Stephen_Aitken

Stephen Aitken

Stephen Aitken

Scottish footballer and coach

Stephen Aitken (born 25 September 1976 in Glasgow) is a Scottish football player and coach who was most recently manager of East Kilbride.[1]

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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.[2][3]

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.[4] On 27 October 2012 Aitken was appointed manager at the club.[5]

After a successful three years with Stranraer he joined Dumbarton in May 2015, to replace Ian Murray.[6] He won his first competitive game in charge 3–2 against former club[7] 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.[8]

Aitken led the Sons to the Scottish Challenge Cup Final the following season,[9] but a difficult league campaign resulted in relegation to Scottish League One after defeat to Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship play-offs.[10] After a slow start to the 2018–19 Scottish League One season left the club in ninth position, Aitken left Dumbarton in October 2018.[11]

Aitken was appointed manager of Lowland League team East Kilbride in May 2020.[1] 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[12] in their history.[13]

Managerial statistics

As of 11 August 2021
More information Team, From ...
  • East Kilbride statistics include League Cup forfeit victory against Kilmarnock on 10 July 2021.

Honours and achievements

Player

Greenock Morton
Stranraer

References

  1. [1]
    FC, East Kilbride. "Stephen Aitken appointed new 1st Team Manager". eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. [2]
    Band of Brothers at Stirling, Scottish Professional Football League, 4 March 2011
  3. [3]
    Stephen Aitken's success at Stranraer noticed, The Scotsman, 15 September 2014
  4. [4]
    "Aitken makes return to Stranraer". BBC Sport. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  5. [5]
    "Aitken Takes Charge". Stranraer F.C. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  6. [6]
    "Dumbarton: Stranraer's Stephen Aitken makes managerial switch". BBC Sport. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  7. [7]
    "Greenock Morton 2-3 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  8. [8]
    Findlay, Alan. "Breaking News: Manager agrees terms". Dumbarton F.C. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  9. [9]
    Crawford, Kenny (24 March 2018). "Dumbarton 0-1 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  10. [10]
    Dowden, Martin (13 May 2018). "Dumbarton 0-2 Alloa Athletic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  11. [11]
    "Club announcement". Dumbarton F.C. 8 October 2018.
  12. [12]
    Thomson, Paul (10 August 2021). "Rangers B were dominated by East Kilbrde and first win will come, says Aitken". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  13. [13]
    McGilvray, Andy (10 August 2021). "Stevie Aitken leaves East Kilbride manager's job". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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