View source for Neil McCann

{{Short description|Scottish footballer and football manager}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
|          name = Neil McCann
|         image =  
|      fullname = Neil Doherty McCann<ref name="Hugman">{{Hugman|12236|access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref>
|    birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1974|8|11}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Neil McCann profile |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/mccannneil.html|publisher=London Hearts|access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> 
|   birth_place = [[Greenock]],<ref name="Hugman"/> Scotland
|        height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/2561/Neil-McCann/overview |title=Neil McCann: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref>
|      position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Left-winger]]<ref name="Hugman"/>
|   youthyears1 = 
|   youthclubs1 = [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]]
|        years1 = 1992–1996
|        clubs1 = [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] 
|         caps1 = 79
|        goals1 = 5
|        years2 = 1996–1998 
|        clubs2 = [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] 
|         caps2 = 74
|        goals2 = 19
|        years3 = 1998–2003 
|        clubs3 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] 
|         caps3 = 113
|        goals3 = 19
|        years4 = 2003–2006 
|        clubs4 = [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
|         caps4 = 40
|        goals4 = 0
|        years5 = 2006–2008
|        clubs5 = [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] 
|         caps5 = 25
|        goals5 = 0
|        years6 = 2008–2009
|        clubs6 = [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]
|         caps6 = 24
|        goals6 = 1
|        years7 = 2011
|        clubs7 = [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]
|         caps7 = 3
|        goals7 = 1
|     totalcaps = 358
|    totalgoals = 45
|nationalyears1 = 1998–2005
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]<ref name = "sfa">{{SFA Profile|id=9756|name=Neil McCann}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 = 26 
|nationalgoals1 = 3
|manageryears1  = 2017–2018
|managerclubs1  = [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]
|manageryears2  = 2021
|managerclubs2  = [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness Caledonian Thistle]] (interim)
}}
'''Neil Doherty McCann''' (born 11 August 1974) is a Scottish [[Association football|football]] pundit, former professional [[Association football|player]] and former [[Manager (association football)|manager]]. He has recently worked as a pundit for [[BBC Scotland]]'s [[Sportscene]] and is currently a member of the coaching team at [[Rangers F.C.]]

A [[left winger]], his playing career saw him represent [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] (two spells), [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] (two spells), [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] and [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]. He also played 26 times for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]].<ref name = "sfa"/>

After working as a pundit for [[Sky Sports]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Rangers star Neil McCann backs summer switch for Scottish football and believes it could revitalise game north of the border |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-rangers-star-neil-mccann-5963033 |newspaper=Daily Record |date=28 June 2015 |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> he was appointed manager of [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] in 2017 before being sacked in October 2018. He  took on the role of caretaker manager of [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness Caledonian Thistle]] in 2021. On 24 February 2025, it was announced that McCann would join the coaching staff at Rangers for the remainder of the ongoing season.

==Club career==
McCann started his career with [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] before moving on to [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] in 1996. He helped the [[Tynecastle Stadium|Tynecastle]] side win the [[Scottish Cup]] in 1998,<ref name = hearts98>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7611541.stm |title=Falkirk 2-1 Hearts |website=BBC Sport |date=13 September 2008 |accessdate=8 April 2021}}</ref> their first major trophy in 36 years. McCann moved to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] later that year for £1.9 million,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-mccann-the-rebound-man-1090923.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-mccann-the-rebound-man-1090923.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Football: McCann the rebound man |newspaper=The Independent |first=Phil |last=Gordon |date=2 May 1999 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> becoming the club's [[Rangers F.C. signing policy|first major Scottish Catholic signing]] since [[Mo Johnston]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/interview-neil-mccann-football-pundit-and-former-player-1-1631646 |title=Interview: Neil McCann, football pundit and former player |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=14 May 2011 |website=[[scotsman.com]] |access-date=18 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713232059/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/interview-neil-mccann-football-pundit-and-former-player-1-1631646 |archive-date=13 July 2018 }}</ref> He scored two goals in a 3–0 win for Rangers against their arch-rivals [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] on 2 May 1999, which clinched the [[1998–99 Scottish Premier League]] title. McCann left Rangers in 2003, as the club were forced to sell him due to financial problems.<ref>{{Cite news| title = Rangers could lose Ferguson| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3150791.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 15 August 2003| access-date = 13 April 2008|quote=Rangers' massive debts forced the summer sale of ... winger Neil McCann to Southampton.}}</ref> Speaking in February 2019, McCann said that he had been subject to sectarian abuse from Celtic fans that stemmed from his decision to sign for Rangers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47371870 |title=Neil McCann: 'Celtic fans abused me in same way Steve Clarke was' |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2019 |access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref>

He joined [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] on 5 August 2003, for £1.5 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/3122177.stm |title=McCann makes Saints switch |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2003 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> A series of injuries made it difficult for him to maintain his place in the team. McCann scored one goal for Southampton, in a [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] tie against [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3656022.stm|title=Northampton 0–3 Southampton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 September 2004 |access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> His contract with Southampton was terminated by mutual consent in January 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/4596248.stm |title=Winger McCann departs St Mary's |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2006 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref>

On 17 January 2006, McCann rejoined Hearts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4612674.stm |title=McCann wraps up return to Hearts |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 January 2006 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> He sustained a medial knee ligament injury while playing in his first match after returning to Hearts, which meant that he missed the rest of the 2005–06 season (including the [[2006 Scottish Cup Final]]).<ref name = "hearts injuries"/> McCann played in 28 games during the 2006–07 season, but then suffered a double leg break during a game at [[Celtic Park]] on 25 August 2007.<ref name = "hearts injuries">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6963793.stm |title=McCann suffers double leg break |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 August 2007|access-date=5 April 2009}}</ref>

On 14 May 2008 it was announced that McCann had signed for [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]. He scored on his Falkirk debut, against former club Hearts,<ref name = hearts98/> and then scored in League Cup ties against [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7629623.stm |title=Falkirk 2–1 Queen of the South |publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 September 2008 |access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> and [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7691771.stm|title=Falkirk 1–0 Inverness CT |publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 October 2008 |access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> His last appearance for Falkirk was in the [[2009 Scottish Cup Final]].<ref name = "out of retirement"/> McCann was released on 22 August 2009<ref name = "leaves falkirk"/> after managerial changes at Falkirk, with outgoing manager [[John Hughes (footballer born 1964)|John Hughes]] (the manager that signed him) being replaced by [[Eddie May (Scottish footballer)|Eddie May]].

On 12 February 2011, McCann came out of retirement to help Dundee stave-off relegation from the [[Scottish Football League First Division|First Division]].<ref name = "out of retirement">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee/9395666.stm |title=Neil McCann comes out of retirement with Dundee |publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2011 |access-date=12 February 2011}}</ref> He scored a last minute goal in his first appearance, against Raith Rovers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/9393236.stm |title=Dundee 2-1 Raith Rovers  |publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2011 |access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref> McCann was inducted into the Dundee FC Hall of Fame in 2016.

==International career==
McCann made his full international debut for Scotland on 5 September 1998, coming on as a late substitute for [[Ally McCoist]] in a goalless draw against [[Lithuania national football team|Lithuania]].<ref name = "sfa"/> His first appearance in the starting line-up was on 31 March 1999 in a 2–1 home defeat to the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]]. McCann scored three goals for Scotland, including two in [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying]] matches against the [[Faroe Islands national football team|Faroe Islands]] and [[Germany national football team|Germany]].<ref name = "sfa"/> He made 26 appearances for Scotland, with his last coming in a 1–1 draw with the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] in November 2005.<ref name = "sfa"/>

==Coaching career==
===Dunfermline===
McCann joined [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] as a coach in July 2012, initially on a voluntary basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=Manager_on_Tuesday&ID=6675 |title=MANAGER ON TUESDAY |publisher=Dunfermline Athletic FC |date=31 July 2012 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> The club entered [[administration (British football)|administration]] in March 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21977921 |title=Dunfermline: Gerry McCabe exits as three players find new clubs |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 March 2013 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> and suffered a second successive relegation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22563598 |title=Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 Alloa Athletic (agg 1-3) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2013 |access-date=18 April 2017 |first=Clive |last=Lindsay}}</ref><ref name = "Jefferies retired"/> When Dunfermline exited administration in December 2013, manager [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] and McCann were both offered new contracts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/dunfermline/257540-jim-jefferies-and-neil-mccann-to-sign-new-deals-with-dunfermline-athletic/ |title=Jim Jefferies and Neil McCann to sign new deals with Dunfermline Athletic |publisher=STV Sport|date=19 December 2013 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> Jefferies retired early in December 2014, leaving McCann and [[John Potter (footballer)|John Potter]] in charge of the team.<ref name = "Jefferies retired">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30518511 |title=Dunfermline Athletic: Jim Jefferies stood down 'to ease pressure' |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2014 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> On 30 April 2015, McCann decided to leave Dunfermline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32533118 |title=Dunfermline Athletic: John Potter axed as manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

===Dundee manager===
McCann's first managerial position came at [[Scottish Premiership]] side [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]], where he was appointed on an interim basis on 18 April 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39635353 |title=Dundee: Neil McCann to be appointed interim boss at Premiership club |first=Kheredine |last=Idessane |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2017 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> McCann oversaw five matches for his former team, securing the side's place in the top tier of Scottish football. Dundee announced on 29 May that McCann would leave the club,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40086289 |title=Dundee: Neil McCann not staying as manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2017 |access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> then had an approach for [[Jack Ross (footballer, born 1976)|Jack Ross]] rejected by [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40122499 |title=St Mirren: Jack Ross rexpected to sign new deal despite Dundee interest |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2017 |access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref> On 1 June, McCann was appointed Dundee manager on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dundee appoint Neil McCann as manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40126159 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2017 |access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref> He was sacked by the club on 16 October 2018, with Dundee bottom of the [[2018–19 Scottish Premiership]] after collecting just three points from eight games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45658038 |title=Neil McCann: Dundee manager leaves role after 18 months in charge |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2018 |access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref>

===Inverness caretaker===
After [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1964)|John Robertson]] was given compassionate leave in February 2021, McCann was appointed caretaker manager of [[Scottish Championship]] club [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness Caledonian Thistle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11795/12227308/neil-mccann-to-take-charge-at-inverness-while-john-robertson-is-on-compassionate-leave |title=Neil McCann to take charge at Inverness while John Robertson is on compassionate leave |website=Sky Sports |date=23 February 2021 |accessdate=24 February 2021}}</ref> McCann left this position after the 2020–21 season was completed, with Robertson returning in a sporting director role and a new manager to be appointed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/inverness-appoint-john-robertson-as-clubs-first-sporting-director |title=Inverness appoint Robertson as club's first sporting director |website=STV Sport |first=Andy |last=Coyle |date=13 May 2021 |accessdate=13 May 2021}}</ref> Inverness chief executive Scot Gardiner said in May 2021 that the arrangement with McCann had always been intended to be temporary, but that he had tried to persuade McCann to stay in the position longer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57160711 |title=Inverness Caley Thistle: Neil McCann agreement always temporary, explains Scot Gardiner |website=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2021 |accessdate=18 May 2021}}</ref>

===Rangers===
On 24 February 2025, it was announced that McCann was appointed to the coaching team at [[Scottish Premiership]] side [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], supporting the new interim manager, [[Barry Ferguson]].<ref name="Ferguson in">{{ cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y28qje4e8o| title=Ferguson takes charge of Rangers until end of season | work=BBC Sport | date=24 February 2025}}</ref>

==Media work==
McCann became a [[pundit (expert)|pundit]] for [[Sky Sports]], providing analysis on their coverage of [[football in Scotland]], after he left [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] in 2009.<ref name = "out of retirement"/><ref name = "leaves falkirk">{{cite web |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/117639-neil-mccann-leaves-falkirk/ |title=Neil McCann leaves Falkirk |publisher=STV Sport |date=21 August 2009 }}</ref> McCann left Sky in June 2017, when he was appointed [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] manager on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40139883 |title=Neil McCann: New Dundee boss says taking the job on a permanent basis is no 'gamble' |first=Jane |last=Lewis |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2017 |access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref> He now works for Sky Sports, [[BBC Scotland|BBC]] and RangersTV ITV as a pundit.

==Personal life==
In April 2024, McCann lost a dispute with [[HM Revenue & Customs]] regarding [[IR35]] rules, which resulted in him incurring a tax liability of approximately £210,000.<ref name = HMRC>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-hero-neil-mccann-loses-32535807|title=Rangers hero Neil McCann loses £210k battle with taxman over TV pundit work|website=Daily Record|date=8 April 2024}}</ref> The dispute arose because McCann had used a limited company to receive payments from Sky Sports for his punditry work, while HMRC contended that he should have been treated as an employee of Sky.<ref name = HMRC/>

==Career statistics==
===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]<ref name="sfa"/>
|1998||1||0
|-
|1999||4||0
|-
|2000||6||1
|-
|2001||2||0
|-
|2002||2||0
|-
|2003||5||2
|-
|2004||2||0
|-
|2005||4||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!26!!3
|}

:''Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McCann goal''.
<!---Do not delete repeat entries!!! Repeat entries represented McCann scoring multiple goals in a game.--->

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Neil McCann
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 2 September 2000||[[Skonto Stadions]], Riga, Latvia || {{fb|LVA}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 6 September 2003||[[Hampden Park]], Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|FRO}} || align="center"|1–0|| align="center"|3–1 || [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 10 September 2003||[[Westfalenstadion]], Dortmund, Germany || {{fb|GER}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|1–2 || [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualification]]
|}

===Manager===
{{updated|match played 30 April 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Managers: Neil McCann|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=4384|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=30 July 2017|date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="8"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]{{ref label|Dundee|note 1|note 1}}
|{{Flagicon|Scotland}}
|align=left|18 April 2017
|align=left|16 October 2018
{{WDL|65|22|9|34|for=66|against=96|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness Caledonian Thistle]] (interim) 
|{{Flagicon|Scotland}}
|align=left|23 February 2021
|align=left|30 April 2021
{{WDL|16|6|6|4|for=21|against=18|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|81|28|15|38|for=87|against=114|diff=yes}}
|}

:{{note label|Dundee|1|note 1}}<small>Interim manager from 18 April until 29 May 2017.</small>

==Honours==
'''Heart of Midlothian'''
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1997–98 Scottish Cup|1997–98]]<ref name = hearts98/>

'''Rangers'''
*[[Scottish Premier League]]: [[1998–99 Scottish Premier League|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 Scottish Premier League|1999–2000]], [[2002–03 Scottish Premier League|2002–03]]{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
*Scottish Cup: [[1998–99 Scottish Cup|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 Scottish Cup|1999–2000]], [[2001–02 Scottish Cup|2001–02]], [[2002–03 Scottish Cup|2002–03]]{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
*[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[2001–02 Scottish League Cup|2001–02]], [[2002–03 Scottish League Cup|2002–03]]{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/mccannneil.html Profile] at londonhearts.com

{{Dundee F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Dundee F.C. managers}}
{{Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCann, Neil}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Greenock]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Dundee F.C. players]]
[[Category:Greenock Morton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Southampton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Falkirk F.C. players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Dundee F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League managers]]
[[Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]