Scott Brown (footballer, born June 1985)

2.1. Childhood and Education

Born on June 25, 1985, in Dunfermline, Scotland, Brown attended Dalgety Bay Primary School, Hill of Beath Primary School, and Beath High School. His childhood home was notably located across the road from a statue dedicated to former Rangers and Scotland player Jim Baxter, who was also born in the village. This environment likely provided early exposure to the rich footballing heritage of the region.

2.2. Early Football Development

Brown began his football journey playing with Rangers Boys Club and also trained with Falkirk during his youth. Despite showing early promise, Rangers, a club he supported in his childhood, reportedly showed interest but ultimately decided against signing him, citing his small stature at the time. At the age of 13, Brown joined Hibernian after being scouted by the club's chief scout, John Park. His mother, Heather, played a crucial role in his early development, regularly taking him to Hibernian training sessions in Edinburgh and Motherwell, where he received coaching from figures like Gordon Rae and Keith Wright.

3.1. Hibernian

Brown signed his first professional contract with Hibernian in 2002, marking the beginning of his senior career. His time at the club was instrumental in his development as a player, culminating in a significant transfer to Celtic.

3.2. Celtic

Brown's move to Celtic in 2007 marked the beginning of a highly successful and defining chapter in his career, where he became a club legend and captain, leading the team to an unprecedented era of dominance in Scottish football.

3.2.1. Arrival and Early Seasons

Brown made his debut for Celtic on August 5, 2007, in a goalless draw against Kilmarnock. Ten days later, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 1-1 draw against Spartak Moscow, where he notably cleared a header off the Celtic goal line to maintain the score. His first goal for Celtic came on August 25 in a 5-0 victory against Hearts. Four days later, in the return leg against Spartak, Brown won a penalty in extra time, though it was missed by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Celtic ultimately won the resulting penalty shootout to qualify for the Champions League group stage. He continued his scoring form with a goal in a 5-1 win over St Mirren on September 2. Brown also featured in Celtic's impressive 2-1 victory over reigning European champions Milan at Celtic Park.

On November 6, 2007, Brown was on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle by Gilles Binya during Celtic's 1-0 win over Benfica; Binya later received a six-match European ban for the challenge. Celtic finished second in their Champions League group, but Brown missed the first leg of the last-16 tie against Barcelona due to suspension, a match Celtic lost 3-2. He returned for the second leg at the Camp Nou, which Celtic lost 1-0. In April 2008, Brown was suspended for three league matches, including two Old Firm games, leading manager Gordon Strachan to opt for a midfield pairing of Barry Robson and Paul Hartley. In his first season with Celtic, Brown made 48 appearances and scored three goals.

3.2.3. Major Trophies and Individual Accolades

Brown scored against Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox on February 6, 2011, securing a replay for Celtic. During this match, he famously clashed with El Hadji Diouf, celebrating his goal by turning to Diouf and raising his arms in a taunting gesture, earning a yellow card which he later called the "best booking of his life." The feud continued in the media, though Brown dismissed it as "just a bit of banter." Neil Lennon publicly expressed his desire for Brown to sign a new contract. Ahead of the Scottish Cup replay, Rangers player Kyle Bartley stated that many Rangers players disliked Brown and would target him.

Brown was booked in Celtic's penultimate league game against Kilmarnock, leading to a suspension for the first two matches of the 2011-12 season. However, he led Celtic to victory in the 2011 Scottish Cup Final, a 3-0 win against Motherwell, marking his first trophy as Celtic captain. In the 2010-11 season, Brown made 39 appearances and scored four goals, often deployed on the right side of midfield due to the form of other central midfielders like Beram Kayal, Joe Ledley, and Ki Sung-Yueng.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, Brown was linked with a £6.00 M GBP bid from Newcastle United and interest from Internazionale and Juventus. He reiterated his commitment to Celtic, expressing privilege in being captain and a desire for a new contract. After protracted negotiations, he signed a new three-year deal on December 3, 2011, with an option for a further season. His first match of the new campaign was Scotland's 2-1 win over Denmark on August 10, where he suffered an ankle injury. Despite this, he played in the next five Celtic games and the subsequent international match, but missed the 4-0 win over Motherwell and a 2-0 loss to Atlético Madrid.

He returned for the first Old Firm match of the season on September 18, 2011, but was substituted after a recurrence of his ankle injury in the 4-2 defeat, with Neil Lennon praising his involvement in both Celtic goals. The club announced he would see a specialist and be out for several months. Brown returned on November 30 in a 1-0 loss to Atlético Madrid. He continued his comeback by scoring in a 2-0 away win against St Mirren on January 21, 2012, followed by penalties in a 3-1 League Cup semi-final win against Falkirk and a 2-0 win over Inverness. He was named Player of the Month for January 2012. On March 25, 2012, Brown scored a penalty in Celtic's 3-2 loss to Rangers. Celtic went on to win the 2011-12 league title, Brown's second with the club.

On October 1, 2013, during Celtic's Champions League group stage match against Barcelona, Brown was sent off in the 59th minute for kicking out at Neymar when the score was 0-0. Shortly after his dismissal, Cesc Fàbregas scored the only goal of the game, securing a victory for Barcelona.

Brown suffered a hamstring injury in a pre-season friendly against Rapid Vienna in July 2014, sidelining him for three months. He scored in his first full game back, a 2-2 draw in a UEFA Europa League group match against FC Red Bull Salzburg. In November 2014, Brown signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at Celtic Park until 2018. He made his 300th appearance for Celtic on December 21, 2014, in a 2-1 loss at Dundee United. He played 48 matches in all competitions during the 2014-15 season, scoring five goals.

His sole goal of the 2015-16 season came on September 20, 2015, in a 6-0 home victory over Dundee. Brown scored his first goal of the 2016-17 season on August 17, 2016, in a 5-2 win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva in a Champions League play-off match. He scored his 25th league goal for Celtic on October 1, 2016, in a 1-0 away win over Dundee, and made his 400th appearance for the club in a 1-0 win against St Johnstone on January 25, 2017.

In April 2018, Brown was named the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season, becoming only the second player after Henrik Larsson to win the award twice. He also received the SFWA Footballer of the Year award for the 2017-18 season, a campaign in which Celtic secured a second consecutive domestic treble, known as the "double treble." Celtic further extended their domestic dominance by achieving four successive trebles in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20. Celtic granted him a testimonial match in May 2018, played against a Republic of Ireland XI at Celtic Park.

On December 2, 2018, Brown came on as a substitute as Celtic defeated Aberdeen in the 2018 Scottish League Cup Final, securing their seventh consecutive domestic trophy. Later that month, he made his 500th appearance for the club. Earlier in the season, he achieved a personal milestone by playing in his 100th UEFA club fixture, becoming the first Scottish player to do so.

3.2.5. Controversies and Incidents

Brown's playing career was punctuated by disciplinary issues and on-field confrontations, often involving opponents. On January 31, 2019, Brown declined an offer from new Australian team Western Melbourne FC and other foreign clubs, instead extending his contract with Celtic until summer 2021, indicating his likely retirement from playing at that point.

On March 31, 2019, Brown was involved in several high-profile incidents during an Old Firm match against Rangers at Celtic Park. These included Alfredo Morelos receiving a red card for elbowing Brown in the head, Ryan Kent shoving Brown in the head with a closed fist after Celtic's winning goal (which was missed by officials but later led to a misconduct charge for Kent), and a heated confrontation with Andy Halliday after the final whistle, as Brown celebrated enthusiastically in front of the visiting supporters. In each instance, Brown was observed smiling and laughing at the Rangers players, having successfully antagonized them. Responses to his behavior were mixed, with some criticizing his actions and others defending them as part of his competitive nature. Police Scotland deemed the matter one for football authorities. The SFA charged Brown with "failing to act in the best interest of Scottish football" for his post-match actions, but the verdict at the hearing on April 26 was "not proven."

On January 20, 2021, Brown received a straight red card after coming on as a substitute for striking Livingston player Jaze Kabia in a 2-2 draw. On March 25, it was confirmed that Brown would end his 14-year stay at Celtic at the end of the 2020-21 season, having signed a pre-contract agreement with Aberdeen.

3.3. Aberdeen

On March 25, 2021, it was announced that Brown would join Aberdeen on July 1 in a player-coach role, serving as assistant manager to Stephen Glass in addition to his playing duties. On October 27, Brown scored for Aberdeen against rival Rangers at Ibrox, in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. Brown departed Aberdeen in March 2022, shortly after Glass was replaced as manager by Jim Goodwin. He cited his departure as a desire to pursue coaching opportunities elsewhere, as a coaching position would not be available under Goodwin.

4.1. Youth and Early International Career

Brown was a regular for the Scotland under-19 and under-21 teams. Under-21 coach Rainer Bonhof notably recommended Brown to his contacts in Germany. Brown made his full international debut for Scotland on November 12, 2005, as a 74th-minute substitute for Garry O'Connor in a 1-1 friendly draw at home against the United States. Scotland manager Walter Smith praised Brown's performance and described him as a "chirpy lad." After this debut, Brown returned to the under-21 squad but was recalled to the senior squad in September 2006 for a match against Lithuania. He was also selected for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying matches against France and Ukraine in October 2006, though he remained an unused substitute in both games.

4.2. Senior National Team Career

Brown made his competitive debut for Scotland in March 2007, coming on as a substitute for Gary Teale during a Euro 2008 qualifying match against Georgia. Following a strong performance, Brown made his first start for Scotland in the subsequent match, a 2-0 defeat against 2006 World Cup winners Italy. He subsequently became a regular selection for the national team, starting in Scotland's notable 1-0 victory over 2006 World Cup runners-up France at the Parc des Princes in September 2007. FIFA.com recognized him as a player to watch in 2009. Brown scored his first goal for Scotland on September 5, 2009, in a 2-0 win over Macedonia in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match.

He scored the first goal of the Craig Levein era as Scotland manager, in a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic on March 3, 2010. Brown then started the first two matches of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, a 0-0 draw against Lithuania and a 2-1 win over Liechtenstein. He missed the next two matches, losses against the Czech Republic and 2010 World Cup winners Spain, due to injury. Under Levein, Brown was considered one of Scotland's key players, with both the manager and assistant Peter Houston expressing admiration for his energy and personality. Brown was considered a potential captain for the 2011 Nations Cup match against Northern Ireland in the absence of Darren Fletcher, though Kenny Miller was ultimately given the armband, and Brown missed the match due to injury.

Brown was invited to the Great Britain team for the 2012 Summer Olympics on December 22, 2011, but was not ultimately selected for the squad that participated in the Games. He played in four 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification games.

4.3. Captaincy and International Retirement

In February 2013, Scott Brown was appointed captain of the Scotland national team by new manager Gordon Strachan, following incumbent captain Darren Fletcher's health issues. Brown scored his third and fourth international goals in consecutive 1-0 away friendly wins over Norway and Poland.

On March 29, 2016, Brown earned his 50th international cap in a 1-0 home win over Denmark, securing his place on the Scotland national football team roll of honour. In August 2016, he announced his initial retirement from international football to focus entirely on his club career. However, he reversed this decision in October 2016 and featured in some 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. In February 2018, Brown announced his retirement from international football for a second time, marking the end of his senior international career.

5.1. Fleetwood Town

Brown's first full-time managerial appointment came on May 12, 2022, when he was named head coach of EFL League One side Fleetwood Town.

5.2. Ayr United

Following his departure from Fleetwood Town, Scott Brown quickly returned to management in Scotland.

6.1. Playing Style

FIFA.com in 2009 described Brown as a "dynamic box-to-box midfielder" who was "direct, athletic and combative," while also noting his "reckless streak." BBC Sport, when analyzing the 2007 SPFA team of the year, highlighted Brown's "skilful, energetic running" as being integral to Hibernian's "fluent" style of play. Scotland Under-21 coach Rainer Bonhof commented in 2007 that Brown was a modern midfield player, but emphasized the need for him to temper his aggression to avoid disciplinary issues. Early in his career, Brown himself admitted to having to avoid sugary products like chocolate and fizzy drinks, as they would make him hyperactive.

6.2. Strengths and Weaknesses

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies, when previewing the 2011 Scottish League Cup Final, praised Brown's "great heart for the game," noting his "iron will and commitment" that meant he would "go at you all day long," while also acknowledging his occasional tendency to be "over aggressive."

Throughout his career, Brown sometimes faced criticism regarding his passing ability. Additionally, his aggressive playing style and disciplinary record, including a high number of yellow and red cards, were frequently highlighted. For instance, The Daily Telegraph noted in 2011 that Brown had scored only six goals in the preceding two seasons but had accumulated eighteen yellow cards and two red cards. Despite these criticisms, Scotland national manager Gordon Strachan described Brown as "fantastic" after an away win over Poland in March 2014, commending his ability to "pass the ball, keep it, move it on," and his "power to win the ball back."

6.3. Discipline and Controversies

Brown was frequently involved in confrontations with opponents on the pitch, often employing mocking or goading tactics. A memorable instance occurred during a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers at Ibrox in 2011, where he repeatedly clashed with El-Hadji Diouf. After scoring Celtic's equalizer, Brown famously turned to Diouf, outstretched his arms, and stared directly at the Rangers player, earning a yellow card that he later declared "the best booking I've had in my life." In a physical encounter against Ross County in 2013, he was booked for goading and laughing at Mihael Kovačević after the defender shouted in his face. In August 2015, the Daily Record reported complaints from Qarabağ's Gara Garayev that Brown, among other Celtic players, mocked them during a Champions League qualifier, with Brown described as "the worst."

After a game against Celtic in January 2018, Hearts manager Craig Levein criticized Brown for a challenge that injured Hearts player Harry Cochrane, claiming that opponents, particularly younger players, needed greater protection from referees when facing Brown. Levein, who had coached Brown for Scotland, described him as "aggressive" and suggested his actions were a response to a recent Hearts victory over Celtic. However, Hearts' captain Don Cowie stated that Brown was not to blame for Cochrane's injury.

The following month, Aberdeen's Sam Cosgrove was sent off for a reckless tackle on Brown, to which Brown reacted by jumping to his feet and "strutting" towards the crowd while laughing, demonstrating his resilience. Before the end of that season, Brown was subjected to two foul challenges where opponents appeared to deliberately stamp on his groin area: Andrew Davies of Ross County was sent off, with Brown humorously remarking, "I didn't want more kids anyway," but adding that "Stamping on opponents when the ball is nowhere near you is definitely not being a hard man or going into a hard tackle." The referee took no action against Steven Naismith of Hearts at the time for a similar incident, though Naismith was later banned by the SFA. Brown commented that opponents tried to "wind me up and get me sent off but let's be honest, I am past that stage and have matured eventually. So it is not going to work."

Brown's habit of antagonizing opponents remained a prominent feature during the 2018-19 season, a campaign in which Celtic secured all three domestic trophies for the third consecutive time. His actions during and after a crucial league match against Rangers, which Celtic won to virtually secure the title, drew attention from both the police and football authorities, though he ultimately faced no sanctions. He was also criticized for appearing to mock and goad opposing players in the closing stages of the League Cup victory over Aberdeen and the Scottish Cup triumph against Hearts.

In a notable gesture of sportsmanship, after Rangers player Glen Kamara was racially abused by Slavia Prague player Ondrej Kudela during a UEFA Europa League match in March 2021, Brown made a public display of support for Kamara ahead of an Old Firm match later that month. This act led to Brown's nomination for the 2021 FIFA Fair Play Award.

7.1. Family and Personal Events

In May 2008, Brown's younger sister, Fiona, tragically died of skin cancer at the age of 21. As a poignant tribute, he has a tattoo on his right forearm featuring his sister's dates of birth and death, later adding words from a well-known funeral poem next to it. Brown married Lisa Taylor in June 2009 in a small ceremony held in Cyprus. As of May 2021, the couple have three sons. Soon after signing for Celtic, Brown purchased a house in the Cramond area of Edinburgh for £1.48 M GBP, which he later put up for sale in August 2012.

7.2. Social Activities

Demonstrating his commitment to social causes, Scott Brown has served as an Ambassador for the Homeless World Cup since 2014, using his platform to support the organization's mission.

7.3. Appearance and Habits

Brown notably shaved his head from his teenage years, a deliberate choice he made to appear more intimidating to opponents on the pitch. However, at the request of his children, he began growing his hair out again in 2020, marking a shift in his distinctive appearance.

8.1. Club Statistics

8.2. International Statistics

8.3. Managerial record

9.1. Club Honours

Hibernian

• Scottish League Cup (1): 2006-07

Celtic

• Scottish Premiership (10): 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20
• Scottish Cup (6): 2010-11, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20
• Scottish League Cup (6): 2008-09, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20

9.2. Individual Honours

• PFA Scotland Team of the Year (Premiership) (6): 2006-07, 2008-09, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
• SFWA Young Player of the Year: 2006-07
• PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year: 2008-09, 2017-18
• SFWA Footballer of the Year: 2017-18
• Scotland national football team roll of honour: 2016