Rhys McCabe explained

Rhys McCabe
Fullname:Rhys McCabe[1]
Birth Date:24 July 1992
Birth Place:Polbeth, Scotland
Currentclub:Airdrieonians (player-manager)
Clubnumber:4
Position:Central midfielder
Youthclubs1:Rangers
Years1:2011–2012
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:19
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2015
Clubs2:Sheffield Wednesday
Caps2:40
Goals2:1
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Portsmouth (loan)
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2017
Clubs4:Dunfermline Athletic
Caps4:38
Goals4:5
Years5:2017–2018
Clubs5:Sligo Rovers
Caps5:45
Goals5:6
Years6:2019
Clubs6:St Patrick's Athletic
Caps6:29
Goals6:4
Years7:2020
Clubs7:Brechin City
Caps7:15
Goals7:2
Clubs8:Queen of the South
Years8:2020–2021
Caps8:32
Goals8:0
Clubs9:Airdrieonians
Years9:2021–
Caps9:97
Goals9:14
Nationalyears1:2012–2013
Nationalteam1:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:20:44, 26 May 2022 (UTC)
Ntupdate:09:10, 12 June 2021 (UTC)
Managerclubs1:Airdrieonians (player-manager)
Manageryears1:2022–

Rhys McCabe (born 24 July 1992) is a Scottish footballer and coach who plays as a central midfielder, and is the player-manager of club Airdrieonians.

McCabe started his senior career with Rangers. McCabe has also played for Dunfermline Athletic, Brechin City and Queen of the South in Scotland, English clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth, and Irish clubs Sligo Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic. McCabe has also represented the Scotland national under-21 football team.

Club career

Rangers

A member of Rangers under-19 squad[2] McCabe scored in the Youth Cup Final in April 2011 in what was ultimately a 2–1 defeat to Celtic.[3] In July 2011 he made his first team debut as a substitute in a friendly against Blackpool,[4] going on to make subsequent appearances in friendlies against Liverpool[5] and Hamburg.[6] He signed a contract extension in December 2011 extending his stay with the club to 2015.[7] Having been an unused substitute in nine previous fixtures that season,[8] he made his Scottish Premier League debut on 3 March 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 defeat to Hearts.[9] On 25 March he made his Old Firm debut in a 3–2 win over Celtic.[10]

Sheffield Wednesday

He then signed a three-year contract with Sheffield Wednesday.[11] On 11 October 2012 Sheffield Wednesday agreed an undisclosed settlement with Rangers.[12] His first goal for Sheffield Wednesday was an edge of the box screamer from a corner against Charlton Athletic on 22 December 2012.[13] The goal was subsequently voted goal of the day on Sky Sports News. He scored his second goal for the club in a League Cup tie against Rotherham United.[14]

On 17 March 2014, McCabe joined League Two club Portsmouth on loan for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[15] He was recalled early from his loan spell by The Owls on 24 April 2014.[16] McCabe was released along with 10 other players from his contract at the end of the 2014–15 season.[17]

Dunfermline Athletic

After his release, McCabe was reported as having attracted the interest of a number of clubs in his native Scotland.[18] Following trials with St Johnstone and Hibernian,[18] McCabe signed for Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic in September 2015[19] [20] making his debut as a first half substitute in a 5–0 victory against Stenhousemuir, one day after signing for the club as.[21] [22] His first goal for the Pars came against Albion Rovers, after an error from Rovers keeper Ross M. Stewart saw McCabe's long-range effort punched into the goal.[23] [24]

Sligo Rovers

On 7 June 2017, McCabe agreed to sign for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers during the July transfer window, following the end of his contract with Dunfermline Athletic.[25]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 23 January 2019, it was announced that McCabe had signed for St Patrick's Athletic alongside Chris Forrester who signed from Aberdeen.[26] It was announced on 6 November 2019 that McCabe was released, following the end of his contract with the Saints which whom he played for 27 times over the season, scoring once.[27]

Brechin City

In January 2020, McCabe signed a six-month contract with Brechin City.

Queen of the South

On 24 August 2020, McCabe signed a one-year contract with Queen of the South until 31 May 2021.[28]

On 23 January 2021, McCabe captained the club in the absence of Stephen Dobbie captain and Gregor Buchanan vice captain through injury, as Queens won 2-1 versus Greenock Morton at Palmerston.[29]

Airdrieonians

On 11 June 2021, McCabe signed a one-year contract with Airdrieonians in Scottish League One.[30]

On 26 May 2022, following the departure of manager Ian Murray, McCabe was announced as the player-manager of Airdrieonians.[31] In his first season in charge McCabe led Airdrieonians to promotion to the Scottish Championship via the play-offs at the end of the 2022-23 season scoring twice in the play-off semi-final against Falkirk.

International career

McCabe made his debut for the Scotland national under-21 football team in April 2012.[32]

Personal life

McCabe's cousin Callum Fordyce is also a professional footballer; the two play together at Airdrieonians and previously played alongside each other at Dunfermline Athletic.[33] Shelley Kerr, the former Scotland Women's manager is his aunt.[34] [35]

Career statistics

[36]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers2011–12Scottish Premier League9000000090
Sheffield Wednesday2012–13EFL Championship2211000231
2013–14702011101
2014–1510101030
Sheffield Wednesday Total3014021362
Portsmouth (loan)2013–14EFL League Two4000000040
Dunfermline Athletic2015–16Scottish League One152101010182
2016–17Scottish Championship233304030333
Dunfermline Athletic Total385405040515
Sligo Rovers2017League of Ireland Premier Division134100010154
2018322103020382
Sligo Rovers Total456203030536
St Patrick's Athletic2019League of Ireland Premier Division25100002000271
Brechin City2019–20Scottish League Two5000000050
Queen of the South2020–21Scottish Championship220202000260
Airdrieonians2021–22Scottish League One325202141407
Career total210181401422011125121

Managerial statistics

As of match played 17 August 2024

Honours

Player

Dunfermline Athletic

2015–16[37]

Airdrieonians

2023–24

Manager

Airdrieonians

2023–24[39]

Notes and References

  1. News: Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 . The Football League . 18 May 2013 . 24 . 23 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf . 2 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Celtic U19 2–1 Rangers U19 (aet) . BBC Sport . 27 April 2011 . 4 March 2012.
  3. Web site: Youth Cup Final: Celtic 2 Rangers 1 (AET; 1–1 affter [sic] 90 mins) ]. Daily Record . 28 April 2011 . 4 March 2012.
  4. Web site: Blackpool 0 – 2 Rangers: Steven Davis makes it a seaside stroll for Rangers . The Scotsman . 19 July 2011 . 4 March 2012.
  5. Web site: Rangers 1 Liverpool FC 0: LFC shadow side bring home lack of European nights (GALLERY) – Liverpool Echo. 19 October 2011.
  6. Web site: The former Rangers wonderkid now plying his trade at Sligo . 29 June 2017 .
  7. Web site: No 41 Rhys McCabe Rangers . Rangers F.C. . 4 March 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120115032519/http://www.rangers.co.uk/first-team-profile/player/58227 . 15 January 2012 .
  8. Web site: Rhys McCabe Stats . Soccerway . 4 March 2012.
  9. Web site: Rangers 1–2 Hearts . BBC Sport . 3 March 2012 . 4 March 2012.
  10. Web site: Rangers stun nine-man Celtic in thriller. BBC . 25 March 2012 . 25 March 2012.
  11. News: Rangers: Rhys McCabe joins Sheffield Wednesday. BBC Sport. 30 July 2012. 30 July 2012.
  12. News: Rangers: Ally McCoist bullish on club future . BBC Sport . 12 October 2012.
  13. Web site: Sheff Wed 2-0 Charlton . 22 December 2012 . BBC. 20 September 2020.
  14. Web site: Rotherham 2-1 Sheff Wed . 6 August 2013 . BBC. 20 September 2020.
  15. Web site: McCabe And Toumani Sign . Portsmouth FC . 17 March 2014.
  16. Web site: Rhys McCabe recalled by Sheffield Wednesday . Sheffield Wednesday FC . 24 April 2014.
  17. Web site: McCabe released from contract. BBC Sport . 12 June 2015.
  18. Web site: Allan Johnston insists Dunfermline would be 'crazy' to let top talents move on as he eyes up Rooney and McCabe . deadlinenews.co.uk . 28 August 2015 . 18 September 2015.
  19. Web site: Rhys McCabe becomes a Par . dafc.co.uk . 18 September 2015 . 18 September 2015.
  20. News: Dunfermline sign former Rangers midfielder Rhys McCabe . Neil . Robertson . The Courier . DC Thomson . 18 September 2015 . 18 September 2015.
  21. Web site: Stenhousemuir 0 Dunfermline 5 . dafc.co.uk . 19 September 2015 . 3 October 2015.
  22. Web site: Pars ease to comfortable Ochilview victory . Dunfermline Press . 19 September 2015 . 3 October 2015.
  23. Web site: Dunfermline 3 Albion Rovers 0 . dafc.co.uk . 3 October 2015 . 3 October 2015.
  24. Web site: Pars pick up 3-0 win after slow start against Albion Rovers . Dunfermline Press . 3 October 2015 . 3 October 2015.
  25. Web site: Allan Johnston eyes new faces for Dunfermline Athletic squad but midfielder Rhys McCabe agrees to join Sligo Rovers . Dunfermline Press . 8 June 2017 . 8 June 2017.
  26. Web site: St Pat's complete double swoop for Chris Forrester and Rhys McCabe . Irish Mirror. 23 January 2019 . 23 January 2019.
  27. Web site: Saints marching out – Independent.ie.
  28. Web site: QosFC: Welcome to QOS .
  29. Web site: QoS : Report – Greenock Morton 23.1.21 .
  30. Web site: McCabe bolsters Diamonds midfield .
  31. Web site: Rhys McCabe named new Diamonds manager . 2022-05-26 . airdrie.
  32. News: Scotland U21 1–4 Italy U21. BBC Sport. 25 April 2012. 25 April 2012.
  33. Web site: Callum's long break . dafc.co.uk . 19 September 2015 . 25 April 2016.
  34. News: Ralston . Gary . Stirling Uni boss Shelley Kerr learned trade with the best . 21 July 2021 . Daily Record . 21 August 2014.
  35. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67156439 'No reason why we won't win the league' – Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe
  36. Web site: Scotland – R. McCabe – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway .
  37. Web site: Dunfermline 3 – 1 Brechin City . Brian . McLaughlin . BBC Sport . 26 March 2016 . 28 December 2016.
  38. Web site: Hamilton Academical 2 – 1 Airdrieonians. Clive. Limdsay. BBC Sport. 20 May 2023. 20 May 2023.
  39. News: Airdrieonians win SPFL Trust Trophy to thwart The New Saints record . 2024-03-24 . BBC Sport.