View source for Billy Stark

{{About|the footballer born 1956|the footballer born 1937|Billy Stark (footballer born 1937)}}
{{short description|Scottish footballer and coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Billy Stark
| image = Bill Stark - Schottland U-21 (1).jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Stark as [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland under-21]] head coach, in 2009
| fullname = William Stark<ref name=worldfootball>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/billy-stark/ |title=Billy Stark: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=25 December 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|12|1|df=y}}<ref name=worldfootball/>
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| height = 
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| years1 = 1975–1983
| years2 = 1983–1987
| years3 = 1987–1990
| years4 = 1990–1992
| years5 = 1992–1993
| years6 = 1993–1994
| clubs1 = [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]
| clubs2 = [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]
| clubs3 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| clubs4 = [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]
| clubs5 = [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]]
| clubs6 = [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]
| caps1 = 255
| caps2 = 112
| caps3 = 64
| caps4 = 22
| caps5 = 14
| caps6 = 36
| goals1 = 60
| goals2 = 41
| goals3 = 17
| goals4 = 6
| goals5 = 0
| goals6 = 3
| totalcaps = 503
| totalgoals = 127
| nationalyears1 = 1985
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=122|title = Scotland U21 Player Billy Stark Details}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1997
| manageryears2 = 1997–2000
| manageryears3 = 2001–2004
| manageryears4 = 2004–2008
| manageryears5 = 2008–2014
| manageryears6 = 2012–2013
| manageryears7 = 2017–2018
| manageryears8 = 2018–2024
| managerclubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] (caretaker)
| managerclubs2 = [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]]
| managerclubs3 = [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]
| managerclubs4 = [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]]
| managerclubs5 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]]
| managerclubs6 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] (caretaker)
| managerclubs7 = [[East Kilbride F.C.|East Kilbride]]
| managerclubs8 = [[Scotland national under-19 football team|Scotland U19]]
}}
'''William Stark''' (born 1 December 1956) is a Scottish former [[association football|football]] player and coach. He made 500 league appearances in total, including successful spells at St Mirren, [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] and [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. He then turned to management, which has seen him take caretaker charge of both Celtic and Scotland - staying unbeaten at manager of both teams in his short spells - with longer roles at smaller club sides in Scotland.

==Playing career==
Born in [[Glasgow]],<ref name=worldfootball/> Stark made his professional debut in 1975 in nearby [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] for [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]. Two years later he won his first honour, a [[Scottish Football League First Division|First Division]] winners medal. After 255 games for St Mirren, scoring 60 goals, he was signed by [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] for £80,000. During a period of success for the side, he helped Aberdeen to win a [[European Super Cup]] in 1983, a [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Premier Division]] and [[Scottish Cup]] [[Double (association football)|double]] in 1984, another league title the following year and a [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] and Scottish Cup double in 1986.

Stark was signed by [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in 1987, for a £100,000 transfer fee. In three seasons with the club he won two further Scottish Cups and a League Championship, before leaving for [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] for two seasons. In 1992, he transferred to [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] as a player/coach, but returned to Kilmarnock the following year under manager and former Celtic colleague [[Tommy Burns (footballer)|Tommy Burns]]. Stark retired from playing in 1994, having scored over 100 league goals.

==Coaching career==
After retiring as a player, Stark became assistant to Tommy Burns at [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. When Burns left Celtic in 1997, Stark managed the side for three matches in a caretaker capacity before leaving himself. Stark then had spells managing [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]] and [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]<ref name="r1">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1580714.stm|publisher=BBC |work=BBC Sport |title=Stark is new Saints boss|date=5 October 2001}}</ref> before becoming [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]] manager in 2004.<ref name="r2">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/queens_park/3605522.stm|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Sport |title=Spiders appoint Stark boss|date=27 August 2004}}</ref>

Stark led Queen's to one of their greatest results of modern times in August 2006 at [[Firhill Stadium]], when Queen's Park beat his former club Aberdeen on [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]]s after a 0–0 draw in the [[2006–07 Scottish League Cup]].<ref name="r3">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/5271286.stm|publisher=BBC |work=BBC Sport |title=Queen's Pk 0-0 Aberdeen (5-3 pen)|date=22 August 2006}}</ref> Stark also led the Glasgow club to promotion from the [[Scottish Third Division]] and later hailed the achievement as the highlight of his football career.<ref name="r4">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/queens_park/6650417.stm|publisher=BBC |work=BBC Sport |title=Stark hails highlight of career|date=12 May 2007}}</ref>

Stark left Queen's Park on 1 January 2008 to work for the [[Scottish Football Association]], a role that involved managing the [[Scotland national under-21 football team|under-21]] national team. They reached the qualification playoffs for the [[2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|2011 European championship]], but they lost out to [[Iceland national under-21 football team|Iceland]].<ref name = "proud">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9198665.stm |title=Coach Billy Stark proud of Scotland U21s development |publisher=BBC |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=17 November 2010 |access-date=18 November 2010}}</ref> [[David Goodwillie]], [[Danny Wilson (footballer born 1991)|Danny Wilson]] and [[Barry Bannan]] were promoted from the under-21s to the [[Scotland national football team|full national team]] selected by [[Craig Levein]] in November 2010.<ref name = "proud"/> The team finished in second place in their qualifying group for the [[2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|2013 European championship]], but did not gather enough points to be eligible for the playoffs.

Stark was placed in caretaker charge of the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] national team for a friendly against [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]] in November 2012, following the departure of Craig Levein.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/international/198474-craig-levein-sacked-as-scotland-manager-by-scottish-fa/ |title=Craig Levein removed as Scotland manager by Scottish FA |work=STV Sport |publisher=STV Group |date=5 November 2012 |access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> Stark resigned from the position of Scotland under-21 manager in November 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29900310 |title=Scotland: Billy Stark 'steps down' as under-21 coach |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=4 November 2014 |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>

In June 2015, Stark was appointed assistant manager to [[Darren Young (Scottish footballer)|Darren Young]] at newly promoted [[Scottish League One]] side [[Albion Rovers F.C.|Albion Rovers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/rovers-role-for-stark/ |title=Rovers role for Stark |work=spfl.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=15 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref>

In June 2017, he was appointed manager at Scottish [[Lowland Football League]] side [[East Kilbride F.C.|East Kilbride]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/east-kilbride-appoint-celtic-star-10633614 |title=East Kilbride appoint former Celtic star Billy Stark as new manager |first=Paul |last=Thomson |work=Daily Record |date=16 June 2017 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> He resigned from this position shortly before the end of the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/billy-stark-quits-role-east-12464968 |title=Billy Stark quits role as East Kilbride boss |first=Paul |last=Thomson |work=Daily Record |date=2 May 2018 |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref> Stark then returned to the Scottish Football Association, within this role he became head coach of the [[Scotland national under-19 football team|under-19]] national team.

Stark retired from coaching in April 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/billy-stark-set-to-retire-from-role-as-scotland-mens-under-19-head-coach/?rid=13925 |title=Billy Stark set to retire from role as Scotland Men's Under-19 Head Coach |publisher=Scottish Football Association |date=2 April 2024 |accessdate=2 April 2024}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Saints - S |url=https://www.stmirren.info/past-saints-s |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=StMirren.info |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile |url=https://afcheritage.org/Team/CurrentSquad/player_show.cfm?player_id=101 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=afcheritage.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Celtic Player Billy Stark Details |url=https://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2772 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.fitbastats.com}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Seasons
! colspan="3" |League
! colspan="2" |Scottish Cup
! colspan="2" |League Cup
! colspan="2" |Europe
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|-
| rowspan="9" |[[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]
|[[1975–76 St Mirren F.C. season|1975–76]]
|rowspan=2|[[Scottish First Division]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1976–77 St Mirren F.C. season|1976–77]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1977–78 St Mirren F.C. season|1977–78]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Scottish Premier Division]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1978–79 St Mirren F.C. season|1978–79]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1979–80 St Mirren F.C. season|1979–80]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1980–81 St Mirren F.C. season|1980–81]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1981–82 St Mirren F.C. season|1981–82]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
|[[1982–83 St Mirren F.C. season|1982–83]]
|
|
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!255
!60
!-
!-
!-
!-
!-
!-
!345
!84
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]
|[[1983–84 Aberdeen F.C. season|1983–84]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Scottish Premier Division]]
|14
|6
|1
|0
|5
|5
|2
|0
|22
|11
|-
|[[1984–85 Aberdeen F.C. season|1984–85]]
|32
|15
|5
|4
|1
|1
|2
|0
|40
|20
|-
|[[1985–86 Aberdeen F.C. season|1985–86]]
|30
|8
|5
|3
|6
|3
|5
|1
|46
|15
|-
|[[1986–87 Aberdeen F.C. season|1986–87]]
|36
|12
|1
|0
|2
|2
|2
|0
|41
|14
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!112
!41
!12
!7
!14
!11
!11
!1
!149
!60
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|[[1987–88 Celtic F.C. season|1987–88]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Scottish Premier Division]]
|37
|8
|5
|2
|3
|3
|2
|0
|47
|13
|-
|[[1988–89 Celtic F.C. season|1988–89]]
|25
|9
|4
|1
|2
|1
|3
|1
|34
|12
|-
|[[1989–90 Celtic F.C. season|1989–90]]
|2
|0
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|3
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!64
!17
!10
!3
!5
!4
!5
!1
!84
!25
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]
|[[1990–91 Scottish First Division|1990–91]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Scottish First Division]]
|21
|6
|0
|0
|2
|1
| -
| -
|23
|7
|-
|[[1991–92 Scottish First Division|1991–92]]
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
| -
| -
|1
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!22
!6
!0
!0
!2
!1
!-
!-
!24
!7
|-
|[[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]]
|[[1991–92 Scottish First Division|1991–92]]
|[[Scottish First Division]]
|14
|0
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|14+
|0+
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]
|[[1992–93 Scottish First Division|1992–93]]
|[[Scottish First Division]]
|28
|3
|3
|0
|0
|0
| -
| -
|31
|3
|-
|[[1993–94 Scottish Premier Division|1993–94]]
|[[Scottish Premier Division]]
|8
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|8
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!36
!3
!3
!0
!0
!0
!0
!0
!39
!3
|-
! colspan="3" |Career total
!503
!127
!25+
!10+
!21+
!16+
!16
!2
!565+
!155+
|}

=== Managerial record ===
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celtic Manager Billy Stark Details |url=https://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/manager.php?id=133 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.fitbastats.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Morton Manager Billy Stark, Record By Opponent |url=https://www.fitbastats.com/morton/manager2.php?id=88 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.fitbastats.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=St Johnstone Manager Billy Stark Details |url=https://www.fitbastats.com/stjohnstone/manager.php?id=672 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.fitbastats.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scotland U21 Manager Billy Stark Details |url=https://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/manager.php?id=8 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.fitbastats.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |From
! rowspan="2" |To
! colspan="5" |Record
|-
!P
!W
!L
!D
!Win %
|-
|[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] (caretaker)
|1997
|1997
|3
|2
|0
|1
|66.67%
|-
|[[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]]
|1997
|2000
|95
|31
|42
|22
|32.63%
|-
|[[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]
|2001
|2004
|115
|47
|45
|23
|40.87%
|-
|[[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]]
|2004
|2008
|149
|63
|53
|33
|42.28%
|-
|[[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]]
|2008
|2014
|45
|17
|16
|12
|37.78%
|-
|[[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] (caretaker)
|2012
|2012
|1
|1
|0
|0
|100%
|-
|[[East Kilbride F.C.|East Kilbride]]
|2017
|2018
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|-
|[[Scotland national under-19 football team|Scotland U19]]
|2018
|2024
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|-
! colspan="3" |Total
!408+
!161+
!156+
!91+
!53.37%
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Celtic F.C. managers}}
{{Greenock Morton F.C. managers}}
{{St Johnstone F.C. managers}}
{{Queen's Park F.C. managers}}
{{Scotland national under-21 football team managers}}
{{Scotland national football team managers}}
}}
{{St Mirren F.C. Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stark, Billy}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:St Mirren F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players]]
[[Category:Greenock Morton F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Aberdeen F.C. players]]
[[Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players]]
[[Category:Queen's Park F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Greenock Morton F.C. managers]]
[[Category:St Johnstone F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Kilmarnock F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland national football team managers]]
[[Category:Scotland national under-21 football team managers]]
[[Category:East Kilbride F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Lowland Football League managers]]