Stephen Aitken
{{short description|Scottish footballer and coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Stephen Aitken
| image =
| fullname = Stephen Aitken
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|09|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = –1993
| youthclubs1 = Erskine B.C.
| years1 = 1993–2001
| years2 = 2001–2007
| years3 = 2007
| years4 = 2007–2009
| years5 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = Greenock Morton
| clubs2 = Stranraer
| clubs3 = Stenhousemuir
| clubs4 = Arthurlie
| clubs5 = Stranraer
| caps1 = 113
| caps2 = 156
| caps3 = 11
| caps4 = ?
| caps5 = 19
| goals1 = 4
| goals2 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| goals4 = ?
| goals5 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2012–2015
| managerclubs1 = Stranraer
| manageryears2 = 2015–2018
| managerclubs2 = Dumbarton
| manageryears3 = 2020–2021
| managerclubs3 = East Kilbride
}}
Stephen Aitken (born 25 September 1976 in Glasgow) is a Scottish football player and coach who was most recently manager of East Kilbride.{{Cite web|title=Stephen Aitken appointed new 1st Team Manager|url=https://eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk/news/stephen-aitken-appointed-new-1st-team-manager-28-05-2020|last=FC|first=East Kilbride|website=eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}
Aitken played for Greenock Morton, Stranraer, Stenhousemuir and Junior side Arthurlie. He rejoined Stranraer in 2009 as assistant manager to Keith Knox. Aitken retired as a player in 2011, and he has since managed Stranraer and Dumbarton.
His younger brother Chris is also a former footballer.[https://spfl.co.uk/news/band-of-brothers-at-stirling Band of Brothers at Stirling], Scottish Professional Football League, 4 March 2011[https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/stranraer/stephen-aitken-s-success-at-stranraer-noticed-1-3541689 Stephen Aitken's success at Stranraer noticed], The Scotsman, 15 September 2014
Playing career
Aitken started his senior career with Greenock Morton, where he played for eight years before moving to Stranraer where he stayed for six years. Upon leaving Stranraer he joined Stenhousemuir briefly, before leaving the senior game to join Barrhead side Arthurlie in the Junior ranks.
Coaching career
In 2009, he returned to Stranraer for a second time at the age of 32, and shortly thereafter took up a role as assistant manager.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stranraer/7916489.stm|title=Aitken makes return to Stranraer|work=BBC Sport|date=28 February 2009|access-date=28 February 2009}} On 27 October 2012 Aitken was appointed manager at the club.{{cite web|title=Aitken Takes Charge|url=http://www.stranraerfc.org/index.php/latest-news/240-aitken-takes-charge|website=Stranraer F.C.|access-date=21 November 2013}}
After a successful three years with Stranraer he joined Dumbarton in May 2015, to replace Ian Murray.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32889668 |title=Dumbarton: Stranraer's Stephen Aitken makes managerial switch |work=BBC Sport|date=27 May 2015 |access-date=27 May 2015}} He won his first competitive game in charge 3–2 against former club{{cite web|title=Greenock Morton 2-3 Dumbarton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33578665|access-date=13 May 2016 |work=BBC Sport}} Greenock Morton. After keeping the club in the Scottish Championship for both of his seasons in charge, he agreed a new 2-year deal in May 2017.{{cite web|last1=Findlay|first1=Alan|title=Breaking News: Manager agrees terms|url=http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=3004|website=Dumbarton F.C.|access-date=24 May 2017}}
Aitken led the Sons to the Scottish Challenge Cup Final the following season,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43445358|title=Dumbarton 0-1 Inverness CT|last=Crawford|first=Kenny|date=24 March 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 May 2018}} but a difficult league campaign resulted in relegation to Scottish League One after defeat to Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship play-offs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44020139|title=Dumbarton 0-2 Alloa Athletic|last=Dowden|first=Martin|date=13 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 May 2018}} After a slow start to the 2018–19 Scottish League One season left the club in ninth position, Aitken left Dumbarton in October 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=3807|title=Club announcement|date=8 October 2018|website=Dumbarton F.C.}}
Aitken was appointed manager of Lowland League team East Kilbride in May 2020. After his first season was declared null and void due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, Aitken left Kilby a month into the 2021-22 campaign after the club's worst start to a season{{Cite web|last=Thomson|first=Paul|date=2021-08-10|title=Rangers B were dominated by East Kilbrde and first win will come, says Aitken|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/rangers-b-were-dominated-east-24724829|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Daily Record|language=en}} in their history.{{Cite web|last=McGilvray|first=Andy|date=2021-08-10|title=Stevie Aitken leaves East Kilbride manager's job|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/stevie-aitken-leaves-east-kilbride-24730244|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Daily Record|language=en}}
Managerial statistics
:{{As of|2021|8|11}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||
| rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % |
| align=left|Stranraer
|align=left|October 2012 |align=left|May 2015 {{WDL|124|54|27|43}} | ||||
| align=left|Dumbarton
|align=left|May 2015 |align=left|October 2018 {{WDL|154|42|38|74}} | ||||
| align=left|East Kilbride
|align=left|May 2020 |align=left|August 2021 {{WDL|8|1|4|3}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|286|97|69|120}} |
- East Kilbride statistics include League Cup forfeit victory against Kilmarnock on 10 July 2021.
Honours and achievements
=Player=
;Greenock Morton
;Stranraer
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Stephen Aitken managerial positions
|list1=
{{Stranraer F.C. managers}}
{{Dumbarton F.C. managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aitken, Stephen}}
Category:Arthurlie F.C. players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Greenock Morton F.C. players
Category:People educated at Park Mains High School
Category:Scottish Football League managers
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:Scottish football managers
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League managers
Category:Footballers from Glasgow
Category:Stenhousemuir F.C. players
Category:Stranraer F.C. managers
Category:Stranraer F.C. players
Category:Dumbarton F.C. managers
Category:Footballers from Renfrewshire