James McFadden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
James McFadden

McFadden in 2009
Personal information
Full name	James Henry McFadden
Date of birth	(1983-04-14) 14 April 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1998–2000	Motherwell
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2003	Motherwell	63	(26)
2003–2008	Everton	109	(11)
2008–2011	Birmingham City	82	(13)
2011–2012	Everton	7	(0)
2012–2013	Sunderland	3	(0)
2013–2014	Motherwell	40	(9)
2014–2015	St Johnstone	16	(1)
2015–2017	Motherwell	9	(2)
2017–2018	Queen of the South	11	(0)
Total		340	(62)
International career
2002–2010	Scotland	48	(15)
Managerial career
2016–2017	Motherwell (assistant)
2018–2019	Scotland (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Henry McFadden (born 14 April 1983) is a Scottish football coach and former professional player. He played as a forward and now works as a football expert on TV.

James McFadden started his playing career at Motherwell. He became well-known in the 2002–03 season. He scored 19 goals and won the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year award. In 2003, Everton signed McFadden for £1.25 million.

McFadden found it hard to get a regular spot in the Everton team. He then moved to Birmingham City in January 2008 for £5 million. A serious injury meant he missed most of the 2010–11 season. Birmingham City was relegated that year. They decided not to offer him a new contract.

After getting fit again, McFadden signed for Everton for free in October 2011. He also spent three months with Sunderland in 2012. Towards the end of his playing career, McFadden played for Motherwell two more times. He also spent a year at St Johnstone. During his third time at Motherwell, McFadden also started coaching. After a short time playing for Queen of the South, McFadden became a coach for the Scotland team.

McFadden first played for Scotland in 2002. His goal on 12 September 2007 against France is very famous. He scored in a Euro 2008 qualification match in Paris. This goal gave Scotland a 1–0 win. McFadden played 48 times for Scotland and scored 15 goals. He became an assistant coach for the Scotland national team in March 2018.

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Motherwell (First Time)

James McFadden grew up in Springburn, Glasgow. His parents ran a fish and chips shop in Glasgow city centre. He joined the Motherwell youth team when he was young. He played his first game for the main team at 17.

He became very famous in the 2002–03 Scottish Premier League season. He scored 19 goals in 34 games. He also won the Young Player of the Year Award. That season, Motherwell finished last in the league. They should have been moved down to a lower league. But they stayed up because another team, Falkirk, did not have a good enough stadium.

McFadden sometimes got into trouble for being too aggressive. He received fifteen yellow cards and one red card that season. In his last game for Motherwell that season, he scored three goals. This helped Motherwell win 6–2 against Livingston.

Playing for Everton (First Time)

In 2003, Everton, a team in the English Premier League, signed McFadden. They paid £1.25 million for him. McFadden scored his first goal for Everton on 1 January 2005. This was more than a year after he joined the club. One week later, he scored again in an FA Cup game.

During the 2005–06 season, McFadden was often in and out of the Everton team. On 11 March 2006, he scored a great goal from 35 yards away. This helped Everton win 3–1 against Fulham. He scored another great goal the next week against Aston Villa. He ended that season with seven goals.

In the 2006–07 season, McFadden had a slow start. He only scored two goals in the first half of the season. On 24 January 2007, he hurt his foot during training. After almost three months, he returned to play on 15 April 2007. He scored a fantastic goal in injury time against Charlton Athletic. This goal helped Everton win 2–1. Fans later voted it the "Goal of the Season."

In October 2007, McFadden scored an important goal for Everton. It was in a UEFA Cup game against Metalist Kharkiv. He helped Everton win. On 2 January 2008, he scored against Middlesbrough. He pointed to his black armband and then to the sky. This was to honor Phil O'Donnell, a former Motherwell captain who had recently passed away.

Playing for Birmingham City

On 18 January 2008, McFadden joined Birmingham City. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract. The club paid £5 million for him. McFadden scored his first goal for Birmingham in his fourth game. It was a penalty kick against West Ham United. In his next game, he scored from a free kick. He then scored another penalty in the last minute to tie the game against Arsenal.

McFadden scored Birmingham's first goal of the 2009–10 Premier League season. It was a penalty in the 92nd minute. This gave the club a 1–0 win against Portsmouth.

In September 2010, McFadden suffered a serious knee injury. He started training again in March 2011. However, he had a setback and could not play in the 2010–11 season. Birmingham City was moved down from the Premier League. They decided not to renew his contract. McFadden left Birmingham on 30 June 2011.

Playing for Everton (Second Time)

After his contract ended, McFadden trained with Birmingham to get fit. He also had a tryout with Wolverhampton Wanderers. But they could not agree on a contract. On 17 October 2011, McFadden signed with Everton again. He signed until the end of the 2011–12 season.

He played his first game since his knee injury a day later. He made his second debut for the main team on 5 November. He came on as a substitute in a game against Newcastle United. McFadden did not start a game until April 2012. He played in a 4–0 win against Sunderland. Everton released him at the end of the season. He played only eight games during this time.

Playing for Sunderland

In September 2012, McFadden tried out for Sunderland. On 26 October, he joined Sunderland on a three-month contract. His first game was on 15 December 2012. It was a 3–1 loss to Manchester United. His first home game was on 12 January 2013. Sunderland won 3–0 against West Ham United.

Playing for Motherwell (Second Time)

After leaving Sunderland, McFadden trained with Motherwell again. On 18 February 2013, he returned to Motherwell. He signed a contract until the end of the season. McFadden started his first game back in a 2–1 win over Celtic. On 15 March 2013, he scored his first goal since returning. It was in a 4–1 win against Hibernian. He also helped set up two other goals. His great performance earned him the "man-of-the-match" award.

McFadden then scored a late goal to tie a game against St Mirren. On 5 May 2013, he scored two goals. However, Motherwell lost 4–3 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Motherwell offered him a new contract.

He returned to Motherwell for the 2013–14 season. He traveled with the team to their training camp in Spain. In a friendly game against Newcastle United, McFadden scored a penalty. He used a special "Panenka" chip shot. After the game, it was confirmed that McFadden signed a new one-year deal. He said it was an easy decision.

At the start of the 2013–14 season, McFadden played as a right winger. But his form and fitness dropped. He then suffered a back injury. He returned soon after and scored his first league goal of the season. It was in a 5–1 win over Partick Thistle. He scored again in the next game, a 4–0 win against St Johnstone. McFadden felt these games helped him play better. He scored and assisted three goals on 1 March 2014. Motherwell beat Hearts that day. His fourth goal came on 22 March 2014 in a 2–1 win over Ross County.

At the end of the 2013–14 season, Motherwell decided not to extend his contract. They were worried about his injuries. McFadden had wanted to sign a new deal.

Playing for St Johnstone

On 1 October 2014, McFadden signed with St Johnstone. He played for them until the end of the 2014–15 season. His first game was on 4 October 2014. It was a 2–1 loss to St Mirren. On 22 November 2014, McFadden scored his first goal for the Perth club. It was in a 2–1 win against Ross County. In May 2015, McFadden left St Johnstone. He had only scored one league goal that season.

Playing for Motherwell (Third Time)

On 18 December 2015, McFadden signed a short-term deal with Motherwell. It lasted until the end of January 2016. He then signed a new deal to stay until the end of the season. On 19 March, he broke his ankle in training. This meant he could not play for the rest of the 2015–16 season.

On 26 July 2016, Motherwell announced that McFadden would be their assistant manager. He also continued to play as a player until summer 2017. Almost seventeen years after his first game for Motherwell, McFadden played his final game. He came on as a substitute against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He scored his last Motherwell goal in this final appearance. Motherwell lost the match 3–2. McFadden left Motherwell at the end of the season. The manager, Stephen Robinson, wanted a new coaching team.

On 13 November 2019, James McFadden was added to the Motherwell Hall of Fame.

Playing for Queen of the South

On 8 September 2017, McFadden signed a short contract with Dumfries club Queen of the South. McFadden left Queen of the South in January 2018. He had played 15 games for the club.

International Career

McFadden first played for Scotland at age 19. This was against South Africa in 2002. He became a regular player for Scotland. He scored his first goal against the Faroe Islands on 6 September 2003. Scotland won that game 3–1.

McFadden's goal against Netherlands in November 2003 was famous. It gave Scotland a 1–0 win. However, they later lost 6–0 in Amsterdam and did not qualify for Euro 2004. McFadden was part of the team that won the Kirin Cup in Japan in 2006.

In September 2007, Scotland was trying to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008. McFadden scored a long-range goal from 30 yards. This gave Scotland a famous 1–0 win over France in Paris. It was Scotland's first win in France since 1950. He scored again a month later. Scotland won 3–1 against Ukraine. He could not score in the last game against Italy in November 2007. Scotland lost that game 2–1.

In September 2008, McFadden scored the winning goal against Iceland. This was in a 2010 World Cup qualifying game. He scored after his penalty kick was saved. The goal was first given to another player. But in March 2009, FIFA gave the goal back to McFadden.

McFadden was taken off at half-time in a Euro 2012 qualification game in September 2010. His manager, Craig Levein, criticized him. McFadden then got a serious injury. In February 2012, McFadden criticized Levein for calling him "lazy." In March 2013, the new Scotland manager, Gordon Strachan, said he would consider McFadden for the team. But he said McFadden needed to play regularly for his club.

Coaching Career

Alex McLeish made McFadden an assistant coach for the Scotland national team in March 2018. McLeish and his coaching staff, including McFadden, were let go on 18 April 2019.

Career Statistics

Club

International Goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McFadden goal.

List of international goals scored by James McFadden

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 September 2003	Glasgow, Scotland	Faroe Islands	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2	15 November 2003	Glasgow, Scotland	Netherlands	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2004 play-off
3	31 March 2004	Glasgow, Scotland	Romania	1–2	1–2	Friendly
4	27 May 2004	Tallinn, Estonia	Estonia	1–0	1–0	Friendly
5	3 September 2004	Valencia, Spain	Spain	1–0	1–1	Friendly
6	17 November 2004	Edinburgh, Scotland	Sweden	1–3	1–4	Friendly
7	4 June 2005	Glasgow, Scotland	Moldova	2–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
8	12 October 2005	Celje, Slovenia	Slovenia	2–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
9	11 May 2006	Kobe, Japan	Bulgaria	3–1	5–1	Kirin Cup
10	2 September 2006	Glasgow, Scotland	Faroe Islands	2–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
11	8 September 2007	Glasgow, Scotland	Lithuania	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
12	12 September 2007	Paris, France	France	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
13	13 October 2007	Glasgow, Scotland	Ukraine	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
14	10 September 2008	Reykjavík, Iceland	Iceland	2–0	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying
15	5 September 2009	Glasgow, Scotland	Macedonia	2–0	2–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying

Awards and Achievements

Birmingham City

• Football League Cup: 2010–11

Scotland

• Kirin Cup: 2006

Individual Awards

• SFWA Young Player of the Year: 2001–02
• PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year: 2002–03
• Everton Young Player of the Year: 2005–06
• Everton Goal of the Season: 2006–07
• SPL Young Player of the Month: January 2002
• SFWA International Player of the Year: 2007–08

See also

In Spanish: James McFadden para niños