# Scotland national under-21 football team

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.

## History

Scotland played under-23 international matches, mainly friendlies against England and Wales, from 1955 until 1975. 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.
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. 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 and Iceland respectively.
In 2018, an under-21 squad returned to the Toulon Tournament. Despite the loss to Turkey in a penalty-out for third-place. Scotland did receive the tournament Fair Play Award.

## Competitive record

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place 0000 Tournament held on home soil

### UEFA European U-21 Championship Record

| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
| 1976 | 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 | did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 12 |
| 2002 | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 2004 | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 |
| 2006 | did not qualify | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 17 |
| 2007 | did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2009 | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 |
| 2011 | did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 11 |
| 2013 | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 9 |
| 2015 | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| 2017 | did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 |
| 2019 | did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 13 |
| 2021 | did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 5 |
| 2023 | did not qualify | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.

### Other tournaments

| Year | Competition | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
| 1977 | Toulon Tournament | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| 1991 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 1992 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 1993 | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 1994 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 1995 | Toulon Tournament | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 1997 | Toulon Tournament | Group Stage | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1999 | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2000 | Three Nations Tournament | 1st place | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2018 | Toulon Tournament | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided by a penalty shootout.

## Head coaches

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. Stark resigned from the position in November 2014.
| Tenure | Head Coach/Manager |
| 1975–1982 | Andy Roxburgh |
| 1982–1986 | Walter Smith |
| 1986–1993 | Craig Brown |
| 1993–1998 | Tommy Craig |
| 1998–2002 | Alex Smith |
| 2002–2005 | Rainer Bonhof |
| 2005–2006 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker) |
| 2006–2007 | Archie Knox |
| 2007–2008 | Maurice Malpas (caretaker) |
| 2008–2014 | Billy Stark |
| 2014–2015 | Ricky Sbragia (caretaker) |
| 2015 | Danny Lennon (caretaker) |
| 2015–2016 | Ricky Sbragia |
| 2016–present | Scot Gemmill |

## Players
### Leading appearances

    As of match played 5 June 2022
| 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.

### Leading goalscorers

    As of match played 5 June 2022
| 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. It is now also possible to play for one country at youth level and another country at senior level (providing the player is eligible). For instance, Nigel Quashie played for England under-21s and Scotland. Until the late 1980s, teams were allowed to select some over-age players in the under-21 team, similar to the present arrangement in football at the Summer Olympics.

## Current squad

Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were selected for the friendly matches against Republic of Ireland and Iceland in March 2025.
Caps and goals updated as of 11 October 2024, after the match against Kazakhstan. Clubs correct as of 3 February 2025.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Murray Johnson | (2004-11-13) 13 November 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Queen of the South |
| 1GK | Ruairidh Adams | (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Kelty Hearts |
| 1GK | Rory Mahady | (2006-08-16) 16 August 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 1GK | Liam McFarlane | (2004-09-26) 26 September 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | East Fife |
| 2DF | Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen | (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 20) | 13 | 2 | Dunfermline Athletic |
| 2DF | Matthew Anderson | (2004-01-25) 25 January 2004 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Admira Wacker |
| 2DF | Ewan Wilson | (2004-11-19) 19 November 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Motherwell |
| 2DF | Lenny Agbaire | (2005-03-04) 4 March 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Ayr United |
| 2DF | Josh Dede | (2006-01-04) 4 January 2006 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Middlesbrough |
| 2DF | Colby Donovan | (2006-09-07) 7 September 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Celtic |
| 2DF | Adam Forrester | (2005-03-31) 31 March 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian |
| 2DF | Luke Graham | (2004-02-11) 11 February 2004 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Falkirk |
| 2DF | Dylan Smith | (2006-06-21) 21 June 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Ross County |
| 3MF | Daniel Kelly | (2005-10-03) 3 October 2005 (age 19) | 4 | 0 | Millwall |
| 3MF | David Watson | (2005-02-12) 12 February 2005 (age 20) | 4 | 0 | Kilmarnock |
| 3MF | Miller Thomson | (2004-07-20) 20 July 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Falkirk |
| 3MF | Jude Bonnar | (2005-11-17) 17 November 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Celtic |
| 3MF | Cam Bragg | (2005-04-10) 10 April 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Southampton |
| 3MF | Finlay Pollock | (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Raith Rovers |
| 3MF | Bailey Rice | (2006-10-04) 4 October 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Rangers |
| 4FW | Adedire Mebude | (2004-05-28) 28 May 2004 (age 20) | 13 | 2 | Hamburger SV |
| 4FW | Ryan Oné | (2006-06-26) 26 June 2006 (age 18) | 2 | 0 | Sheffield United |
| 4FW | Bobby Wales | (2005-06-23) 23 June 2005 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Kilmarnock |
| 4FW | Emilio Lawrence | (2005-09-20) 20 September 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Manchester City |

### Recent call-ups

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 |
| DF | Leon King | (2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 21) | 12 | 0 | Queen's Park | v. Belgium, October 2024$^{WTH}$ |
| DF | Ben McPherson | (2004-03-19) 19 March 2004 (age 20) | 5 | 0 | Unattached | v. Kazakhstan, March 2024 |
| DF | Kerr Smith | (2004-12-12) 12 December 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa | v. Malta, October 2023 |
| MF | Lennon Miller | (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 18) | 5 | 2 | Motherwell | v. Kazakhstan, October 2024 |
| MF | Ryan Duncan | (2004-01-18) 18 January 2004 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Queen's Park | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
| MF | Ben Summers | (2004-06-16) 16 June 2004 (age 20) | 5 | 0 | Admira Wacker | v. Spain, September 2023 |
| MF | Josh Adam | (2004-02-03) 3 February 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Wrexham | v. Wales, March 2023 |
| FW | Ben Doak | (2005-11-11) 11 November 2005 (age 19) | 7 | 2 | Middlesbrough | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
| FW | Robbie Ure | (2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | IK Sirius | v. Hungary, November 2023 |
| FW | Rory Wilson | (2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 19) | 3 | 0 | Aston Villa | v. 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

* 1996 European Championship squad