Billy McKinlay

{{Short description|Scottish footballer (born 1969)}}

{{for|the South Carolina tailor and legislator|William McKinlay}}

{{for|the Scottish professional footballer|Billy McKinlay (footballer)}}

{{distinguish|Bill McKinley}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Billy McKinlay

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = William James Alexander McKinlay{{Hugman|12711|access-date=7 March 2021}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|4|22|df=y}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| height = {{convert|1.73|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1003/Billy-McKinlay/overview |title=Billy McKinlay: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=7 March 2021}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Everton (assistant)

| youthyears1 = 1984–1985 | youthclubs1 = Hamilton Thistle

| youthyears2 = 1985–1986 | youthclubs2 = Dundee United

| years1 = 1986–1995 | clubs1 = Dundee United | caps1 = 222 | goals1 = 23

| years2 = 1995–2000 | clubs2 = Blackburn Rovers | caps2 = 91 | goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2000 | clubs3 = → Leicester City (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2000–2001 | clubs4 = Bradford City | caps4 = 11 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2001 | clubs5 = Preston North End | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2001–2002 | clubs6 = Clydebank | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2002–2004 | clubs7 = Leicester City | caps7 = 53 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2004–2005 | clubs8 = Fulham | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 387 | totalgoals = 27

| nationalyears1 = 1988–1989 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U21| nationalcaps1 = 6| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 1990–1994 | nationalteam2 = Scotland B | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1990{{cite web|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/from-the-archives-18-august-1990|title=From the archives: Centenary match|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=18 August 2016|access-date=29 October 2019}}| nationalteam3 = Scottish League XI| nationalcaps3 = 1| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 1993–1998 | nationalteam4 = Scotland| nationalcaps4 = 29 | nationalgoals4 = 4

| manageryears1 = 2014 | managerclubs1 = Watford

| manageryears2 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs2 = Stabæk

| manageryears3 = 2017 | managerclubs3 = Sunderland (caretaker)

| manageryears4 = 2019–2021 | managerclubs4 = Stoke City (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2021–2024 | managerclubs5 = West Ham United (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2025– | managerclubs6 = Everton (assistant)

}}

William James Alexander McKinlay (born 22 April 1969) is a Scottish football manager and former professional footballer who is currently assistant manager of Everton.

As a player, he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Bradford City and Fulham. He also played in the Scottish Premiership for Dundee United, the Football League for Preston North End and the Scottish Football League for Clydebank. McKinlay appeared 29 times for Scotland and played at Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.

As a coach, he has worked for Fulham, the Northern Ireland national team and Watford. He was appointed Watford head coach in September 2014 but left the post after eight days. After a spell as assistant head coach with Real Sociedad in Spain, he joined Norwegian club Stabæk in November 2015, before being sacked in July 2016. He has since worked at Sunderland, Stoke City and West Ham United.

In January 2025, McKinlay joined Everton as assistant head coach, working alongside head coach David Moyes.

Club career

A product of Dundee United's scouting and coaching network in the west of Scotland, Glasgow-born McKinlay was signed from Hamilton Thistle in 1986. He played in the 1988 Scottish Cup final side at the age of 19, after only twelve Scottish Football League appearances. He went on to play over two hundred matches for United, but missed out on the club's 1994 Scottish Cup win due to suspension. He was named in the SPFA Team of the Year for 1994.{{ cite web | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003741/19950113/061/0061 | title = WELL BUFFED | newspaper = The Scotsman | date = 13 January 1995 | access-date = 5 May 2023 | url-access=subscription | via = British Newspaper Archive}}

Following Dundee United's relegation in 1995, McKinlay requested a transfer. He was sold to English Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers in October 1995 for a fee of £1.75 million. After leaving Blackburn in 2000, McKinlay had brief spells with Bradford City, Preston North End and Clydebank. In 2002, he joined Leicester City, scoring his only goal for them against Coventry City.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2852677.stm|title=Coventry 1–2 Leicester|publisher=BBC|date=21 March 2003 |access-date=2 February 2010}} In 2004, Fulham manager Chris Coleman signed McKinlay, primarily to assist the reserve squad.

International career

McKinlay represented Scotland at under-21{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=152|title=Scotland U21 profile|publisher=Fitbastats.com|access-date=6 June 2017}} and B international{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandb/player.php?playerid=78|title=Scotland B profile|publisher=Fitbastats.com|access-date=6 June 2017}} level before making his full debut in 1993. He made 14 appearances for Scotland while with Dundee United, the last two as a First Division player. He is one of only three players from that division to play at full international level for Scotland since 1975.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} In total he played 29 times for Scotland between 1993 and 1998, scoring four goals. He was selected for the Euro 1996 and 1998 World Cup squads, making one appearance at each tournament.

Coaching career

=Fulham=

On 21 December 2007, Fulham first-team coach Ray Lewington and reserve team manager McKinlay took over after manager Lawrie Sanchez was sacked. Roy Hodgson was appointed nine days later.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/7163374.stm|title=Fulham appoint Hodgson as manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 December 2007|access-date=19 December 2013}} McKinlay coached Fulham's reserve side and developed youth talent, and in 2012 became Northern Ireland assistant manager, but returned to Fulham to manage the side's 4–0 defeat at Everton, on 28 April 2012 due to Martin Jol's chest infection and was again in charge on Merseyside, for Fulham's win against Liverpool. On 2 December 2013, McKinlay left Fulham after Martin Jol's departure a day earlier.{{cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/december/02/coaching-staff-update|title=Coaching Staff Update|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=2 December 2013|access-date=19 December 2013}}

=Watford=

McKinlay was appointed as Watford first-team coach, under head coach Óscar García, on 26 September 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/140926-watford-fc-appoint-billy-mckinlay-1966890.aspx|title=OFFICIAL: Hornets Appoint McKinlay As First Team Coach|publisher=Watford F.C.|date=26 September 2014|access-date=26 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929024841/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/140926-watford-fc-appoint-billy-mckinlay-1966890.aspx|archive-date=29 September 2014}} McKinlay replaced Garcia a few days later as head coach, after the Spaniard resigned due to suffering from ill health.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29412134 Watford: Oscar Garcia replaced by Billy McKinlay as head coach], BBC Sport McKinlay relinquished his role as Northern Ireland's assistant manager after becoming the Watford manager.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29431699 Watford coach Billy McKinlay quits Northern Ireland role], BBC Sport After just eight days in the job, McKinlay was replaced as Watford head coach by Slaviša Jokanović.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29518405 Watford: Slavisa Jokanovic replaces Billy McKinlay as boss], BBC Sport McKinlay had taken charge of two matches, a win against Brentford and a draw with Brighton.

=Real Sociedad=

On 27 November 2014, McKinlay joined Spanish club Real Sociedad as an assistant coach, working alongside David Moyes.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30240690 |title=David Moyes: Billy McKinlay named Real Sociedad assistant |publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 November 2014 |access-date=28 November 2014}} He was sacked, along with Moyes, on 9 November 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34756773|title=Real Sociedad sack former Man Utd manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 November 2015}}

=Stabæk=

On 30 November 2015, McKinlay was appointed as manager of Norwegian Tippeligaen side Stabæk Fotball on a two-year contract.{{cite web|title=Fra Bob til Billy|url=http://www.stabak.no/news/article/516k7xptdk7r1usz1xwip4gwh/title/mckinlay-ny-hovedtrener|publisher=Stabæk Fotball|access-date=30 November 2015|language=no|date=30 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208122148/http://www.stabak.no/news/article/516k7xptdk7r1usz1xwip4gwh/title/mckinlay-ny-hovedtrener|archive-date=8 December 2015}} McKinlay resigned as manager on 8 July 2016, after being knocked out of the Europa League by Connah's Quay Nomads.{{cite web|title=Billy McKinlay fratrer som trener|url=http://www.stabak.no/news/article/1kiz2s835c86c1auzzmakyuxd4/title/mckinlay-fratrer-som-hovedtrener|publisher=Stabæk Fotball|access-date=8 July 2016|language=no|date=8 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714130400/http://www.stabak.no/news/article/1kiz2s835c86c1auzzmakyuxd4/title/mckinlay-fratrer-som-hovedtrener|archive-date=14 July 2016}}

=Sunderland=

McKinlay joined Sunderland as a scout, initially under Moyes, in 2016. In October 2017 he was promoted to a temporary first team coaching role by manager Simon Grayson when assistant manager Glynn Snodin became ill.{{cite news|title=Simon Grayson on what Billy McKinlay brings to Sunderland coaching staff|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/simon-grayson-on-what-billy-mckinlay-brings-to-sunderland-coaching-staff-1-8811526|access-date=1 November 2017|work=Sunderland Echo}} Following Grayson's sacking, McKinlay and Robbie Stockdale were appointed the club's joint caretaker managers in November 2017.{{cite news|title=Sunderland: Billy McKinlay & Robbie Stockdale in caretaker charge but experienced boss wanted|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41837005|access-date=1 November 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 November 2017}} After one game in charge, a 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough on 5 November 2017,{{Cite web | title = Middlesbrough 1-0 Sunderland | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 5 November 2017 | access-date = 19 November 2017 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41792795}}

=West Ham United=

McKinlay left Sunderland to take a coaching position at West Ham United.{{cite news |url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderland-in-chaos-as-caretaker-boss-billy-mckinlay-quits-for-west-ham-1-8853827 |title=Sunderland in chaos as caretaker boss Billy McKinlay quits for West Ham |work=Sunderland Echo |date=12 November 2017 |access-date=13 November 2017 |first=Ross |last=Gregory}} He left the east London club at the end of the 2017–18 season, after manager David Moyes' contract was not renewed.{{Cite web | title = David Moyes: West Ham manager departs after just six months in charge | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 16 May 2018 | access-date = 16 May 2018 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44140002}}

=Stoke City=

McKinlay joined Stoke City on 21 November 2019, as assistant manager to Michael O'Neill.{{cite web |title=Billy checks-in |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2019/november/Billy-checks-in/ |publisher=Stoke City F.C.|access-date=21 November 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50501573 |title=Billy McKinlay: Former Scotland midfielder reunited with O'Neill at Stoke City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=21 November 2019}} McKinlay left Stoke by Mutual consent on 12 April 2021.{{cite news |title=Billy McKinlay: Stoke City assistant manager leaves by mutual consent |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56718117 |access-date=12 April 2021}}

=Return to West Ham United=

In July 2021, McKinlay rejoined West Ham United as part of David Moyes' coaching staff.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/west-ham-united/news/billy-mckinlay-rejoins-west-ham-united-coaching-team_453748.html?newsnow|title=Billy McKinlay rejoins West Ham United coaching team|author=Press Association|date=3 July 2021|publisher=Sports Mole}} Upon the departure of club manager, David Moyes in May 2024, McKinlay left the club with other coaches and back-room staff.{{cite web | title=Moyes Coaching Team Leave West Ham | website=West Ham News | date=21 May 2024 | url=https://www.claretandhugh.info/moyes-coaching-team-leave-west-ham/ | access-date=21 May 2024}}

Career statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{Cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/10366/Billy_Mckinlay.html|title=Billy McKinlay (Player)|first=Benjamin|last=Strack-Zimmermann|website=national-football-teams.com}}

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="6"|Scotland

|1993

11
199462
199581
199640
199730
199870
colspan="2"|Total294

:Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McKinlay goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Billy McKinlay{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=617&lid=1|title=Billy McKinlay | Scotland | Scottish FA|publisher=Scottish Football Association}}

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

style="text-align:center"|117 November 1993National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta{{fb|MLT}}style="text-align:center"|1–0style="text-align:center"|2–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|220 April 1994Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria{{fb|AUT}}style="text-align:center"|2–1style="text-align:center"|2–1Friendly
style="text-align:center"|312 October 1994Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland{{fb|FRO}}style="text-align:center"|4–0style="text-align:center"|5–1UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
style="text-align:center"|47 June 1995Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroes{{fb|FRO}}style="text-align:center"|1–0style="text-align:center"|2–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualification

Managerial statistics

{{updated|match played 5 November 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="5"|Record

GWDLWin %
align=left|Watford

|align=left|29 September 2014

|align=left|7 October 2014

{{WDL|2|1|1|0}}

align=left|Stabæk

|align=left|30 November 2015

|align=left|8 July 2016

{{WDL|20|6|2|12}}

align=left|Sunderland (joint caretaker)

|align=left|1 November 2017

|align=left|12 November 2017

{{WDL|1|0|0|1}}

colspan="3"|Total

{{WDLtot|23|7|3|13}}

References

{{reflist}}