Roy Aitken

{{short description|Scottish footballer and manager (born 1958)}}

{{about|the Scottish footballer|the film producer|Roy Aitken (film producer)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Roy Aitken

| image = Aitken.jpg

| caption = Aitken in September 1982

| fullname = Robert Sime Aitken{{Hugman|129|access-date=6 March 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|11|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland

| height = 1.83 m{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Roy Aitken (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/16082/Roy_Aitken.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=national-football-teams.com |language=en}}

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1973–1975| youthclubs1 = Celtic

| years1 = 1975–1990 | clubs1 = Celtic | caps1 = 484 | goals1 = 40

| years2 = 1990–1991 | clubs2 = Newcastle United | caps2 = 54 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1991–1992 | clubs3 = St Mirren | caps3 = 34 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 1992–1995 | clubs4 = Aberdeen | caps4 = 29 | goals4 = 2

| totalcaps = 601 | totalgoals = 44

| nationalyears1 = 1976–1984

| nationalyears2 = 1979–1991

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21{{cite web |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=15 |title=Scotland Under-21 player Roy Aitken |work=fitbastats.com |access-date=11 October 2012 }}

| nationalteam2 = Scotland

| nationalcaps1 = 16

| nationalcaps2 = 57

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 1990[https://www.facebook.com/spflofficial/posts/on-this-day-back-in-1990-a-scottish-league-xi-beat-scotland-1-0-at-hampden-park-/10155071606188998/ On this day, back in 1990, a Scottish League XI beat Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park in the SFL Centenary match with the goal coming from then Aberdeen Football Club star Hans Gillhaus], Scottish Professional Football League via Facebook, 18 August 2016

| nationalteam3 = SFA (SFL Centenary)

| nationalcaps3 = 1

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1995–1997 | managerclubs1 = Aberdeen

| manageryears2 = 2006 | managerclubs2 = Aston Villa (caretaker)

}}

Robert Sime "Roy" Aitken (born 24 November 1958){{SFA profile|id=287|name=Roy Aitken}} is a Scottish former football player and manager. He made over 480 league appearances for Celtic, and later played for Newcastle United, St Mirren and Aberdeen. Aitken also made 57 international appearances for Scotland. His playing position was either in midfield or defence.

Aitken had become assistant manager at Aberdeen towards the end of his playing career, and was appointed their manager in February 1995. He led the Dons to a Scottish League Cup win in 1995–96, but was sacked in November 1997. He has since coached several clubs, including Leeds United and Aston Villa.

Playing career

Born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Aitken grew up in Ardrossan. He signed for Celtic as a youngster at 16 and came through their youth ranks. Aitken was nicknamed The Bear by their supporters due to his large frame and commanding presence. Aitken broke into the Celtic first team as a teenager, first captaining the team in October 1977.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/15465470.Roy_Aitken_pipped_Kieran_Tierney_to_Celtic_s_youngest_ever_captain_accolade/?ref=mrb&lp=9 |title=Roy Aitken pipped Kieran Tierney to Celtic's youngest ever captain accolade |first=Alison |last=McConnell |work=The Herald |date=10 August 2017 |access-date=10 August 2017}} Playing as a centre back or defensive midfielder, Aitken made the third-most appearances in the club's history and was particularly noted for his contributions in the club's double-winning 1987–88 season.[http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/al-ahli-to-gain-from-roy-aitkens-leadership-values Al Ahli to gain from Roy Aitken's leadership values]

Aitken later went on to play for Newcastle United, joining the club for £500,000 in January 1990. He captained the side in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to gain promotion from the Second Division. Having been signed by Jim Smith, he was deemed surplus to requirements when Smith was replaced as manager by Ossie Ardiles and returned to Scotland with St Mirren.[http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/happy-birthday-former-toon-captain-8163851 Happy birthday to the former Newcastle United captain nicknamed 'the Bear'] He did not remain long at St Mirren, signing for Aberdeen for £100,000 to act as player-assistant manager to Willie Miller.[http://www.afcheritage.org/Team/Manager/index.cfm?manager_id=16 Managers: Roy Aitken]

Aitken won 57 caps for the Scotland national football team, scoring once. He featured at both the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, captaining Scotland at the latter tournament and in 27 of his international appearances.

Management and coaching career

Aitken was appointed manager of Aberdeen in February 1995 after the sacking of Willie Miller.{{cite web|title=Aberdeen sever all ties with club legend Willie Miller|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18513617|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 December 2013|date=19 June 2012}}{{cite web|title=1995–1997 Roy Aitken|url=http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/20070205/1995-1997-roy-aitken_2212066_976476|publisher=Aberdeen F.C.|access-date=2 December 2013}} At the time, Aberdeen were struggling to avoid relegation, and Aitken made a bright start by winning 2–0 against Rangers in his first game as manager, but then lost to part-time Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Cup by the same scoreline.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/scottish-football-stenhousemuirs-historic-moment-1574054.html|title=Stenhousemuir's historic moment|work=The Independent|date=20 February 1995|access-date=24 October 2017}} Aberdeen finished second bottom of the league, but maintained their top league status by defeating Dunfermline Athletic in a two-legged play-off.{{cite web|title=Play-offs and Test Matches 1891-date|url=http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/playoffs.htm|publisher=Scottish Football Historical Archive|access-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104021657/https://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/playoffs.htm|archive-date=4 November 2013}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220210072607/https://allybegg.com/roy-aitken-my-biggest-achievement-at-aberdeen-was-avoiding-relegation/ Roy Aitken – "My biggest achievement at Aberdeen was avoiding relegation"]}}, AllyBegg.com, 9 February 2022

The following season saw Aitken invest heavily in the transfer market; signing striker Dean Windass for £750,000 and midfielder Paul Bernard for a club record £1 million. Bernard struggled to justify his expensive transfer fee{{cite web|title=Bernard can leave Aberdeen|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/955699.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 December 2013|date=4 October 2000}} whilst Windass' time at Pittodrie was hampered by his on-field indiscipline.{{cite web|title=A Dons Cult Hero – Dean Windass|url=http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/20090808/a-dons-cult-hero-dean-windass_2212158_1747574|publisher=Aberdeen F.C.|access-date=2 December 2013}} Nevertheless, Aitken led Aberdeen to silverware when they won the Scottish League Cup on 26 November 1995, beating Dundee 2–0 in the final.{{cite web|last=McKinney|first=David|title=Dodds and Shearer end Aberdeen's wait|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/dodds-and-shearer-end-aberdeens-wait-1583985.html|website=The Independent|access-date=9 September 2015|date=27 November 1995}}

On being sacked by Aberdeen in November 1997 (after a 5–0 loss to Dundee United), Aitken turned his attention to coaching. In February 1998 he was appointed head coach of the Maldives national football team but resigned a month later over the poor facilities available to the team.{{Cite news |last= Cameron |title= Aitken Leaves Maldives Post |newspaper= The Scotsman |via=HighBeam Research |access-date= 9 July 2016 |date= 17 March 1998 |first= Neil |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18652209.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160911111833/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18652209.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 11 September 2016 }} After obtaining his UEFA Pro Licence at the Scottish Football Association's Largs training centre,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/scotland/2327013/England-could-learn-from-Scottish-system.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918120703/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/scotland/2327013/England-could-learn-from-Scottish-system.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2012 |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph | title=England could learn from Scottish system |first=Henry |last=Winter |date=29 November 2007 |access-date=30 September 2010}} Aitken went on to become a coach with Leeds United before rejoining former Leeds coach David O'Leary at Aston Villa.{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=374411&cc=5739 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604073259/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=374411&cc=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=Aitken ready to lead Villa until whenever |publisher=ESPNsoccernet |access-date=30 September 2010}}

On 20 July 2006, he was named caretaker manager of Aston Villa after O'Leary's departure the previous evening.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5197898.stm |title=Aitken at helm after O'Leary exit |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2006 |access-date=30 September 2010}} Aitken managed Villa to three pre-season victories before being replaced by Martin O'Neill.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2008/04/17/roy-aitken-i-want-to-win-aston-villa-derby-for-birmingham-city-97319-20777305/ |title=Roy Aitken: I want to win Aston Villa derby for Birmingham City |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=17 April 2008 |access-date=30 September 2010}}

In January 2007, he was appointed as one of Alex McLeish's assistants with the Scotland national football team.{{cite web|title=McLeish unveiled as Scotland boss|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6289073.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 December 2013|date=29 January 2007}} On 28 November 2007, he followed McLeish, newly appointed as manager of Birmingham City, to the club as first-team coach alongside Andy Watson.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7115728.stm |title=Birmingham unveil McLeish as boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 November 2007 |access-date=7 July 2010}}

In July 2010, Aitken left Birmingham City to join David O'Leary in Dubai with Al-Ahli.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/8797781.stm |title=Roy Aitken quits Birmingham City for Al Ahli |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 July 2010 |access-date=7 July 2010}} Afterwards taking up the role as Director of Football at Al-Ahli.

Statistics

=International appearances=

Year	Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 \| Scotland national team
1979	2	0
1980	3	0
1981	colspan=2\|—
1982	1	0
1983	4	0
1984	1	0
1985	6	0
1986	9	1
1987	8	0
1988	8	0
1989	8	0
1990	6	0
1991	1	0
Total \|\| 57 \|\| 1

Honours

=Player=

Celtic{{cite web |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2713 |title=Celtic player Roy Aitken |work=fitbastats.com |access-date=6 February 2018 }}

Scottish Premier Division: 1976–77, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1987–88
Scottish Cup: 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989
Scottish League Cup: 1982–83

Scotland

The Rous Cup: 1985{{ cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19850527&printsec=frontpage&hl=en | page = 15 | newspaper = Glasgow Herald | title = Rous-ing win for makeshift Scots | date = 27 May 1985 | via = Google News Archive }}

=Manager=

Aberdeen

Scottish League Cup: 1995–96

=Individual honours=

Scottish FA International Roll of Honour: 1989
Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductee: 2018{{cite web |url=http://sport.bt.com/news/roy-aitken-inducted-into-scottish-hall-of-fame-S11364304670256 |title=Roy Aitken inducted into Scottish Hall of Fame |publisher=BT Sport |date=21 October 2018 |access-date=22 October 2018}}