Ross McCormack

Football player infobox
playername = Ross McCormack
fullname = Ross McCormack
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|8|18
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
height = height|m=1.75
nickname = Rossco
currentclub = Cardiff City
clubnumber = 44
position = Striker
years = 2003–2006
2006
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = Rangers
→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)
Motherwell
Cardiff City
caps(goals) = 11 0(2)
19 0(5)
48 (10)
09 0(6)
nationalyears = 2006-
2007-
2008-
nationalteam = Scotland U21
Scotland B
Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 10 0(3)
01 0(0)
01 0(0)
pcupdate = 21:59 30 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 21:15, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Ross McCormack (born 18 August 1986, Glasgow) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Welsh football club Cardiff City.

Club career

Rangers

Despite being a fervent Celtic supporter [ [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/england/2008/07/25/new-cardiff-striker-ross-mccormack-admits-to-secret-celtic-support-86908-20670207/ "New Cardiff striker Ross McCormack admits to secret Celtic support"] The Daily Record Retrieved on 8 September, 2008] , McCormack started his career at Rangers where, coincidentally, he made his first appearance in May 2004 against future club Motherwell at the age of 18. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3671755.stm|title=Rangers 4-0 Motherwell|date=2007-05-01|accessdate=2007-09-27|publisher=BBC Sport] McCormack scored his first goal for the club in the final match of the 2003-04 season against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3712321.stm|title=Dunfermline 2-3 Rangers|date=2007-05-16|accessdate=2007-09-27|publisher=BBC Sport]

In 2005-06 he scored an equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw with FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League, in what was his first European appearance for the club. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4448348.stm|title=Porto 1-1 Rangers|date=2007-11-23|accessdate=2007-09-27|publisher=BBC Sport]

Despite his memorable goal against FC Porto, McCormack was sent out on-loan to English League One club Doncaster Rovers in order to gain first team experience. He scored five times for Doncaster, the pick of then coming against Hartlepool United which kept Doncaster Rovers' play-off hopes alive.

Motherwell

At the start of season 2006-07 McCormack was told he did not feature in new Rangers manager Paul Le Guen's plans and was released. Motherwell bought him 10 July 2006 for an undisclosed fee. However, his first season at Motherwell was severely hampered by a virus and numerous other injuries. He returned to fitness the following season and became a fixture in the Motherwell first team, where he found himself better suited to playing in a 4-3-3 formation, receiving the October 2007 Young Player of the Month award. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5137222.stm|title=Transfers - July 2006|date=2006-07-31|accessdate=2007-09-27|publisher=BBC Sport] The season also saw an improvement in his goal tally as he scored a total of 11 goals, although he reached the tally on 16 February with a brace against Gretna and suffered a goal drought through the remaining 14 games of the season. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article4693184.ece "Happy valleys - Ross McCormack has no regrets about leaving Motherwell"] Times online Retrieved on 8 September, 2008]

Cardiff City

In January 2008, McCormack was linked with a move to Premiership sides Wigan Athletic, even coming as close as having a contract ready to be signed with the club [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3372300.ece "Ross McCormack ready to sign agreement with Wigan"] Times Online Retrieved on 8 September, 2008] , or Middlesbrough but no deal was agreed and he eventually signed for Cardiff City on the June 28 on a free transfer, although the clubs would later agree on a compensation fee of £120,000. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7479068.stm|title=Cardiff add McCormack and Dennehy|date=2008-06-28|accessdate=2008-06-29|publisher=BBC Sport] On his arrival, McCormack stated that one of the biggest reasons that persuaded him to sign for the club, alongside the chance to play first-team football and the group of Scottish players on the clubs books, was the presence of his idol Robbie Fowler, only for the former England international to leave the club soon after. [ [http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/spl/motherwell-fc/2008/06/29/ross-mccormack-chance-to-play-beside-robbie-fowler-sealed-my-move-78057-20625345/ "Ross McCormack: Chance to play beside Robbie Fowler sealed my move"] The Sunday Mail Retrieved on 8 September, 2008]

McCormack's first goal for Cardiff was in a pre-season tournement (Algarve Cup) against Vitória de Guimarães, where he scored two in a 2-1 win. He made his League debut on the opening day of the season in a 2-1 victory over Southampton and went on to score his first competitive goal for Cardiff in a 1-1 draw against one of his former clubs in Doncaster Rovers the following week. He scored his first brace for Cardiff against Norwich City in a game which finished 2-2, and then went on to score a penalty in the Carling Cup game against MK Dons marking out a successful start to his first season with Cardiff with 4 goals in 5 games.

International career

McCormack made his debut for the Scotland U21 in 2006. He scored his first goal for the side on 11 October, 2007 against Lithuania. He went on to score again in his next appearance, a 4-0 victory over Slovenia U21's. To date McCormack has won a total of ten caps for the under-21 side.

He made his debut for the senior side on 30 May, 2008 when he came on as a substitute during a 3-1 defeat against Czech Republic. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7420598.stm "Czech Republic 3-1 Scotland"] BBC Sport Retrieved on 8 September, 2008]

Club stats

As of 21 September, 2008

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=38199|name=Ross McCormack