View source for Stuart McCall

{{short description|Association football player}}
{{For|the Canadian politician|Stuart McCall (politician)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Stuart McCall
| image = Stuart mccall.jpg
| caption = McCall as [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] coach in 2007
| fullname = Andrew Stuart Murray McCall<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|12222|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|10|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/>
| birth_place = [[Leeds]], England
| height = 
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] (assistant manager)
| youthyears1 =           |youthclubs1 = Pudsey Juniors
| youthyears2 =           |youthclubs2 = Holbeck
| youthyears3 =           |youthclubs3 = [[Farsley Celtic A.F.C.|Farsley Celtic]]
| youthyears4 = 1980–1982 |youthclubs4 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
| years1 = 1982–1988 | clubs1 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]     | caps1 = 238 | goals1 = 37
| years2 = 1988–1991 | clubs2 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]                   | caps2 = 103 | goals2 = 6
| years3 = 1991–1998 | clubs3 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]                   | caps3 = 194 | goals3 = 14
| years4 = 1998–2002 | clubs4 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]     | caps4 = 157 | goals4 = 8
| years5 = 2002–2005 | clubs5 = [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] | caps5 = 71  | goals5 = 2
| totalcaps = 763 | totalgoals = 67
| nationalyears1 = 1988–1990 | nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]] 
| nationalcaps1  = 2         | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1990–1998 | nationalteam2 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] 
| nationalcaps2  = 40        | nationalgoals2 = 1
| manageryears1  = 2000      | managerclubs1 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (caretaker)
| manageryears2  = 2007–2010 | managerclubs2 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
| manageryears3  = 2010–2014 | managerclubs3 = [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]]
| manageryears4  = 2015      | managerclubs4 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] 
| manageryears5  = 2016–2018 | managerclubs5 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
| manageryears6  = 2018–2019 | managerclubs6 = [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
| manageryears7  = 2020    | managerclubs7 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
}}
'''Andrew Stuart Murray McCall''' (born 10 June 1964) is a professional [[association football|football]] coach and former player. He is currently assistant manager of [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]].

McCall played in a total of 763&nbsp;league games and in 40 full international matches for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] during his playing career.

McCall started his career with Bradford City, where he made his [[first team (association football)#F|first-team]] debut in 1982. He played six seasons at [[Valley Parade]], during which time he won the [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] championship, a title which was overshadowed by the [[Bradford City stadium fire]] when 56&nbsp;people died and in which his father [[Andy McCall (footballer born 1925)|Andy]] was injured. After missing out on promotion in [[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]], McCall moved to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], for whom he scored twice but finished on the losing side in the [[1989 FA Cup Final]]. In 1991, he moved to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], with whom he spent seven seasons and won five [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|league]] titles, three [[Scottish Cup]]s and two [[Scottish League Cup]]s. McCall returned to Bradford City as captain to take them into the [[Premier League|top division]] of English football for the first time in 77 years. After four seasons he moved to [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], where he retired as a player in 2005.

Born and raised in England, McCall qualified to play for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] through his Scottish father. He won 40 international [[cap (sport)|caps]] and scored one goal in the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] in Italy. He also played in two [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Championships]] but his international career ended after he was left out of the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] squad.

McCall was part of the coaching staff during his second playing spell at Bradford City, briefly serving as caretaker-player manager in 2000. He continued his coaching at Sheffield United and was assistant manager to [[Neil Warnock]] until May 2007, when he returned to Bradford City as their manager. He spent two and a half seasons in charge of Bradford City, leaving in February 2010. Just before the end of 2010, he was appointed [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] manager. He stayed at [[Fir Park]] for four years, helping the club finish second in the league twice. After a poor start to the 2014–15 season, he resigned in November 2014. McCall was appointed manager of [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in March 2015, but left the club at the end of a short-term contract.

McCall returned to Bradford City for a second spell as manager in June 2016. The team reached the play-off final in his first season, but this was lost and he was sacked in February 2018. After a short spell with [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]], McCall was appointed Bradford manager for a third time in February 2020.

==Early and personal life==
Stuart McCall was born in [[Leeds]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England,<ref name=Hugman/> to Scottish parents [[Andy McCall (footballer born 1925)|Andy]], a former professional footballer, and Jean McCall.<ref name="autobio9">{{cite book |last=McCall |first=Stuart |title=The Real McCall |publisher=Mainstream |year=1998 |isbn=1-84018-078-1 |page=9}}</ref> He was the couple's third child after Leslie and Janette, who were 20 and 15 respectively when Stuart was born.<ref name="autobio9"/> The family home was just round the corner from [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]'s [[Elland Road]] ground where McCall would spend many Saturday afternoons watching United, dreaming of following his father and playing for Leeds, even after the family moved to [[Wortley, West Yorkshire|Wortley]].<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=9–10}}</ref><ref name="leeds">{{cite news |first=Phil |last=Shaw |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/why-leeds-no-longer-have-place-in-mccalls-affections-121655.html |title=Why Leeds no longer have place in McCall's affections |access-date=16 November 2014 |date=7 March 2003 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129133040/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/why-leeds-no-longer-have-place-in-mccalls-affections-121655.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

McCall played football for Upper Wortley Primary School and Thornhill Middle School, even scoring a winning goal for the latter in a cup final when he came on as a substitute with his arm in a sling.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=10–11}}</ref> While McCall also played table tennis as a schoolboy, football was a focus, and he captained the Leeds under-11 boys team and played for other Leeds representative sides.<ref name="autobio11-12">{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=11–12}}</ref> 

McCall's parents split and he made up for his size when he moved to one of Leeds' toughest estates and played for pub sides by the age of 14.<ref name="autobio11-12" /> He moved schools to [[The Farnley Academy|Harrington High]] and also played for local young sides Pudsey Juniors, Holbeck and later [[Farsley Celtic A.F.C.|Farsley Celtic]].<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=14–16}}</ref> McCall thought he had missed his chance of playing professionally after a string of other players were signed by professional clubs, until Farsley played [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]'s junior side in a friendly and he impressed coach [[Bryan Edwards (footballer, born 1930)|Bryan Edwards]] enough to be asked for a trial.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |page=16}}</ref>

His son [[Craig McCall|Craig]] was also a footballer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18247625.bradford-city-familiar-face-mottley-henry-quick-make-mark/|title=Mottley-Henry's hunger excites McCall|date=20 February 2020|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}</ref>

==Playing career==

===Club career===

====Bradford City====
McCall was signed by [[George Mulhall]] in 1980 from Farsley Celtic on his 16th birthday,<ref name=og>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOR21TgfVOg "Si Ferry Meets... Stuart McCall | Bradford, Rangers 9IAR, Funny Squad, Managing Motherwell & Rangers"] – Open Goal, YouTube, 6 May 2019 (from 05:00 mark in video)</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1430229.0.cook_unearthed_city_treasure_mccall.php |title=Cook Unearthed City Treasure McCall |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=28 May 2000 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref><ref name="markham">{{cite book |last=Markham |first=David |title=The legends of Bradford City |publisher=Breedon Books Sport |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85983-572-2 |page=115}}</ref> before becoming one of the club's two apprentices in June 1981.<ref name=og/><ref name="markham"/><ref name="frost">{{cite book |last=Frost |first=Terry |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |publisher=Breedon Books Sport |year=1988 |isbn=0-907969-38-0 |page=116}}</ref> Mulhall's successor, [[Roy McFarland]], gave McCall his first-team debut at [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] on 28 August 1982 – the opening day of the [[1982–83 in English football|1982–83]] season – when he deputised for [[Ces Podd]] at [[defender (football)#Full back|right back]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Dewhirst |first=John |title=City Memories – An Illustrated Record of Bradford City A.F.C. |publisher=True North Book |year=1998 |isbn=1-900463-57-1}}</ref> He had played just six league games by 29 January 1983 when he made the first of 134 consecutive league appearances, all in midfield under new manager [[Trevor Cherry]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=306–313, p377}}</ref> City finished 12th in [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] that season.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=306}}</ref> The [[1983–84 in English football|following]] season City struggled to make up for the absence of [[Bobby Campbell (Northern Irish footballer)|Bobby Campbell]], who had left to join [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], and won just one of their first fifteen games,<ref name="markham p29">{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=29}}</ref> until Cherry bought Campbell back from Derby, and City won a record ten consecutive games on their way to a seventh-place finish.<ref name="markham p29"/>

During the summer of 1984, Cherry made the two key signings of [[Defender (football)|central defender]] [[Dave Evans (footballer)|Dave Evans]] and [[Winger (soccer)|right winger]] [[John Hendrie (Scottish footballer)|John Hendrie]] to build on the previous season's high finish.<ref>{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=81}}</ref> McCall was an integral part of the team as City won the Division Three championship in [[1984–85 in English football|1984–85]], during which he scored eight goals as one of two ever-present players.<ref name="markham"/> The title was assured in the penultimate game when McCall scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=37}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=310}}</ref> The league title was paraded before the final game of the season on 11 May 1985 at home to [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]. However, the club's title was overshadowed when 56 people died in the [[Bradford City stadium fire]] when the [[Valley Parade]] ground's main stand caught fire after 40 minutes of play, during which McCall's father, who was with other family members, was badly injured.<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Sutcliffe |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/features/The-horror-a-city-can.1022622.jp |title=The horror a city can never forget |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=11 May 2005 |work=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> After the fire, McCall, still in his kit, spent several hours driving from the ground to his sister's house, then to [[Bradford Royal Infirmary]] and [[Pinderfields General Hospital|Pinderfields Hospital]] trying to find his father.<ref name="autobio tragedy">{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=42–47}}</ref> His father had suffered severe burns and needed skin grafts on his hands and head and was in hospital for several weeks.<ref name="autobio tragedy"/>

For the following 19 months, the club played games away from Valley Parade. Cherry and the players became a close-knit team, attending funerals of the victims and other engagements in the months that followed, and the club's 13th-place finish in [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] in [[1985–86 in English football|1985–86]] was hailed a major achievement.<ref>{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=35}}</ref> During Bradford's time away from Valley Parade, McCall also turned his back on Leeds United, the team he had supported as a child, after their fans set fire to a chip van at [[Odsal Stadium]].<ref name="leeds"/> McCall became club captain in November 1986, aged just 21, after [[Peter Jackson (footballer born 1961)|Peter Jackson]] moved to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref name="frost"/> Under Cherry's replacement, [[Terry Dolan (footballer)|Terry Dolan]], the club held off any relegation threats to finish tenth in [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]]. Like Jackson, McCall and Hendrie were both keen to move to a [[Football League First Division|Division One]] club, but they agreed in 1987 to stay for one final season.<ref name="markham"/>

Dolan brought in [[Paul Tomlinson]], [[Brian Mitchell (footballer)|Brian Mitchell]] and [[Lee Sinnott]] in a bid to help McCall and Hendrie realise their dreams with City.<ref>{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=41}}</ref> They mounted a promotion challenge in [[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]] and were top for much of the season until they faltered in the New Year. When promotion was missed initially by one point on the last day of the season after a 3–2 defeat against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] and then through [[Football League Championship play-offs|play-off]] defeat to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], McCall left the club, signing for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] for [[pound sterling|£]]850,000 in June 1988.<ref name="frost"/> He had played 238 league games for the club, scoring 37 goals, and in total played 285 games, scoring 46 goals. McCall was later outspoken in his autobiography, ''The Real McCall'', about City's failure to strengthen the side to secure promotion.<ref name="payment">{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1998/6/22/174067.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130114035939/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1998/6/22/174067.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 14 January 2013 |title = Book row: McCall fumes over Tordoff's 'cheap' payment |access-date = 30 December 2007 |date = 22 June 1998 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref>

{{cquote|I thought about transfer deadline day and Tordoff saying we should sell before buying. One or two new faces would have taken us over the finishing line, I was sure of it, and it nagged away. It wasn't about gambling, it was about lack of ambition.|author=Stuart McCall|source=''The Real McCall''<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |page=65}}</ref>}}

His departure was soured when he was forced to go to [[the Football League]] with a [[Professional Footballers' Association]] representative to win £8,327.15 of an unpaid signing-on fee.<ref name="payment"/><ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=67–68}}</ref>

====Everton====
McCall joined Everton at a time when its former triumphant side of the mid-1980s had broken up, following the ban on English sides competing in Europe, which marked the start of a period of underachievement at [[Goodison Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/history/kendall-s-heroes.html |title=History 1981–2006 |access-date=28 December 2007 |publisher=Everton F.C. |archive-date=27 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127101338/http://www.evertonfc.com/history/kendall-s-heroes.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/4/14/154405.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120701162340/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/4/14/154405.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 1 July 2012 |title = City v Everton: Connections |access-date = 28 December 2007 |date = 14 April 2000 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> His Everton debut came in a 4–0 victory over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] on 27 August 1988 against his former teammate Hendrie, who was making his debut for Newcastle.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |page=70}}</ref> McCall also returned to [[Valley Parade]] for a [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] tie, but his Everton side were knocked out by Bradford 3–1 on 14 December 1988.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=70–71}}</ref> He started 29 league games in [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89]] as well as another four substitute appearances, but failed to score in the league. He was also a substitute in the [[1989 FA Cup Final]] when he scored Everton's stoppage time equaliser in the [[Merseyside derby]] against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] to take the game into extra-time. He scored another equaliser during extra-time, but Liverpool's own substitute [[Ian Rush]] also scored two to secure a 3–2 victory for Liverpool.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |first=William |last=Johnson |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2003/01/09/sfnshe09.xml |title=McCall calls the shots in tireless show |date=8 January 2003 |access-date=4 January 2008 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

McCall made a second appearance in an Everton shirt at Valley Parade, when he was invited by former teammate [[Mark Ellis (footballer born 1962)|Mark Ellis]] to bring a side for his testimonial. In three seasons at Everton, McCall played 103 league games as well as earned his first [[cap (sport)|cap]]s with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] but he failed to lift any trophies as the club finished eighth, sixth and ninth in the league. Apart from the FA Cup final defeat in 1989, the closest he came to winning a trophy at Everton was in the [[1989–90 in English football|1989–90 season]], when Everton topped the league in late autumn and remained in contention for the title for most of the rest of the season until disappointing form in the run-in saw them finish sixth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/records/league-record.asp |title=Everton League Record |access-date=20 March 2008 |publisher=Toffee Web}}</ref>

====Rangers====
In the summer of 1991, McCall signed for Scottish club [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] for £1.2 million.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bradfordcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BantamsGreats/0,,10266~119234,00.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120630224818/http://www.bradfordcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BantamsGreats/0,,10266~119234,00.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 30 June 2012 |title = Stuart McCall Bantams Greats |access-date = 27 December 2007 |publisher = Bradford City A.F.C.}}</ref> Rangers had just won their third successive [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]] title.

Under newly appointed manager [[Walter Smith]], McCall ended up playing in the final six of the club's [[Nine in a row|nine successive Scottish league titles]], and with Rangers also winning a string of cup competitions during that time, McCall picked up a total of ten major trophies north of the border.<ref name=rfchof/><ref name=fsrfc/> In his first season at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]], Rangers won the league and cup double, before they achieved greater success in [[1992–93 in Scottish football|1992–93]], winning both cups 2–1 against [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] and coming nine points ahead of Aberdeen in the league.<ref name="rangers history">{{cite web |url = http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/clubhistory/0,,5~1577415,00.html |title = 1997 Nine in a row |access-date = 18 March 2008 |publisher = Rangers F.C.}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> McCall also enjoyed European success that season when the Glasgow club narrowly missed out on an appearance in the [[UEFA Champions League 1992-93|UEFA Champions League 1992–93]] final, coming second in the semi-final group stage to eventual winners [[Olympique de Marseille]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/history/Season=1992/intro.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051211120922/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/history/Season=1992/intro.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 December 2005 |title=French first for Marseille |access-date=17 December 2007 |date=1 January 2006 |publisher=UEFA}}</ref> Citing the reason for their success as the spirit which Smith instilled in the team, McCall later said: "It was an incredible season. We won the domestic Treble, we went 44 games unbeaten and we did not lose a single game in Europe. And, though we said we would do it again next year, we all knew it was unrepeatable."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/the-battle-of-britain-more-like-a-massacre-2077039.html |title=The Battle of Britain? More like a massacre |first=Tim |last=Rich |newspaper=The Independent |date=12 September 2010 |access-date=13 September 2010 |location=London |archive-date=15 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915014707/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/the-battle-of-britain-more-like-a-massacre-2077039.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He placed fourth for the [[SFWA Footballer of the Year|SFWA]] award in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19930412/260/0017 |title=Goram Player of the Year | newspaper=Dundee Courier |access-date=29 November 2012 | date=12 April 1993 | url-access=subscription | via = British Newspaper Archive }}</ref>

In [[1993–94 in Scottish football|1993–94]], Rangers added another [[Scottish League Cup]] title along with the league championship, but lost 1–0 in the final of the [[Scottish Cup 1993-94|Scottish Cup]] to [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]], surprisingly being denied a second successive treble. The following season saw Rangers win the league by their greatest margin as they finished 15 points ahead of [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]], but they failed to reach the final of either of the domestic cups. Although their winning margin was reduced to four points, from city rivals [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], in [[1995–96 in Scottish football|1995–96]], Rangers' points tally of 87 was a record-high total. 

McCall played in his fourth Scottish Cup final as Rangers defeated [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] 5–1. His Rangers side again pushed Celtic into second place in [[1996–97 in Scottish football|1996–97]] and defeated Hearts 4–3 in the Scottish League Cup (McCall had suffered an injury prior to that final which ruled him out until the end of the season, and he did not play in sufficient league games for a medal).<ref name="rfchof" /><ref name="fsrfc" /> But with the club chasing an unprecedented 10th straight title in [[1997–98 in Scottish football|1997–98]] they had to settle for the runners-up position, with Celtic winning the league by two points on the final day of the season. McCall was substituted in the Scottish Cup final defeat to [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] as Rangers went the season without picking up a single title for the first season in McCall's time at the club.<ref name="rangers history" />
In February 2008, McCall became the 71st inductee into the Rangers hall of fame. McCall's former teammate and Rangers assistant manager [[Ally McCoist]] presented him with the award.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2070846.0.my_shock_at_gazzas_sad_demise.php |title='My shock at Gazza's sad demise' |date=25 February 2008 |access-date=25 February 2008 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref>

====Return to Bradford City====
McCall still had one year left on his Rangers contract in 1998, but much of the team that Walter Smith had built had left and McCall was allowed to leave on a free transfer by new manager [[Dick Advocaat]], as long as he joined an English club.<ref name="markham"/> [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] and [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] were both interested in signing McCall, but he rejoined [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] as club captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thisisbradford.co.uk/1998/6/3/174600.html |title=City was perfect chance: McCall |access-date=28 December 2007 |date=3 June 1998 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=4 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104073232/http://archive.thisisbradford.co.uk/1998/6/3/174600.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rookie manager [[Paul Jewell]] put together a squad which emerged as surprise promotion contenders after two seasons spent battling relegation, adding other new signings, including central midfield partner [[Gareth Whalley]] and [[Striker (association football)|striker]] [[Lee Mills]], who went on to be club's top goal-scorer.<ref name="markhamjewell">{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=99}}</ref> The season started off slowly with just one win from the first seven games, but by the latter half of the season, City were vying with [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] for the second promotion spot behind runaway leaders [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. [[Loan (football)|Loan]] signing [[Lee Sharpe]] and [[Dean Windass]] were added to the ranks and City had the chance to seal promotion in their penultimate game against relegation-threatened [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]. The game finished as a 0–0 draw, with McCall heading over the goal in the final minutes, taking the promotion bid to the final game of the season.<ref>{{cite news |first = Richard |last = Sutcliffe |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/13/163161.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120710071821/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/13/163161.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 10 July 2012 |title = Bantams Special: Goal-by-goal guide to the winning season |access-date = 5 December 2007 |date = 13 May 1999 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> Days later he was named the club's player of the year.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/4/163536.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120709194324/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/5/4/163536.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 9 July 2012 |title = McCall proves he's still a first-class act |access-date = 3 December 2007 |date = 4 May 1999 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> A 3–2 victory over [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] at [[Molineux stadium|Molineux]] on 9 May 1999 ensured promotion to the [[Premier League]] and denied Ipswich Town – the team that had thwarted McCall and Bradford 11 years before.

Bradford were expected to struggle in their first season in the top flight for 77 years.<ref name="markhamjewell"/> Jewell signed [[David Wetherall]], [[Dean Saunders]] and [[Neil Redfearn]], all experienced top flight performers, but City were in the bottom four teams for most of the season. It was Bradford's home form – they earned 26 of their 36 points at Valley Parade – that was key to City avoiding relegation, which was narrowly averted by two points after a shock 1–0 final day victory over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in [[1999-2000 in English football|1999–2000]], sending [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] down instead.<ref>{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=201}}</ref> When Jewell left only days after the season ended, McCall was appointed assistant manager to [[Chris Hutchings]],<ref name="assistant">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/819450.stm |title=McCall steps up, Scales eyes Ipswich |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=4 July 2000 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> and subsequently served as caretaker manager for two games when Hutchings was sacked after just 12 games of the [[2000–01 in English football|2000–01]] league season.<ref name="hutchings">{{cite news |title=Bradford sack Hutchings |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1009904.stm |date=6 November 2000 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> City were relegated with just 26 points. During a 6–1 defeat to [[West Yorkshire]] rivals [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in the penultimate game, McCall and team-mate [[Andy Myers]] fought on the pitch.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1328731.stm |title=Bradford dust-up goes unpunished |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=13 May 2001 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

McCall stayed on for one more season before he was released by manager [[Nicky Law (footballer born 1961)|Nicky Law]] in May 2002, shortly before the club went into [[administration (insolvency)|administration]] for the first time after finishing 15th in [[Football League First Division|Division One]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1921054.stm |title=Bantams let McCall go |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=10 April 2002 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> His playing career at Bradford City had looked uncertain in December 2001 before Law arrived, when previous manager [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] had left McCall out of the side in a 3–1 defeat at [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] following a training ground dispute.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1715361.stm |title=Jefferies denies McCall rift |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=17 December 2001 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1719659.stm |title=McCall's days numbered |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=19 December 2001 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> However, it was Jefferies who lost out in the dispute when he resigned his post a week later after summit talks with chairman [[Geoffrey Richmond]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2001/12/27/132030.html |title = Richmond will bide time |access-date = 3 December 2007 |date = 27 December 2001 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120509193940/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2001/12/27/Bradford+District+Archive/8033875.Richmond_will_bide_time/ |archive-date = 9 May 2012 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> In April 2002, McCall's [[testimonial match]] against Rangers attracted a crowd of more than 21,000 to [[Valley Parade]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2002/4/29/126959.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120708085159/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2002/4/29/126959.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 8 July 2012 |title = McCall pays special tribute to City's 'wonderful fans' |access-date = 27 December 2007 |date = 29 April 2002 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> McCall gave part of the proceeds from his testimonial to the Bradford burns research unit, which was set up following the 1985 fire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2002/11/22/Bradford+District+Archive/8020915.Stuart_s___15_000_gift_to_city_burns_unit/ |title=Stuart's £15,000 gift to city burns unit |date=22 November 2002 |access-date=6 September 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> Two years after his benefit match, McCall played one more time in City colours in a Save Our City appeal match organised by Bradford's evening newspaper, the ''[[Telegraph & Argus]]'', to raise funds for the club, who were now in administration for a second time.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2004/5/20/100532.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120708194625/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2004/5/20/100532.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 8 July 2012 |title = Stars come out to save City |access-date = 3 December 2007 |date = 20 May 2004 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3513575.stm |title=Bantams in administration |date=27 February 2004 |access-date=3 February 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

====Sheffield United====
On 2 July 2002. McCall joined [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], where he played an integral part in their first-team side, despite being 38, and also coached the reserves to the league title.<ref name="blades">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/2086451.stm |title=McCall signs for Blades |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=2 July 2002 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He played 71 league games over the next two seasons, and scored twice, including a winner against former side Bradford.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3113652.stm |title=Bradford 1–2 Sheff Utd |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=27 September 2003 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was in the side that reached the [[Football League First Division|Division One]] play-off final in 2003 as well as the semi-finals of both cup competitions that year.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0,,10418~1081180,00.html |title = A year by year history |access-date = 18 March 2008 |publisher = Sheffield United F.C. |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080309025823/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0,,10418~1081180,00.html |archive-date = 9 March 2008 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> However, he and Dean Windass, who was also now at Sheffield United, were both left out of the play-off final, as United lost 3–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Windass |title=From Gipsyville to the Premiership |page=119}}</ref> McCall played just two League Cup games in the [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] season, and retired just a few weeks before his 41st birthday.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/3729224.stm |title=McCall set to end career |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=9 October 2004 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> His career total of 763&nbsp;league games placed him in 13th&nbsp;position on the all-time appearance list of British footballers.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Rollin |editor1-first=Glenda |editor2-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2008–2009 |publisher=Headline |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7553-1820-9 |page=1030}}</ref>

===International career===
[[File:Mccall scotland.jpg|thumb|upright|McCall (right) playing for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] during [[UEFA Euro 96|Euro 96]]]]

McCall was picked for [[England national under-21 football team|England]] and [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland]] under-21 sides on the same day in 1984,<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=32–33}}</ref> and chose to join the England under-21 squad for their game against [[Turkey national under-21 football team|Turkey]]. However he was only picked as a substitute and the referee blew the final whistle, with McCall waiting to come on.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |pages=35–36}}</ref> He later told Scottish newspaper ''[[Glasgow Herald]]'', "I felt it was a mistake almost from the start. I was put on the bench and they tried to bring me on with a minute to go. But I took my time re-tying my boots and generally warming up and luckily didn't get on, otherwise that would have been that."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bale |first1=John |last2=Maguire |first2=Joseph A. |title=The Global Sports Arena |publisher=Routledge |year=1994 |isbn=0-7146-3489-1 |page=88}}</ref> Since he had not actually played for England, McCall was still eligible for Scotland. He eventually switched allegiances to the latter, for whom he qualified through his father. He made his Scotland debut at under-21 level in March 1988, ironically against England.<ref name="frost"/> McCall made one more appearance for Scotland under 21s, against [[France national under-21 football team|France]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–2008 |page=966}}</ref>

Later the same year, McCall was called up to the [[Scotland national football team|Scottish senior]] team. He won his first [[cap (sport)|cap]] on 28 March 1990 in a 1–0 friendly victory over [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]].<ref name="caps">{{cite web |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/stuartm.mccall.html |title=Stuart McCall – Scotland Football Record |access-date=27 December 2007 |publisher=Londonhearts.com}}</ref> He played in five friendlies in 1990 which earned him a call up to the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|Italia 90 World Cup]] squad. He played in all three of Scotland's World Cup games. They lost their first game 1–0 to [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]], before McCall scored what would be his only international goal against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] in a 2–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=127/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621035527/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=127/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2007 |title=Costa Rica – Scotland |access-date=27 December 2007 |publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=348/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214130/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=348/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2007 |title=Sweden – Scotland |access-date=27 December 2007 |publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref> However, Scotland failed to qualify for the knock-out stage when they were defeated 1–0 by [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=74/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001021058/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=76/results/matches/match=74/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 October 2007 |title=Brazil – Scotland |access-date=27 December 2007 |publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref>

McCall represented Scotland at the European Championships in [[UEFA Euro 1992|1992]], when they again failed to go beyond the group stage after defeats to [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] and [[Germany national football team|Germany]], and in [[UEFA Euro 96|1996]] when they were edged out in the first round by Netherlands.<ref name = "sfa">{{SFA Profile|id=14370}}</ref> Scotland failed to qualify for the World Cup in [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]. McCall played just two qualifying games for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] and his last cap came in a friendly against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] on 25 March 1998, as he was overlooked for the final squad for the finals in France along with team-mate [[Ally McCoist]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1998/6/8/174489.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120711122421/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1998/6/8/174489.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 11 July 2012 |title = McCall's World Cup blast |access-date = 3 December 2007 |date = 8 June 1998 |newspaper = Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> He was capped a total of 40 times for Scotland, scoring one goal. McCall's caps included 11 while at Everton and 29 during his career with Rangers.<ref name="caps"/>

==Coaching and managerial career==
===Early coaching career===
In July 2000, McCall accepted his first coaching role, when he was appointed assistant manager to [[Chris Hutchings]] at Bradford City, after Hutchings was promoted from the role to replace [[Paul Jewell]] as City manager.<ref name="assistant"/> Just four months later, Hutchings was sacked, and McCall was appointed as caretaker-player manager.<ref name="hutchings"/> His first game in the role was against his former team [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], who were led by his former manager Walter Smith, but ended with a 1–0 defeat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1018397.stm |title=Everton sink Bradford |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=11 November 2000 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was in charge for one more game, which also ended in defeat, until [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] was appointed the new manager. Jefferies brought with him his own assistant Billy Brown, and McCall was appointed first-team coach.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1027129.stm |title=Jefferies is new Bradford manager |access-date=17 December 2007 |date=20 November 2000 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

After leaving Bradford City, he joined Sheffield United, where he also took up a coaching role.<ref name="blades"/> When he retired in 2004, he remained at Sheffield United as assistant to [[Neil Warnock]].<ref name="blades post">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/6664639.stm |title=McCall misses out on Blades post |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=17 May 2007 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Working alongside Warnock and learning the managerial ropes from him,<ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Stewart |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/03/06/sfnshe06.xml |title=McCall yearns for a final farewell |access-date=4 January 2008 |date=5 March 2004 |work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Louise |last=Taylor |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1163565,00.html |title=McCall enjoys the age of colour |access-date=14 January 2008 |date=6 March 2004 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> he helped mastermind The Blades' promotion to the Premier League in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/4912522.stm |title=Blades promoted after Leeds draw |access-date=17 December 2007 |date=15 April 2006 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> United were relegated to the Championship on the final day of the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] season and Warnock resigned three days later.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6627849.stm |title=Sheff Utd 1–2 Wigan |access-date=17 December 2007 |date=14 May 2007 |work=BBC Sport | first=Phil | last=McNulty}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/6659513.stm |title=Warnock resigns after Blades manager |access-date=17 December 2007 |date=16 May 2007 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> McCall had already decided that the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] season would be his last as assistant manager,<ref name="markham"/> and when he was overlooked as a successor to the United manager's position, in favour of [[Bryan Robson]], he decided to leave after five years with the club.<ref name="blades post"/>

===Bradford City (first period as manager)===
McCall admitted in his autobiography, ''The Real McCall'', he wanted to manage Bradford.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |title=The Real McCall |page=184}}</ref>

He had been linked with the manager's position at Bradford City on numerous previous occasions,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/6/20/152419.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505073735/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/6/20/152419.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 5 May 2013 |title = Is it time for boss McCall? |access-date = 3 December 2007 |date = 20 June 2000 |work = Telegraph & Argus
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1013556.stm |title=Evans favourite for Bradford post |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=8 November 2000 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/3264473.stm |title=McCall rules out Bradford switch |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=12 November 2003 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> and after [[Colin Todd]] was sacked on 12 February 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6354497.stm |title=Bradford part company with Todd |date=12 February 2007 |access-date=17 March 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> City chairman [[Julian Rhodes]] made McCall his number one target to take over in the summer.<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1206514.0.mccall_is_no1_target.php |title=McCall Is No1 Target |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=21 February 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> Club captain [[David Wetherall]] temporarily took over and was later announced as caretaker manager for the rest of the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6444657.stm |title=Wetherall to stay on as caretaker |date=13 March 2007 |access-date=17 March 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 22 May 2007, it was announced McCall would become manager of the club where he started his career, and on 1 June 2007 he assumed the position.<ref name="McCall named new Bradford manager">{{cite news |title=McCall named new Bradford manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6679253.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2007 |access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> In less than seven years since McCall's first two-game reign, serious financial problems had driven the club to the verge of closure, and although they survived the threat of oblivion, they were unable to avoid a terrible on-the-pitch decline, which continued after the financial nightmare had been relieved.<ref>{{cite book |last=Markham |title=The legends of Bradford City |page=161}}</ref> On McCall's return to [[Valley Parade]], the Bantams had just been relegated to [[Football League Two|League Two]]—meaning that they would be playing in the bottom division for the first time in 25 years.<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1362773.0.woeful_city_relegated.php |title=Woeful City relegated |access-date=17 December 2007 |date=28 April 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> McCall set himself a target of earning promotion back to [[Football League One|League One]] in his first season.<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1456117.0.mccall_ill_have_failed_if_we_dont_go_up.php |title=McCall: I'll Have Failed If We Don't Go Up |access-date=3 December 2007 |date=8 June 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref>

Bradford had just 13 players when McCall took over,<ref>{{cite news |first=Dave |last=Craven |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1446155.0.bookies_tip_city_to_bounce_back.php |title=Bookies Tip City To Bounce Back |access-date=4 December 2007 |date=4 June 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> and he made a number of summer signings including defender [[Darren Williams]], midfielders [[Kyle Nix]], [[Alex Rhodes (footballer)|Alex Rhodes]] and [[Scott Phelan]], and strikers [[Barry Conlon]], [[Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu]] and [[Peter Thorne (English footballer)|Peter Thorne]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1513921.0.mccall_nets_a_brace.php |title=McCall nets a brace |access-date=4 December 2007 |date=2 July 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1558878.0.dday_for_city_trialists.php |title=D-Day for City trialists |access-date=4 December 2007 |date=19 July 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1607050.0.mccall_makes_a_double_signing.php |title=McCall makes a double signing |access-date=4 December 2007 |date=9 August 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> McCall recorded his first win as a manager against [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] on 25 August 2007 after substitute [[Luke Medley]] scored a late winner,<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1644538.0.luke_whos_a_hit_with_city_fans.php |title=Luke who's a hit with City fans! |access-date=30 December 2007 |date=26 August 2007 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> but despite his pre-season target his team spent much of the first half of the season in the bottom half of the table. After going unbeaten in January, the club were still 15th in League Two, and McCall told the ''Telegraph & Argus'' he did not regret his pre-season target but was carried away with the euphoria at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.2011939.0.mccall_the_big_interview.php |title=McCall: The big interview |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=3 February 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Jim |last=Greenhalf |quote=I don't regret it because it's how I felt and how I feel because I am optimistic. You should always strive to be the best you can naturally be, if that means setting standards high. But I probably went along with the optimism, naïvely. I thought I would be able to get the people I wanted to get in. Looking back I should have realised I would be coming into the unknown. I think I am confident in my ability to lead other people but I probably got carried away. I think I got caught up in all the euphoria at the time, if I am being honest.}}</ref> City's form continued to improve during the second half of the season, and McCall led his side to 10th place in League Two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?seasonid=137&competitionid=4 |title=Final 2007/2008 Football League Two Table |access-date=5 March 2008 |publisher=Soccerbase |archive-date=15 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515153721/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?comp_id=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Despite City finishing outside the play-off places, they were again installed as favourites for promotion by bookmakers for the [[2008–09 in English football|2008–09]] season.<ref name="wethers">{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/BRADFORD-CITY-Wethers-targets-promotion.4282660.jp |title=Wethers targets promotion |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=15 September 2008 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref> McCall released 13&nbsp;players from his squad and replaced them with a number of signings with experience in a higher division, as well as [[Michael Boulding]], who was one of League Two's top goalscorers during the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] campaign.<ref name="wethers"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7375137.stm |title=Bradford City release 13 players |date=30 April 2008 |access-date=15 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7525062.stm |title=Bradford sign Boulding brothers |date=25 July 2008 |access-date=15 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> McCall's side made a good start to the season, and after winning five of their opening six league games, went top of the league – the first time City had led the table in seven years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7616376.stm |title=Boulding sets sights on promotion |date=15 September 2008 |access-date=15 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

As a result of maintaining a place in the promotion places during the first half of the season and his "stabling influence" on the club, chairmen Julian Rhodes and [[Mark Lawn]] offered McCall a new contract in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7817184.stm |title=Bradford to offer McCall new deal |date=8 January 2009 |access-date=22 January 2009 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Later in the month, Lawn gave further backing to McCall, who was coming under pressure from the club's fans following a run of one win in nine games;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4084000.Lawn__It_s_May_when_it_counts/ |title=Lawn: It's May when it counts |date=29 January 2009 |access-date=29 January 2009 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> during the run McCall was also charged by [[The Football Association]] for the first time of his managerial career after he had contested a refereeing decision during a game with [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7859226.stm |title=Harford and McCall charged by FA |date=29 January 2009 |access-date=29 January 2009 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> McCall signed a new contract in February, which extended his deal by another two years and would have kept him at the club until 2011. He set himself the goal of earning two promotions to put City in the Championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4140817.McCall_signs_new_deal_with_Bantams/ |title=McCall signs new deal with Bantams |date=20 February 2009 |access-date=20 February 2009 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> However, less than a month later, McCall offered to resign if they did not reach the play-offs after his side lost 4–1 to [[AFC Bournemouth]] – their fifth consecutive away defeat. "Nobody is hurting more than me but it's as simple as that, if we miss out I don't deserve to be here," he said.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7949639.stm |title=McCall ready to quit as City boss |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=18 March 2009 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> City eventually missed out on promotion, but McCall decided to stay on as manager and took a voluntary pay cut in the process because of the club's budget being reduced.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/McCall-to-battle-on-as.5225888.jp |title=McCall to battle on as Bradford City forced to make cuts |date=1 May 2009 |access-date=31 May 2009 |work=Yorkshire Post |first=Richard |last=Sutcliffe}}</ref>

As a result of the cuts, McCall made a number of changes to his squad during the summer of 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4631806.Star_recruits_were_right_way_forward/ |title=McCall doesn't regret bringing in big names – just end result |date=17 September 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4823141.Non_league_trio_impress/ |title=Non-league trio impress |date=29 December 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> His team started the [[Bradford City A.F.C. season 2009–10|2009–10 season]] by going four games without scoring, until they recorded a 5–4 victory against [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]. After the game, McCall said: "That was the youngest, and certainly cheapest, team Bradford have put out for a long time and I'm really proud of them."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4560942.It_s_raining_goals_as_City_drought_ends/ |title=It's raining goals as City drought ends |date=24 August 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> City continued by going ten games unbeaten<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4675776.Shots_galore_but_City_floored_by_Zola/ |title=McCall appreciates applause but points would be more appropriate |date=21 October 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> and reached the area semi-finals of the [[Football League Trophy]] where they lost to [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]], managed by McCall's friend [[Greg Abbott (footballer)|Greg Abbott]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4796038.Ramsden_red_card_the_beginning_of_the_end/ |title=City miss out on a double helping against Leeds as they run out of legs |date=16 December 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> but at the start of 2010 found themselves 16th in League Two and eight points off the play-offs after a run of five defeats in seven games.<ref name="gauntlet">{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4865288.McCall_lays_down_four_game_gauntlet/ |title=McCall lays down four-game gauntlet |date=21 January 2010 |access-date=21 January 2010 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> McCall laid down a challenge to his team to win three of their next four games, saying: "The bottom line is that the players and me personally will get judged on results. And the results aren't good enough."<ref name="gauntlet"/> Despite the club's slide down the table, he denied he would resign,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4866364.McCall__I_am_no_quitter/ |title=McCall admits next four games have 'big significance' for him and the club |date=23 January 2010 |access-date=23 January 2010 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> but it was reported that two late goals from summer signing [[Gareth Evans (footballer, born 1988)|Gareth Evans]] to give City a late 2–1 away at [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] saved McCall from being sacked.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4882320.McCall_thanks_Evans_for_saving_his_job/ |title=McCall thanks Evans for saving his job |date=1 February 2010 |access-date=1 February 2010 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> However, defeat to [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] in the club's following fixture was McCall's last game as manager, with McCall saying after the game: "It's time for somebody else to come in and take up the reins and hopefully do well."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4993200.McCall_s_reign_is_over/ |title=McCall's reign is over |date=6 February 2010 |access-date=6 February 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> He won a little more than one-third of his 133&nbsp;games in charge of City.<ref name="soccerbase manager"/> McCall left by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1958761,00.html |title=Stuart McCall leaves Bradford City |date=8 February 2010 |access-date=8 February 2010 |publisher=Bradford City A.F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211102631/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10266~1958761%2C00.html |archive-date=11 February 2010}}</ref>

===Motherwell===
After leaving Bradford, McCall spent some time out of the game before being recruited to work as a [[Scout (association football)|scout]] for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] by Rangers former chief scout Ewan Chester.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8637593.McCall_gives_Bradford_City_a_helping_hand/ |title=McCall gives Bradford City a helping hand |date=16 November 2010 |access-date=17 November 2010 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> At the end of 2010, he was among a number of men interviewed for the managerial vacancy at [[Scottish Premier League]] club [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] to succeed [[Craig Brown (footballer born 1940)|Craig Brown]], before being given the job on a two-and-a-half-year contract.<ref name="Stuart McCall is confirmed as new Motherwell manager">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9314216.stm |title=Stuart McCall is confirmed as new Motherwell manager |date=30 December 2010 |access-date=30 December 2010 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> His first game in charge was a 0–0 draw away to [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] on New Year's Day 2011, with McCall stating: "It was a fair result. You take positives, a clean sheet, but we can be better and we will be better."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9332405.stm |title=New Motherwell manager McCall sees room for improvement |date=1 January 2011 |access-date=1 January 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He followed it up with a 4–0 victory in the Scottish Cup against [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9350560.stm |title=Dundee 0–4 Motherwell |work=BBC Sport|date=9 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011}}</ref> before his maiden league victory – and the club's first since November – against [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] by the end of January.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9370665.stm |title=Motherwell manager McCall pleased with first SPL win |work=BBC Sport|date=22 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011}}</ref> 

McCall was partly selected as new manager because of his knowledge of the lower leagues of English football;<ref name="Stuart McCall is confirmed as new Motherwell manager" /> he was active in the transfer market in his early days, bringing in [[Steve Jones (Northern Irish footballer)|Steve Jones]] – a player he had at Bradford<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9368286.stm |title=Motherwell take Walsall winger Steve Jones on loan |work=BBC Sport |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011}}</ref> – and [[Mike Grella]] from [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], although the latter move was cancelled because of a [[FIFA]] ruling limiting the number of clubs a player can sign for in one season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9369930.stm |title=Mike Grella's Motherwell move from Leeds falls through |work=BBC Sport|date=21 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011}}</ref> Having operated without an assistant for his first few weeks in charge, McCall chose former [[Airdrie United F.C.|Airdrie United]] manager [[Kenny Black]] as his number two.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9367356.stm |title=Kenny Black is new Motherwell assistant manager |work=BBC Sport|date=19 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011}}</ref> McCall led Motherwell to the semi-finals of both Scottish Cup competitions – they were defeated 2–1 by his former side Rangers in the League Cup<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/9378094.stm |title=Rangers 2–1 Motherwell |date=30 January 2011 |access-date=16 April 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> but reached the final of the Scottish Cup by defeating [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] 3–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/9454891.stm |title=Motherwell 3–0 St Johnstone |date=16 April 2011 |access-date=16 April 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

At the start of the following season, Motherwell lost only one match in their first six making them joint leaders of the Scottish Premier League, which led to McCall being named the Clydesdale Bank Premier League manager of the month for July and August.<ref name="Motherwell's Stuart McCall named manager of the month">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14847828.stm |title=Motherwell's Stuart McCall named manager of the month |date=9 September 2011 |access-date=10 September 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> ''Well'' continued their good form, with McCall winning the award again in October, alongside player of the month [[Keith Lasley]], in a month when the side went unbeaten.<ref name="Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins October award">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15581058.stm |title=Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins October award |date=4 November 2011 |access-date=6 November 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Motherwell's final position in the Premier League was in 3rd, allowing them into the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] for the first time in the club's history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17935908 |title=Champions League joy for Motherwell boss Stuart McCall |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=3 May 2012 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

At the start of the 2012–13 season, McCall was unable to make signings after losing ten players.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rangers: Motherwell boss Stuart McCall forced to shelve signings|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18847796|work=BBC Sport|date=15 July 2012|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> In the summer transfer window, he made two signings [[Simon Ramsden]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Motherwell sign former Bradford defender Simon Ramsden|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18969397|work=BBC Sport|date=24 July 2012|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> and [[Fraser Kerr]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Motherwell sign up Birmingham defender Fraser Kerr on a six month loan|url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/motherwell/128940-motherwell-sign-up-birmingham-defender-fraser-kerr-on-a-six-month-loan/|publisher=Sport STV|date=10 August 2012|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211025403/http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/motherwell/128940-motherwell-sign-up-birmingham-defender-fraser-kerr-on-a-six-month-loan/|url-status=dead}}</ref> McCall attempted to sign the returning [[James McFadden]] and [[Ryan Stevenson (footballer, born 1984)|Ryan Stevenson]], but both were unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news|title=James McFadden will not sign for Motherwell – Stuart McCall|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19345398|work=BBC Sport|date=22 August 2012|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hearts: Ryan Stevenson returns to Tynecastle from Ipswich|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19410936|work=BBC Sport|date=31 August 2012|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> McCall then managed the club's first Champions League match in the second round against [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]], but they proved to be too strong and Motherwell failed to win either leg losing 2–0<ref>{{cite news|title=Motherwell 0–2 Panathinaikos|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18964891|work=BBC Sport|date=31 July 2012|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826013013/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18964891|archive-date=26 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 3–0 respectively, which McCall described as "cruel".<ref>{{cite news|title=Motherwell defeat to Panathinaikos cruel – Stuart McCall|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19189266|work=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2012|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> After the match, Motherwell entered the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round|Europa League play-offs]] to face [[Levante UD|Levante]]; McCall wanted to play with an "up-and-at-them approach" against the Spaniards.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stuart McCall plans different Motherwell approach for Levante|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19349781|access-date=4 May 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=23 August 2012}}</ref> Once again, their opposition proved to be too strong and they lost each leg 2–0 and 1–0 respectively, ending the club's European competitions; the second game at the [[Estadi Ciutat de València]] had Motherwell playing with a youthful and inexperienced squad due to injuries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Levante v Motherwell: Chance for teenagers to shine as injuries leave McCall short of options|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13071164.Levante_v_Motherwell__Chance_for_teenagers_to_shine_as_injuries_leave_McCall_short_of_options/|access-date=4 May 2016|work=The Herald|date=29 August 2012}}</ref>

On 24 January 2013, it was announced McCall would join the [[Coaching staff|backroom staff]] of new [[Scotland national football team manager]] [[Gordon Strachan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21182632 |title=Scotland: Stuart McCall named in Gordon Strachan's backroom team |date=24 January 2013 |access-date=24 January 2013 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> During the 2012/13 season, the club managed to stay in the top-six. On 28 March 2013, McCall signed a new two-year contract with Motherwell.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2013/03/28/mccall-pens-two-year-extention/ |title=McCall pens two-year {{sic|exten|tion|nolink=y}} |date=28 March 2013 |access-date=28 March 2013 |publisher=[[Motherwell F.C.]] |archive-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211101135/http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2013/03/28/mccall-pens-two-year-extention/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2013, McCall was awarded March's SPL manager of month for helping the club win three and draw one of their games during the month.<ref>{{cite news|title=Motherwell's Stuart McCall is SPL manager of month|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22142732|work=BBC Sport|date=14 April 2012|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> At the end of the season, Motherwell finished second for the first time, their highest league position since 1994–95 season, which he described as "incredible".<ref name="Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins SPL manager of year award">{{cite news|title=Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins SPL manager of year award|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22514064|work=BBC Sport|date=13 May 2013|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> As a result, McCall won Clydesdale Bank Manager of the Year.<ref name="Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins SPL manager of year award"/> On 22 May 2013, it was reported that he was set to open talks with Sheffield United about their managerial vacancy in the next 24 hours and that he had cut short a family holiday to intend the interview.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stuart McCall: Motherwell boss set for Sheffield United talks|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22626614|work=BBC Sport|date=22 May 2013|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> Eventually, McCall rejected a move to Sheffield United, following talks between the two and was happy to continue as manager of Motherwell.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stuart McCall stays at Motherwell after Sheffield United talks|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22677357|work=BBC Sport|date=26 May 2013|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref>

At the start of the 2013–14 season, key players [[Darren Randolph]], [[Nicky Law (footballer born 1988)|Nicky Law]], [[Chris Humphrey]], [[Michael Higdon]] and [[Henrik Ojamaa]] all left the club. McCall replaced them by signing [[Paul Lawson (footballer)|Paul Lawson]], [[Iain Vigurs]], [[John Sutton (footballer)|John Sutton]], [[Fraser Kerr]], [[Gunnar Nielsen (Faroese footballer)|Gunnar Nielsen]] and [[Stephen McManus]]. He also managed to persuade [[James McFadden]] to stay at the club. Motherwell enjoyed another successful season, finishing second in the [[2013–14 Scottish Premiership]]. The position was achieved by winning on the final day against nearest rivals [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]. After a bad start to the 2014–15 season left Motherwell second from bottom, McCall resigned as manager on 2 November.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/298126-stuart-mccall-quits-as-motherwell-boss-with-side-second-bottom-in-league/ |title=Stuart McCall quits as Motherwell boss after fifth straight league loss |work=STV Sport |publisher=STV |date=2 November 2014 |access-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102234852/http://sport.stv.tv/football/298126-stuart-mccall-quits-as-motherwell-boss-with-side-second-bottom-in-league/ |archive-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>

===Rangers===
McCall was appointed manager of Rangers on 12 March 2015, agreeing a contract with the club to the end of the [[2014–15 in Scottish football|2014–15]] season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31839589 |title=Rangers: Stuart McCall appointed manager until summer |publisher=BBC |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref> In his first match in charge Rangers were held to a 1–1 draw at home by bottom-placed [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]] on 14 March 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31776639 |title=Rangers 1–1 Livingston |publisher=BBC |date=14 March 2015 |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> Rangers finished third in the [[2014–15 Scottish Championship]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/scotland/championship/2014-2015/table |title=Scottish Championship 2014–2015: Table |publisher=Statto |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> and in the [[2014–15 Scottish Premiership#Final|Premiership play-off final]] they were beaten 6–1 on aggregate by McCall's former team Motherwell.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32863247 |title=Motherwell 3–0 Rangers |publisher=BBC |date=31 May 2015 |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> Insisting he had "done a decent job" he wanted to extend his contract for the following season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32953667 |title=Rangers: Stuart McCall wants to lead Ibrox club next season |work=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2015 }}</ref> Rangers instead opted to appoint [[Mark Warburton]] as manager for the new season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33125007 |title=Rangers: Mark Warburton signs three-year deal as manager |first=Kenny |last=Macintyre |publisher=BBC |date=14 June 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>

===Bradford City (second period as manager)===
McCall returned for a second period as manager of Bradford City on 20 June 2016, replacing [[Phil Parkinson]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/14568244.McCall_confirmed_as_City_boss_on_two_year_deal/|title=Stuart McCall returns to Bradford City on two-year deal|date=20 June 2016|access-date=20 June 2016|first=Ross |last=Heppenstall|work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> McCall gave up his coaching role with the Scotland national team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsCategoryID=6&newsID=16382 |title=McCall: An honour to serve my country |publisher=Scottish FA |date=21 June 2016 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref> In his first season the team reached the [[2017 EFL League One play-off final]], but lost 1–0 to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39988036 |title=Stuart McCall: Bradford City boss 'close to hitting' Millwall fans who invaded pitch |publisher=BBC |date=20 May 2017 |access-date=27 May 2017}}</ref> After a run of six consecutive defeats, McCall was sacked by Bradford on 5 February 2018.<ref name=BradfordOut>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42944703 |title=Stuart McCall: Bradford City sack manager after six straight defeats |work=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2018 |access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> The team were still sitting in sixth place in [[2017–18 EFL League One]] when McCall was sacked, but had fallen 13 points behind the automatic promotion places.<ref name=BradfordOut/>

===Scunthorpe United===
McCall was appointed manager of League One club [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] on 27 August 2018.<ref name=ScunthorpeIn>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45322458 |title=Stuart McCall: Scunthorpe United appoint ex-Bradford City manager following Nick Daws exit |work=BBC Sport |date=27 August 2018 |access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> After winning four out of their five games in January 2019, and climbing up the table to 14th position (and out of the relegation zone), McCall won the January 2019 League One Manager of the Month award.<ref name="thetelegraphandargus.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/17418657.former-bantams-chief-stuart-mccall-wins-manager-of-the-month/|title=Former Bantams chief Stuart McCall wins League One manager of the month|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=8 February 2019 }}</ref> After this good run, however, the team won only two further matches and had dropped to 18th place when McCall was sacked in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47687506 |title=Stuart McCall: Scunthorpe United sack boss and put Andy Dawson in charge |work=BBC Sport |date=24 March 2019 |access-date=25 March 2019}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, he stated he might not return to management, preferring the coaching side instead, stating: "It's a hard gig. I just like working with players, so I'd like to go out on a Monday to Friday or whatever it is and work with players and try and help improve them, put plans in there, formations, etc. And on the Saturday when it comes together – no better feeling."<ref name=og/>

In November 2019 he interviewed for the vacant post at [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50434036|title=Stuart McCall: Hearts interview former Rangers & Motherwell boss|work=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2019}}</ref>

===Bradford City (third period as manager)===
On 4 February 2020, McCall was appointed Bradford manager for a third time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51371650 |title=Stuart McCall: Bradford City reappoint ex-Scotland player as manager |website=BBC Sport |date=4 February 2020 |access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> He left the club on 13 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2020/december/city-part-company-with-mccall/|title=CITY PART COMPANY WITH McCALL|website=www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk}}</ref>

===Blackpool===
McCall joined newly promoted [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], as assistant head coach to [[Neil Critchley]], on 22 July 2021. McCall's father played for the club in the 1940s and 1950s, and his sister was born in the town.<ref>[https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/post/stuart-mccall-joins-blackpools-coaching-staff "Stuart McCall Joins Blackpool's Coaching Staff"] – Blackpool F.C., 22 July 2021</ref>

===Sheffield United===
On 25 November 2021, McCall left Blackpool to become assistant manager to [[Paul Heckingbottom]] at [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].<ref>[https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/post/mccall-agrees-to-join-sheffield-united "McCall Agrees To Join Sheffield United"] – Blackpool F.C., 25 November 2021</ref> Both Heckingbottom and McCall left the club in December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-05 |title=McCall leaves Sheffield United as Heckingbottom sacking confirmed |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/23969613.former-bantams-duo-leave-sheffield-united-wilder-returns/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}</ref>

===Preston North End===
On 20 August 2024, following Heckingbottom's appointment, McCall was appointed assistant manager at Championship club [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]].<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/august/20/paul-heckingbottom-appointed-first-team-manager/|title=Paul Heckingbottom Appointed First Team Manager|website=www.pnefc.net|date=20 August 2024|accessdate=20 August 2024}}</ref>

==Style of play==
McCall was a [[Box-to-box|box-to-box midfielder]] characterised by his tireless running,<ref name="telegraph"/> tackling and also weighing in with an average of one goal every 11 games.<ref name="stats">{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=4982 |title=Stuart McCall |access-date=14 January 2008 |work=The Racing Post}}</ref> Despite his position in the middle of the park he was rarely suspended and was sent off just once in his career – in the final minute of a 2–0 defeat to [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] on 4 November 2000.<ref name="stats"/><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Ley |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/4775148/Toothless-Bradford-suffer-pain.html |title=Toothless Bradford suffer pain |date=7 November 2000 |access-date=13 September 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London}}</ref> He also had a never-say-die attitude proven by a number of key late goals including his equaliser which sent the [[1989 FA Cup Final]] into extra-time,<ref name="telegraph"/> and a 93rd-minute equaliser against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] during Bradford's difficult start to their Premier League campaign in the [[FA Premier League 1999-2000|1999–2000]] season.<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Sutcliffe |url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/1999/9/13/161694.html |title=Supermac to the rescue! |date=13 September 1999 |access-date=14 January 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> He was a passionate player with a strong desire to win games.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Gardner |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2003/12/01/sfgshe01.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040913043826/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2003%2F12%2F01%2Fsfgshe01.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2004 |title=McCall defying time |date=30 November 2003 |access-date=14 January 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup<ref group = "note">Includes [[FA Cup]], [[Football League Cup|League Cup]], [[Scottish Cup]] and [[Scottish League Cup]].</ref>
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
|1982–83
|rowspan="6"| [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]|| 28||4||2||0||colspan="2"|—||30||4
|-
|1983–84
|46||5||4||0||colspan="2"|—||50||5
|-
|1984–85
|46||8||7||1||colspan="2"|—||53||9
|-
|1985–86
|38||4||4||2||colspan="2"|—||42||6
|-
|1986–87
|36||7||4||1||colspan="2"|—||40||8
|-
|[[1987–88 Bradford City A.F.C. season|1987–88]]
|44||9||9||2||colspan="2"|—||53||11
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!238!!37!!30!!6!!colspan="2"|—!!268!!43
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
|[[1988–89 Everton F.C. season|1988–89]]
|rowspan="3"| [[Football League First Division|First Division]]|| 33||0||9||4||colspan="2"|—||42||4
|-
|[[1989–90 Everton F.C. season|1989–90]]
|37||3||11||0||colspan="2"|—||48||3
|-
|[[1990–91 Everton F.C. season|1990–91]]
|33||3||9||0||colspan="2"|—||42||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!103!!6!!29!!4!!colspan="2"|—!!132!!10
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]
|[[1991–92 Rangers F.C. season|1991–92]]
|rowspan="7"| [[Scottish Premier Division|Scottish<br/>Premier Division]]|| 36||1||7||0||2||2||45||3
|-
|[[1992–93 Rangers F.C. season|1992–93]]
|36||5||9||1||9||0||54||6
|-
|[[1993–94 Rangers F.C. season|1993–94]]
|34||3||8||0||2||0||44||3
|-
|[[1994–95 Rangers F.C. season|1994–95]]
|30||2||4||1||2||0||36||3
|-
|[[1995–96 Rangers F.C. season|1995–96]]
|21||3||5||1||7||0||33||4
|-
|[[1996–97 Rangers F.C. season|1996–97]]
|7||0||2||0||4||0||13||0
|-
|[[1997–98 Rangers F.C. season|1997–98]]
|30||0||8||0||2||0||40||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!194!!14!!43!!3!!28!!2!!265!!19
|-
|rowspan="5"|Bradford City
|[[1998–99 Bradford City A.F.C. season|1998–99]]
|First Division||43||3||5||0||colspan="2"|—||48||3
|-
|[[1999–2000 Bradford City A.F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Premier League]]||34||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||38||1
|-
|[[2000–01 Bradford City A.F.C. season|2000–01]]
|37||1||2||0||4||0||43||1
|-
|[[2000–01 Bradford City A.F.C. season|2001–02]]
|First Division||43||3||3||1||colspan="2"|—||46||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!157!!8!!14!!1!!4!!0!!175!!9
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
|[[2002–03 Sheffield United F.C. season|2002–03]]
|rowspan="2"|First Division|| 34||0||11||0||colspan="2"|—||45||0
|-
|[[2003–04 Sheffield United F.C. season|2003–04]]
|37||2||5||0||colspan="2"|—||42||2
|-
|[[2004–05 Sheffield United F.C. season|2004–05]]
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!71!!2!!18!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!89!!2
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total 
!763!!67!!134!!14!!32!!2!!929!!83
|}

<references group="note" />

===International appearances===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!National team||Season||Apps||Goals
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]<ref name = "sfa"/>
|1990||9||1
|-
|1991||5||0
|-
|1992||8||0
|-
|1993||2||0
|-
|1994||6||0
|-
|1995||1||0
|-
|1996||8||0
|-
|1997||colspan=2|—
|-
|1998||1||0
|-
!Total!!40!!1
|}

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.''<ref name = "sfa"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 16 June 1990 || [[Stadio Luigi Ferraris]], [[Genoa]], Italy || {{fb|SWE}} || 1–0 || 2–1 || [[1990 FIFA World Cup Group C#Sweden vs Scotland|1990 World Cup]]
|}

===Manager===
{{updated|match played 12 December 2020}}

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
!rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (caretaker)
|align=left|6 November 2000
|align=left|20 November 2000
{{WDL|2|0|0|2|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="hutchings"/><ref name="soccerbase manager"/>
|-
|align=left|Bradford City
|align=left|1 June 2007
|align=left|8 February 2010
{{WDL|133|46|35|52|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="McCall named new Bradford manager"/><ref name="soccerbase manager"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]]
|align=left|30 December 2010
|align=left|2 November 2014
{{WDL|174|74|32|68|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="soccerbase manager"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]
|align=left|12 March 2015
|align=left|14 June 2015
{{WDL|17|7|6|4|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="soccerbase manager"/>
|-
|align=left|Bradford City
|align=left|20 June 2016
|align=left|5 February 2018
{{WDL|96|44|24|28|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="soccerbase manager"/><ref name=BradfordOut/>
|-
|align=left|[[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
|align=left|27 August 2018
|align=left|24 March 2019
{{WDL|39|12|8|19|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="soccerbase manager">{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=1636 |title=Managers: Stuart McCall |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|Bradford City
|align=left|4 February 2020
|align=left|13 December 2020
{{WDL|29|7|7|15|decimals=1}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|490|190|112|188|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
===As a player===
'''Bradford City'''
*[[Football League Third Division]]: [[1984–85 in English football|1984–85]]{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
*[[Football League First Division]] promotion: [[1998–99 in English football|1998–99]]{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

'''Everton'''
*[[FA Cup]]: Runner-up [[1988–89 FA Cup|1988–89]]

'''Rangers'''<ref name=rfchof>{{Cite web |url=https://rangers.co.uk/club/history/hall-of-fame/stuart-mccall/ |title=Hall of Fame: Stuart McCall |publisher=[[Rangers F.C.]] |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-date=1 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095443/https://rangers.co.uk/club/history/hall-of-fame/stuart-mccall/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=fsrfc>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1306 |title=Rangers player Stuart McCall |website=FitbaStats |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref>
*[[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]] (5): [[1991–92 Scottish Premier Division|1991–92]], [[1992–93 Scottish Premier Division|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Scottish Premier Division|1993–94]], [[1994–95 Scottish Premier Division|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Scottish Premier Division|1995–96]]{{efn|Played insufficient matches in [[1996–97 Scottish Premier Division|1996–97]] due to injury}}
**Runner-up [[1997–98 Scottish Premier Division|1997–98]]
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1991–92 Scottish Cup|1991–92]], [[1992–93 Scottish Cup|1992–93]], [[1995–96 Scottish Cup|1995–96]]
**Runner-up [[1993–94 Scottish Cup|1993–94]], [[1997–98 Scottish Cup|1997–98]]
*[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[1992–93 Scottish League Cup|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Scottish League Cup|1993–94]]{{efn|Did not play in [[1996–97 Scottish League Cup|1996–97]] due to injury}}
{{notelist}}

'''Individual'''
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]:
**Second Division: [[1986–87 in English football|1987]],<ref name="frost"/> [[1987–88 in English football|1988]]<ref name="frost"/>
**Third Division: [[1984–85 in English football|1985]]{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

===As a manager===
'''Individual'''
*Manager of the Month: July/August 2011,<ref name="Motherwell's Stuart McCall named manager of the month"/> October 2011,<ref name="Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins October award"/> March 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2013/04/14/mccall-is-manager-of-the-month/|date=14 April 2013|access-date=19 June 2016|title=McCall is March's Manager of the Month|publisher=Motherwell F.C.|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811120902/http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2013/04/14/mccall-is-manager-of-the-month/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
*SPL Manager of the Season: 2012–13{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
*[[EFL League Two Manager of the Month|League Two Manager of the Month]]: January 2019<ref name="thetelegraphandargus.co.uk"/>

==See also==
* [[List of footballers in England by number of league appearances]] (500+)
* [[List of Scotland international footballers born outside Scotland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{soccerbase (manager)|1636|Stuart McCall}}
*{{FIFA player|174747|Stuart McCall}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| list1 = 
{{1984–85 Football League Third Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1986–87 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1987–88 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Bradford City A.F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Scotland squads
| bg = #0C1C8C
| fg = #FFFFFF
| list1 = 
{{Scotland squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Scotland squad UEFA Euro 1992}}
{{Scotland squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Bradford City A.F.C. managers}}
{{Motherwell F.C. managers}}
{{Rangers F.C. managers}}
{{Scunthorpe United F.C. managers}}
}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCall, Stuart}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Leeds]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Anglo-Scots]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
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[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
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[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
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[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1992 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Sheffield United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Bradford City A.F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Motherwell F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League managers]]
[[Category:Farsley Celtic F.C. players]]