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Fullname: Gary Mackay-Steven
aka: Gary Mackay Steven, Gary Mackay
Born: 31 August 1990
Birthplace: Thurso, Scotland
Signed: 1 February 2015 (from Dundee Utd, est £250k)
Left: 12 July 2017 (to Aberdeen, est £150k)
Position: Midfielder, Left-Midfielder
Debut: Partick Thistle 0-3 Celtic, League, 11 Feb 2015 (scored)
Squad No.: 16
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 2 [complete at end of career]
International Goals: 0 [complete at end of career]
Biog
Arriving at Celtic in advance after some haggling with Dundee Utd over joining in January rather than wait till June having signed a pre-contract, there rarely has been a player to have signed for the club to have been as giddy as a schoolchild in their interviews on their first day as Gary Mackay-Steven. You could see the pride and joy in his face, and after a set of mostly failed transfer moves in the previous summer, the arrival of Gary Mackay-Steven along with his colleague (Stuart Armstrong) from Dundee Utd gave the fans a warm glow for a change from a transfer window.
Incredibly, it only took Mackay-Steven just one minute to make his mark, scoring the opener in a win over Partick Thistle on his debut. His friend & now colleague Stuart Armstrong also scored in this match. In the subsequent weeks, fans caught glimpses of Gary’s pace and trickery, although his slight build makes him an easy target in the Premiership. Mackay-Steven scored further goals against Aberdeen, Dundee and former employers Dundee United, the latter a stunning bending strike, to bring his tally for Celtic to four. Celtic had a gem on their hands it seemed.
The bright start heralded a great future but it was to peter out and his development to stumble. Manager Ronny Deila was finding himself out of his depth and as his own tenure began to flounder that of his players followed suit, and Gary Mackay-Stevens was to be one of them. Along with Armstrong, they just couldn’t match the bright start, but as the entire squad was under performing, they were little singled out. If anything, Mackay-Stevens’ form mirrored that of Deila’s tenure.
As a player he was naturally gifted. The type of player people seem to refer to as a throwback, in that he had natural individual talent that could not be coached. He was also a jersey player, a player who was always naturally smiling, and clearly proud and happy at his opportunity to play for Celtic. If anything there has rarely been a player as overjoyed and happy to have come to Celtic.
On the pitch, he would drop the shoulder and get by players and had good close control. He absolutely done players with exactly these traits on the bye line before at times being absolutely cleaned out.
His awareness in possession and weight of pass could be very good. He was developing, but there were concerns as well. He could do the good work well but at the crucial final moment just didn’t have the skill or experience to make the correct final pass or shot. He needed further coaching, but under Deila there were so many problems that Mackay-Steven’s issues were back in the queue.
It didn’t always work for Mackay-Steven at Celtic, based on various factors that make him the type of player he was, but there was still plenty to suggest he belonged in this environment, and could thrive on it, and he had the work ethic to keep progressing and maintaining a place.
A late burst of form in the 2015-16 season saw a plethora of goals, including a double v St Johnstone in a 3-1 win in the league, and it boded well for the next season. However, his final match that season was the demoralising defeat on penalties v TheRangers in the Scottish Cup. Mackay-Steven had been subbed off first on 71mins, but as Deila resigned soon after, the spotlight was far from Mackay-Steven and in light of the low morale at Celtic, his position was overshadowed by others.
The end of the failed Deila experiment meant a reboot for the Celtic squad, and the arrival of Rodgers signalled a new beginning or end for players.
Rodgers had respect for him and saw his talent, and gave him a number of chances. Rodgers had worked wonders with other players, including Mackay-Steven’s colleague Stuart Armstrong, in turning their careers round. This time, it was too far.
If one match more than others highlighted the problem, then it was probably the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup in February 2017 v St Mirren, then a second tier side. Celtic were clear favourites for the match, but St Mirren took the lead and Celtic badly struggled. Gary Mackay-Steven was not rated highly from this match, but he had worked tirelessly until his substitution at half-time (itself an admission by the coaching staff that he was a weak link). After that, Celtic finally got their act together and went on to win 4-1 (having been 1-0 down at half-time). Celtic had stepped up a level and he just couldn’t seem to catch up.
Armstrong was a foil to Gary Mackay-Steven, both came from the same club at the same time, and both had to date the same career. A divergence occurred under Rodgers, where Armstrong evolved and became a mainstay in the first team with many excellent performances, Mackay-Steven struggled and found himself lost.
You can’t deny the effort, the love he had of being at Celtic, the pride of wearing the jersey and his enthusiasm. So in that case it was sad to see his career at the club hit a brickwall. Rodgers was one to duly repay any player who was hard working off the field (e.g. Boyata), and Mackay-Steven was given due appearances but he couldn’t measure up to a squad that was extending itself and pushing far beyond him. He was being left behind, and in his case it was sorry to see. He played only a minor role as a bit part squad player in the incredible debut season for Rodgers where Celtic won the treble and were undefeated domestically.
A popular young player who still very much had time to turn it around at another club, and he would deserve the honours and respect he would repay them with in his performances.
He signed for Aberdeen in July 2017 to try to regain first team exposure. We wish him the best.
Post-Celtic
Went onto have a good career with Aberdeen who were on a run and making finals after a long barren spell. In Dec 2018, Aberdeen faced Celtic in the League Cup final which Celtic were to win 1-0. However, near to half-time an accidental heavy head collision with Celtic defender Boyata flattened both, and there was serious concern over Mackay-Steven’s condition as he seemed to be fully out. Thankfully, reports later stated that he was up and recovering but it was a frightening scene for all watching. Boyata actually just put bandages on his head and set up the goal that won Celtic the final.
He moved to the US to play football there in the burgeoning MSL under ex-Celtic manager Ronny Deila, but was cut after a couple of seasons. He then returned to Scotland to play with Hearts, and then Kilmarnock.
[…]
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2014-15 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Goals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015-16 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 37 |
| Goals | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016-17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 46 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 62 |
| Goals | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Honours with Celtic
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Articles
Gary Mackay-Steven savours the chance to kick on at Celtic
By ALAN PATTULLO
Published: 00:00 Monday 19 December 2016
On being handed a Celtic team-sheet that showed the hosts were far from at full-strength, Dundee might well have sniffed a chance of securing a first win at Parkhead since 2001.It was still a long shot of course. Celtic haven’t been beaten at home by domestic opposition this year – and that remains the case after Brendan Rodgers’ slightly unfamiliar looking side managed to avoid messing up a sequence of league wins that has now stretched to 11.
Gary Mackay-Steven, pictured, was one of five changes made by Rodgers, coming into the side for only his second start of the season and responding well to the urging of his friend and skipper for the day, Stuart Armstrong.
The pair arrived from Dundee United two years ago in February and while at one stage it seemed as if both were finding the step up to be beyond them, there are signs that Mackay-Steven could follow Armstrong’s lead by becoming a valuable contributor.
He and fellow fringe player Ryan Christie patrolled the flanks against Dundee, Mackay-Steven making way for the returning Scott Sinclair as the home fans were in the midst of their now traditional 67th-minute lights display.The visitors began their very nearly successful attempt at a comeback shortly afterwards when Marcus Haber cut the deficit to one after goals from Leigh Griffiths, with a trademark free-kick, and Nir Bitton had seemingly put the game beyond Dundee.
But Celtic prevailed after substitute Faissal El Bakhtaoui blazed high over the bar when through on goal with two minutes left and just Craig Gordon to beat.And now Mackay-Steven, pictured right, hopes to continue playing a part as Celtic continue a packed festive schedule against Partick Thistle tomorrow night.
He’s aware of the significance of the approaching day in February when he reaches the second anniversary of signing for Celtic. He has made only 27 league appearances, many of them as substitute, with his progress hampered by injury. The most recent of these ailments, an ankle problem, saw him miss a large part of pre-season training. That’s rarely a recipe for forcing one’s way into the plans of a new manager. There was even talk of Mackay-Steven being sent out on loan, possibly to Ross County, earlier this season.
“I missed pre-season and a large chunk of the season when I wasn’t training so now I’m just fully back and buying into the manager’s ideas of what he wants, and getting my own levels up,” he explained. “Patience is key here. We have a lot of competition in a lot of positions and everyone who steps in can do a job. You just need to be patient and take your chance when it comes.”
There’s inspiration to be had from the incremental steps taken by Armstrong, from bit-part player to mainstay and, temporarily, at least, to captain. “He was patient earlier on in the season and when he got his chance he took it and in the last few games he’s been amazing for us,” noted Mackay-Steven. “He’s chipped in with goals and assists and he’s probably been one of our best players. He’s really kicked on and I’m absolutely delighted for him.”
But the 26-year-old winger knows it’s down to him to ensure he joins Armstrong in Rodgers’ first-team plans on a regular basis. He rejects any notion that the move to Celtic cowed him to the extent he has been unable to reproduce the swashbuckling form that saw him earn a move to Parkhead in the first place.
“You can’t not enjoy playing for a club like this, it’s amazing every day,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to show yourself. I just want to look ahead really and, now I am back fit, I want to write some more chapters and look ahead to a positive future.”
Mackay-Steven certainly seemed to bear the weight of knowing he needed to impress on Saturday very lightly indeed. One run up the right flank, after which he switched play with a cross-field pass, earned an approving outbreak of applause from the home fans.
“It’s hard to deal with if you think like that,” he said, on the subject of players who have suffered from feeling they don’t quite belong on such a grand stage. “But if you look at it as a blessing and appreciate a lot of people would like to be in my position… I certainly see it as a blessing. You are playing at Celtic Park for all the amazing fans here. There’s so many people that follow the club, I look at it like I am the lucky one. So you have to enjoy it and that’s what I try to do.” Sadly for someone else trying to make their mark at a club, Dundee’s failure to gain a point was due to a miss by El Bakhtaoui likely to haunt him for some time to come.
The substitute need not castigate himself for the way in which he helped fashion the chance, but his finish was woeful. The evident rustiness is perhaps connected to his limited playing time since recovering from injury. “One minute I was on the bench and then the manager put me on,” he reflected, with the suggestion the opportunity had come too soon for him. “We had been pushing Celtic and then the chance came. I won’t miss it next time.”