Ross McCrorie (born 18 March 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back, right wing-back, or defensive midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Rangers and the Scotland national team.

McCrorie has previously played for Ayr United, Dumbarton, Portsmouth, Aberdeen and Bristol City. He captained the Scotland under-21 team, and made his full international debut for Scotland in 2024.

Club career Early careers and loans out McCrorie, alongside his twin brother Robby (a goalkeeper), worked his way through the Rangers youth system, becoming captain of their U20s side. McCrorie joined Scottish League One side Ayr United on loan in February 2016, playing fifteen times and scoring twice as Ayr won promotion.

After signing a new contract in December 2016, at the same time as his brother, he joined his former coach at Rangers, Ian Durrant, at Scottish Championship side Dumbarton on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Rangers first breakthrough McCrorie made his debut for the Rangers senior team in September 2017, when he replaced Bruno Alves in a League Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle at Firhill Stadium, won 3–1 after extra time. Following the match, manager Pedro Caixinha praised McCrorie, stating that he was "going to be the future of this country, not only this club, as a centre-half. We are very glad to have him with us". Later in the same week he made his first start – also his Scottish Premiership debut and maiden experience of the Old Firm derby – against Celtic at Ibrox. Rangers lost the match 2–0, but McCrorie's performance was reported favourably by the press and both Rangers and Celtic fans.

McCrorie scored his first senior goal for Rangers with a header in the first half against Partick Thistle on 4 November 2017 at Ibrox; Rangers won the match 3–0. On 3 December he was deployed as a defensive midfielder in a fixture away to Aberdeen, which his team won to overtake their opponents into second place in the table. On 28 December he signed a new four-year contract. After he scored an important goal in the second visit to Aberdeen in May 2018, McCrorie received praise from both the Pittodrie boss Derek McInnes and the Rangers caretaker manager Jimmy Nicholl for his overall performance and influence in bringing his team back into the match; the player himself dedicated the strike to his dying grandmother.

Loan to Portsmouth In July 2019, McCrorie agreed a deal to move to English club Portsmouth on loan for the 2019–20 season; it was reported that Pompey had an option to buy him outright,Ross McCrorie leaves Rangers for loan deal at Portsmouth with option to buy, Football Scotland, 5 July 2019 but this was refuted by Rangers manager Steven Gerrard a few days later.Rangers: Portsmouth don't have clause to buy Ross McCrorie - Steven Gerrard, BBC Sport, 7 July 2019 He made his competitive debut for Pompey on 3 August, a 1–0 defeat away at Shrewsbury Town, during which he was sent off in the 81st minute for a late challenge on Shrewsbury's Donald Love.

Aberdeen On 17 August 2020, McCrorie joined Aberdeen, initially on a one-year loan, with an obligation to buy for a reported fee of around £350,000.Ross McCrorie: Aberdeen sign Rangers midfielder on loan before three-year deal, BBC Sport, 18 August 2020 A clause in the deal meant he would not be eligible to play against his 'parent club' during the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership campaign, although he would not return to Rangers before becoming a permanent Aberdeen signing. The deal was made permanent on 1 February 2021, ahead of schedule, as Scott Wright moved in the opposite direction.

Bristol City On 6 June 2023, McCrorie joined Bristol City on a three-year deal with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee. After an injury lay off, McCrorie made his debut for City in a 2–0 loss away at Preston on 13 January 2024. On 22 May 2026, the club announced it had exercised an option to extend the player's contract to the end of the 2026/27 season.

Rangers return On 25 June 2026, McCrorie returned to Rangers on a three-year contract with the option of a further year.

International career

With his brother Robby, Scotland U16 won the Victory Shield in 2013–14, and were selected for Scotland U17 in the 2015 UEFA European U-17 Championship.

McCrorie was named in the Scotland U19 squad for the elite round of the European Championships in March 2017 alongside Dumbarton teammate Daniel Harvie. He had captained the side in the qualifying phase of the tournament. He also captained the Scotland U21 team on several occasions.Ross McCrorie leads Scotland Under-21s to massive win, Rangers News, 12 September 2018

McCrorie was selected for the Scotland under-20 squad in the 2017 Toulon Tournament. The team went on to claim the bronze medal, the nation's first ever medal at the competition.

McCrorie received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in October 2020. He was called up again in June 2023 for games against Norway and Georgia.

McCrorie made his Scotland debut on 3 June 2024 in a friendly against Gibraltar. Two years later, he made his second appearance in a 1-0 friendly loss against Ivory Coast.

Career statistics Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRangers U202016–17—20202017–18—1010Total000000003030Rangers2015–16Scottish Championship000000—00002016–17Scottish Premiership000000——002017–18Scottish Premiership212102000—2422018–19Scottish Premiership200102080—3102019–20Scottish Premiership00000000—002020–21Scottish Premiership00000000—00Total41220408000552Ayr United (loan)2015–16Scottish League One1120000—40152Dumbarton (loan)2016–17Scottish Championship900000—0090Portsmouth (loan)2019–20League One1701020—30230Aberdeen (loan)2019–20Scottish Premiership—10———102020–21Scottish Premiership191000031—222Aberdeen2020–21Scottish Premiership100200000—1202021–22Scottish Premiership301201060—3912022–23Scottish Premiership332107300—415Total924608390001158Bristol City2023–24EFL Championship1903000——2202024–25EFL Championship2351000—202652025–26EFL Championship3931010——413Total8185010—20898Career total2511614015317112030920

Honours Ayr United Scottish Championship Play-offs: 2015–1611/5/16: Stranraer 1:1 Ayr United UK Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2021.

Scotland U16 Victory Shield: 2013–14

References

External links