Ross McCrorie


Ross McCrorie is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a central defender or defensive midfielder for Scottish Premiership side Rangers.
McCrorie has previous had loan spells with Ayr United, Dumbarton and Portsmouth in EFL League One. He has also captained the Scotland under-21 team.

Club career

Early careers and loans out

McCrorie, alongside his twin brother Robby, worked his way through the Rangers youth system, becoming captain of their U20s side. McCrorie joined Scottish League One side Ayr United on loan in February 2016, playing fifteen times and scoring twice as Ayr won promotion.
After signing a new contract in December 2016, at the same time as his brother, he joined his former coach at Rangers, Ian Durrant, at Scottish Championship side Dumbarton on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Rangers first breakthrough

McCrorie made his debut for the Rangers senior team in September 2017, when he replaced Bruno Alves in a League Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle at Firhill Stadium, won 3–1 after extra time. Following the match, manager Pedro Caixinha praised McCrorie, stating that he was "going to be the future of this country, not only this club, as a centre-half. We are very glad to have him with us". Later in the same week he made his first start – also his Scottish Premiership debut and maiden experience of the Old Firm derby – against Celtic at Ibrox. Rangers lost the match 2–0, but McCrorie's performance was reported favourably by the press.
McCrorie scored his first senior goal for Rangers with a header in the first half against Partick Thistle on 4 November 2017 at Ibrox; Rangers won the match 3–0. On 3 December he was deployed as a defensive midfielder in a fixture away to Aberdeen, which his team won to overtake their opponents into second place in the table. On 28 December he signed a new four-year contract. After he scored an important goal in the second visit to Aberdeen in May 2018, McCrorie received praise from both the Pittodrie boss Derek McInnes and the Rangers caretaker manager Jimmy Nicholl for his overall performance and influence in bringing his team back into the match; the player himself dedicated the strike to his dying grandmother.

Loan to Portsmouth

In July 2019, McCrorie agreed a deal to move to English club Portsmouth on loan for the 2019–20 season; it was reported that Pompey had an option to buy him outright, but this was refuted by Rangers manager Steven Gerrard a few days later. He made his competitive debut for Pompey on 3 August, a 1–0 defeat away at Shrewsbury Town, during which he was sent off in the 81st minute for a late challenge on Shrewsbury's Donald Love.

International career

McCrorie was named in the Scotland U19 squad for the elite round of the European Championships in March 2017 alongside Dumbarton teammate Daniel Harvie. He had captained the side in the qualifying phase of the tournament.
Captained Scotland U21 team on numerous occasions

Career statistics