George Stanger

{{about||the member of the New Jersey Senate|George H. Stanger|the English surgeon|George Eaton Stanger}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = George Stanger

| image = Acciesu19-Basel-24102018-1 (Stanger).jpg

| caption = Stanger in 2018

| fullname = George William Stanger{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: New Zealand |publisher=FIFA |page=11 |date=13 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206013743/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=6 February 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|8|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Melrose, Scotland

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/george-stanger-plots-different-path-to-sporting-glory-than-famous-father-8wjjhqh0q|title=George Stanger plots different path to sporting glory than famous father|first=Mark|last=Palmer|date=21 April 2019|work=The Sunday Times}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Kilmarnock

| clubnumber = 14

| youthyears1 = –2018

| youthclubs1 = Stirling Albion

| years1 = 2018–2021

| clubs1 = Hamilton Academical

| caps1 = 8

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018

| clubs2 = → Stirling Albion (loan)

| caps2 = 11

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2019

| clubs3 = → East Kilbride (loan)

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2020

| clubs4 = → Forfar Athletic (loan)

| caps4 = 4

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2021–2022

| clubs5 = University of Stirling

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 2022

| clubs6 = → Dumbarton (loan)

| caps6 = 10

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2022–2023

| clubs7 = Alloa Athletic

| caps7 = 33

| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2023–2025

| clubs8 = Ayr United

| caps8 = 62

| goals8 = 4

| years9 = 2025–

| clubs9 = Kilmarnock

| caps9 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2019

| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U20

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2019–

| nationalteam2 = New Zealand U23

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 11 June 2025

| ntupdate =

}}

George William Stanger (born 15 August 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish club Kilmarnock.

Born in Scotland, Stanger has represented New Zealand at youth level, including appearing at the Olympics.

Early and personal life

Stanger's father is former Scottish International rugby union player Tony Stanger, and his mother Bid is from Auckland, New Zealand. George was born in Melrose in the Scottish Borders; the family eventually settled in Dunblane.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/scotland/interview-scotland-rugby-hero-tony-stanger-on-why-he-loves-football-1-4831226 |title=Interview: Scotland rugby hero Tony Stanger on why he loves football |author=Aiden Smith |work=The Scotsman |date=17 November 2018 |access-date=24 August 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scotland-could-miss-out-on-hamilton-starlet-starring-at-fifa-u20-world-cup-and-son-of-scottish-rugby-royalty-1-4936134/amp |title=Scotland could miss out on Hamilton starlet starring at Fifa U20 World Cup – and son of Scottish rugby royalty |author=Joel Sked |work=The Scotsman |date=28 May 2019 |access-date=24 August 2019}}

Club career

Stanger began his career with Stirling Albion, joining Hamilton Academical in January 2018 before being loaned back to Stirling Albion for the rest of the season, making his senior debut in Scottish League Two.{{soccerbase|108893}} During the 2018–19 campaign he played for Hamilton's youth teams, including in the Scottish Challenge Cup and the UEFA Youth League.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/hamilton-accies-uefa-youth-league-13475206|title=Hamilton Accies UEFA Youth League adventure continues after dramatic penalty victory over Basel|work=Daily Record|date=24 October 2018|access-date=24 August 2019}}

In the summer 2019 transfer window, he was linked with a move away from Hamilton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17846337.hamilton-youngster-george-stanger-set-loan-move-amid-leeds-united-interest/|title=Hamilton youngster George Stanger set for loan move amid Leeds United interest|website=Evening Times|date=19 August 2019}} He made his first professional-level start for the club in the Scottish Premiership on 24 August, a 3–1 home defeat to Motherwell in the Lanarkshire derby.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49378871 Hamilton Academical 1–3 Motherwell: Visitors claim first league victory], BBC Sport, 24 August 2019

In September 2019 he moved on loan to East Kilbride.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/george-stanger-goes-on-loan-to-east-kilbride/|title=George Stanger Goes On Loan To East Kilbride|date=3 September 2019|website=Hamilton Academical Website}} In January 2020 he moved on loan to Forfar Athletic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-league-1/1069790/forfar-boss-stuart-malcom-signs-defender-george-stanger-on-loan-from-hamilton/|title=Forfar boss Stuart Malcolm signs defender George Stanger on loan from Hamilton|first=Ian|last=Roache|date=9 January 2020 }}

He was released by Hamilton in October 2021{{cite tweet|number=1445072035701534720|user=acciesfc|title=Defender George Stanger, 21, has been released by the club. After representing New Zealand in the Olympics in July…|date=4 October 2021}} and joined University of Stirling in the Lowland Football League, before signing for Scottish League One side Dumbarton on loan in February 2022.{{Cite web|title=Dumbarton Football Club – GEORGE STANGER ARRIVES ON LOAN|url=https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=5253|access-date=18 February 2022|website=www.dumbartonfootballclub.com}} He scored his first goal in senior football for the Sons in a 3–2 defeat to Airdrieonians in April 2022{{Cite news |title=Airdrieonians v Dumbarton |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60903665 |access-date=16 April 2022}} but turned down a new deal following the club's relegation to Scottish League Two.{{Cite web |title=Dumbarton Football Club – GEORGE MOVES ON |url=https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=5364 |access-date=2 June 2022 |website=www.dumbartonfootballclub.com}}

Stanger signed for Alloa Athletic in July 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/2022/07/06/triple-signing-confirmed/ |title=Triple signing confirmed |publisher=Alloa Athletic FC |date=6 July 2022 |accessdate=10 July 2022}} After one season with Alloa, Stanger moved to Ayr United in June 2023.{{Cite web |title=George Stanger Joins the Honest Men |url=https://ayrunitedfc.co.uk/george-stanger-joins-the-honest-men |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=Ayr United FC |language=en-gb}}

In June 2025, following the expiry of his contract with Ayr, Stanger signed for Kilmarnock.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cr4wxp2dkqvo|title=George Stanger will 'bring presence' to Kilmarnock defence|date=19 June 2025|website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/george-stanger-excited-by-kilmarnock-chance-after-move-from-ayr|title=George Stanger excited by Kilmarnock chance after move from Ayr|first=P. A.|last=Sport|date=19 June 2025|website=STV News}}

International career

Stanger represented New Zealand at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/112489805/son-of-scottish-rugby-hero-playing-for-new-zealand-at-the-fifa-under20-world-cup|title=Son of Scottish rugby hero playing for New Zealand at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup|website=Stuff|date=2 June 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/george-stanger/520784/|title=New Zealand – G. Stanger – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com}} In June 2021 he was called up to New Zealand's squad for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tokyo-olympics-olywhites-and-football-ferns-teams-announced/ZS4EPSGLX5THJK276AIPUQVTJI/|title=Tokyo Olympics: OlyWhites and Football Ferns teams announced|website=New Zealand Herald |date=26 June 2021 }}