Amy McDonald (Scottish footballer)

Amy McDonald (born 17 October 1985) is a Scottish football coach and former player for the Scotland national team as well as Hamilton Athletic, Kilmarnock, Queen's Park, Celtic and Glasgow City in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

Amy McDonald
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-10-17) 17 October 1985
Place of birth Rutherglen, Scotland
Position(s) Central defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rangers (section manager)
Youth career
East Kilbride
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Hamilton Athletic
2005–2007 Kilmarnock
2007–2008 Queen's Park
2008–2009 Kilmarnock
2009–2011 Celtic 6+ (0+)
2011–2012 Glasgow City 10 (1)
International career
2002–2003 Scotland U19
2004–2009 Scotland 30 (0)
Managerial career
2012–2017 Glasgow City (youth)
2017–2019 Rangers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After working in youth development at Glasgow City, in May 2017 she became the head coach of Rangers Women, moving to a role as overall manager of the women's section of the club in 2019.

Playing career

Club

Born in Rutherglen and a pupil at Stonelaw High School in the town,[1] McDonald emerged as a central defender or defensive midfielder. Her progression into elite football coincided with the introduction of the new Scottish Women's Premier League. She spent time as a youth with East Kilbride (recruited initially as a goalkeeper)[2] and began her senior career with Hamilton Athletic.

In 2005, McDonald moved to Kilmarnock. In May 2006 she played a pivotal role in Killie winning the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup 3–2 against Glasgow City, scoring in the first half of the final and deputising as goalkeeper for the entire second half due to an injury, keeping a clean sheet.[3]

In summer 2007, 21-year-old McDonald signed for newly-promoted Queen's Park and in November captained the team in another SWPL Cup final, which this time ended with a defeat to Hibernian;[4][5] at the end of the season the Queen's Park squad (including future international Jen Beattie) broke up and the club resigned from the league, with McDonald rejoining Kilmarnock for 2008–09.

In summer 2009, Celtic secured McDonald's services for their third campaign in the SWPL, immediately installing her as captain. The Hoops, who also brought in Scotland players Gemma Fay and Suzanne Grant to strengthen their squad,[6] finished runners-up in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons (the league having transitioned from a winter to a summer schedule), and defeated Rangers 8–0 in the inaugural fixture between the rivals, with McDonald among the scorers. In May 2010 Celtic secured a first major trophy in the women's game by winning the SWPL Cup, McDonald lifting the trophy after a 4–1 win over Spartans.[7][8] However her form fluctuated and she took a break from football to deal with personal issues going into the following season, and in June 2011 she was released by Celtic.[2]

A short time later, 25-year-old McDonald was acquired by reigning Scottish champions Glasgow City.[9] She featured in most of the remaining games in the 2011 Scottish Women's Premier League (which ended with a fifth successive title and a perfect season for the club), but did not make the squad for the final of the 2011 Scottish Women's Cup. She made one substitute appearance for City in the Champions League, scoring an own goal in a club record 0–10 defeat against Potsdam.[10]

The 2012 season proved to be McDonald's last as a player. Having made six appearances for Glasgow City at the start of the campaign, she suffered a serious ankle ligament injury in a cup game against Aberdeen on 15 April 2012. She was an unused substitute in the 2012 SWPL Cup final[11] which Glasgow City won as part of a treble, but despite her best efforts and several operations, she was unable to fully recover to play competitively again, bowing out at the age of just 26.[lower-alpha 1] It was also a blow to the club, as manager Eddie Wolecki Black had commented on her arrival that he expected McDonald to be "An integral part of the team for years to come";[9] however she was an active member of the squad for less than a year before being forced to quit.

  1. Soccerway credits 2 appearances and 2 goals in mid-2012 to Amy,[12] but these should be attributed to striker Ashley McDonald (also born in 1985) who signed for Glasgow City shortly after Amy's injury.[13][14]

International

After being part of the various age-group squads in her formative years,[15][16][1] McDonald earned 30 full caps for Scotland between 2004 and 2009, as well as being a member of the squad for many other fixtures.[17][18][19][20][21][1][22] Her final appearance came in September 2009 against Switzerland.

While playing for Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Queen's Park she was usually the only representative of each club selected for national squads; she stated that she chose to sign for the weaker SWPL clubs in the early part of her career as she would be more likely to play regularly, and to find herself having to deal with more challenging defensive situations.[2]

Coaching career

McDonald had gained qualifications and work experience in sports coaching and had shown enthusiasm and aptitude for coaching since joining Glasgow City, so when forced to retire from playing she was invited to take up a voluntary role with the club overseeing their youth system;[23] she was presented with an SFA Grassroots Award for her efforts as a volunteer.[24] In July 2014 this was made a full-time position, working under the club manager Laura Montgomery,[25][26] with McDonald also completing her UEFA A Licence during the period. In the 2015 season, each of the Glasgow City age-group teams under her charge reached the final of their respective Scottish Cup.[27] She also became involved with coaching the Scotland Under-15 squad.

On 3 May 2017 McDonald was appointed as the head coach of SWPL club Rangers W.F.C.,[28][29] following on from Kevin Murphy who had moved to Manchester City W.F.C. at the end of the 2016 season.[30] Her first game in charge was against one of her former clubs, Hamilton Accies, who had been coached by Murphy during McDonald's playing spell there. Rangers achieved a 4-0 victory.[31]

in July 2019, McDonald moved to a role as the overall manager of the women's section at Rangers after the club announced a programme of increased investment; Grégory Vignal was appointed as head coach for the senior team.[32][33]

Personal life

In 2006, McDonald graduated from the University of the West of Scotland (via Glasgow College of Nautical Studies) with a BA degree in Sport studies. Prior to becoming a full-time football coach she also worked in the social care sector with the charity Quarriers and as a sports instructor with Glasgow Life (an agency of Glasgow City Council).[20]

She is a keen user of social media, and during her time at Glasgow City was quick to comment on issues in Scottish football which she perceived as misogynistic or homophobic.[34][35][36]

Managerial statistics

As of 8 July 2019 (end of head coach role)[37]

Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Rangers Women Scotland 3 May 2017 8 July 2019 58 24 4 30 041.38
Total 58 24 4 30 041.38

References
  1. "Scotland call-up for Amy McDonald". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. "'A rare species' - Podcast interview with Craig Joyce, 2016". The 6, 8 or 10 via SoundCloud. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. "Killie show City team who's boss". KillieFC.com. 14 May 2006. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. "Hibernian v Queens' Park - Premier League Cup Final". Match report archives. Spartans W.F.C. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  5. Gavin Madeley (10 November 2007). "Match Report". The Pink. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  6. The Mistakes of Celtic’s Lost Decade Must Not Be Repeated, The Celtic Star, 8 December 2021
  7. "Celtic secure women's League Cup". BBC Sport. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. "Celtic break trophy duck in style". WSS. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. "City in double signing swoop". Glasgow City F.C. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. "Glasgow City outclassed by Potsdam". Glasgow City F.C. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. "Glasgow City defeat Spartans to win the Scottish Premier League Cup". Spartans W.F.C. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  12. "Amy McDonald profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  13. "Glasgow City make two new signings". Glasgow City F.C. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. "Ashley McDonald profile". Glasgow City F.C. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  15. "Under 17 tournament in Dumfries". Scottish Football Association. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  16. "Women Prepare For European Assault". ScotlandMad.co.uk. 28 August 2002. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  17. "Win essential for women". Scottish Football Association. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  18. "Deutschland 4 Schottland 0" (in German). DFB (German Football Association). 20 October 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  19. "Belgium 0 Scotland 3". Match report archives. Spartans W.F.C. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  20. "The beautiful game". The Scotsman. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  21. "Hibs Ladies hogging the sunlight as Scotland jet out for Cyprus Cup bid". The Scotsman. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  22. "Women's A Squad Announced". Scottish Football Association. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  23. "Amy McDonald is appointed Head of Youth Development". Glasgow City F.C. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  24. "Recognition for West Region's Grassroots Heroes". Scottish Football Association. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  25. "Glasgow City: Amy McDonald made first full-time head of youth". BBC Sport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  26. "Glasgow City appoint full-time Head of Youth". Glasgow City F.C. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  27. "Cambuslang football coach helps Glasgow City Ladies' teams to Scottish Cup success". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  28. "New Ladies Head Coach Confirmed". Official website. Rangers F.C. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  29. "Amy McDonald to be Rangers Ladies' new head coach". BBC Sport. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  30. "Q&A: Kevin Murphy". Official website. Rangers F.C. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  31. "Ladies: Accies 0-4 Rangers". Official website. Rangers F.C. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  32. "Rangers Women: Gregory Vignal made head coach as club aim to add pro players". BBC Sport. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  33. "Rangers Women's Programme Investment Increased". Rangers F.C. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  34. "BBC acts to take radio pundit off air after sexist rant". The Herald. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  35. "SPOTY: Amy McDonald backs calls for inquiry into homophobia as she slams Tyson Fury nomination". The National. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  36. "Fifa official slams Ayr United over topless model kit launch". STV. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  37. "Rangers LFC results". Soccerway. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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