Jude Bonnar | 17 November 2005 | 2 | 1 | Ayr United |
v. Iceland, March 2025 |
| MF | Bailey Rice | 4 October 2006 | 2 | 0 | Rangers |
v. Iceland, March 2025 |
| FW | Rory Wilson | 5 January 2006 | 4 | 0 | Aston Villa |
v. Bulgaria, 18 November 2025 |
| FW | Miller Thomson | 20 July 2004 | 5 | 1 | Ross County |
v. Azerbaijan, 14 October 2025 |
| FW | Bobby Wales | 23 June 2005 | 3 | 1 |  Swansea City |
v. Iceland, March 2025 |
| ||||||
Past squads
Notes
- Under-23 competition.
