Gary Irvine

Gary Irvine
Personal information
Full name Gary Irvine
Date of birth 17 March 1985
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2003–2006 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Celtic 0 (0)
2006 Ross County (loan) 17 (0)
2007–2010 St Johnstone 85 (1)
2010–2016 Dundee 166 (6)
2016–2018 St Mirren 56 (0)
2019–2022 Forfar Athletic 57 (2)
International career
2006 Scotland U21 2 (0)
Managerial career
2021–2022 Forfar Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:27, 30 May 2012 (UTC)

Gary Irvine (born 17 March 1985) is a Scottish professional footballer and manager. He has previously played for Celtic, Ross County, St Johnstone, Dundee and St Mirren and Forfar Athletic, the last of which he also performed the role of player-manager for.

Career

Celtic & Ross County

Irvine started his career at Celtic, but failed to make an appearance for the club during his time there.

At the start of the 2006–07 season, he moved on loan to Ross County. During his time at County, he was involved as they won the 2006–07 Scottish Challenge Cup, beating Clyde on penalties.

St Johnstone

After leaving Celtic, Irvine signed for Scottish First Division side St Johnstone. In his first season at McDiarmid Park, he won the 2007–08 Scottish Challenge Cup, his second winners medal in that competition in successive seasons, with St Johnstone winning 3–2 against Dunfermline Athletic. The following season, he was part of the squad as St Johnstone won the Scottish First Division. At the end of the 2009–10 season he was one of eight players released by the club. Irvine scored once during his spell at the club; his goal coming in a 3–1 win over Dunfermline Athletic in April 2009.

Dundee

On 24 July 2010, Irvine signed for Dundee, of the Scottish First Division. In July 2012, with Dundee having been promoted to the Scottish Premier League after the demotion of Rangers, he signed a new deal with the club, despite interest from several Scottish Premier League clubs including his former team, Ross County. After Dundee's relegation from the Scottish Premier League, Irvine agreed terms on a new contract for the 2013–14 season.

St Mirren

On 29 January 2016 Saints signed Irvine from Dundee until the end of the season, with the option of a further year. He was released by St Mirren at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Forfar Athletic

Irvine joined Forfar Athletic in February 2019, until the end of the season. On 9 April 2021, Irvine agreed to take charge of the Loons after manager Stuart Malcolm and his assistants resigned from their positions. Irvine was announced as the club's new manager on 4 May. Despite coming close to promotion in the 2021–22 season, a very disappointing start to the following season which left the Loons bottom of the table led to Forfar releasing Irvine on 9 November 2022.

Career statistics

As of match played 24 September 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic 2006–07 Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ross County (loan) 2006–07 First Division 17 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 24 0
St Johnstone 2007–08 First Division 33 0 5 0 1 0 4 0 43 0
2008–09 35 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 39 1
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 17 0 2 0 3 0 22 0
Total 85 1 8 0 6 0 5 0 104 1
Dundee 2010–11 First Division 31 1 1 0 2 0 2 0 36 1
2011–12 35 1 3 0 2 0 2 0 42 1
2012–13 Scottish Premier League 34 0 2 0 3 0 39 0
2013–14 Championship 33 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 39 0
2014–15 Premiership 26 4 2 0 2 0 30 4
2015–16 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Total 166 6 9 0 11 0 7 0 193 6
St Mirren 2015–16 Championship 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
2016–17 33 0 3 0 3 0 5 0 44 0
2017–18 7 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 12 0
Total 56 0 3 0 7 0 6 0 72 0
Forfar Athletic 2018–19 Scottish League One 12 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 2
2019–20 25 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 31 0
2020–21 17 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 23 0
2021–22 Scottish League Two 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 6 0
2022–23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 57 2 4 0 10 0 4 0 75 2
Total 381 9 24 0 36 0 27 0 468 9
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearances in Scottish Championship play-offs

Managerial record

As of match played 5 November 2022
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref.
G W D L Win %
Forfar Athletic 9 April 2021 9 November 2022 75 26 17 32 034.67
Total 75 26 17 32 034.67
  • initially caretaker.
  • includes League Cup forfeit win over Ross County on 8 July 2021 after the club cancelled scheduled fixture due to Co-vid.

International career

Irvine was capped twice for the Scotland under–21s, against Iceland and Turkey in 2006.

Honours

Ross County
St Johnstone
Dundee
St. Mirren