James McFadden

James Henry McFadden (born 14 April 1983) is a Scottish football coach and former professional player who played as a forward.

McFadden started his playing career with Motherwell, where he came to prominence in the 2002–03 season by scoring 19 goals and winning the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year award.

McFadden was first capped by Scotland in 2002.

McFadden came to greater prominence during the 2002–03 Scottish Premier League SPL season, scoring 19 goals from 34 starts and winning the Young Player of the Year Award.

In this season Motherwell finished bottom of the SPL and should have been relegated but were given a reprieve due to First Division champions Falkirk not meeting stadium criteria.

McFadden received some criticism for his lack of discipline, picking up fifteen yellow cards and one red during the campaign.

McFadden's final game for Motherwell that season saw him score a hat-trick in a 6–2 defeat of Livingston at Fir Park.

Everton signed McFadden for £1.25 million in 2003.

English Premier League club Everton signed McFadden in 2003 for £1.25 million.

McFadden scored his debut goal for Everton during their 5–2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 1 January 2005, more than a year after joining the club.

One week later, he scored his second goal in a third-round FA Cup tie versus Plymouth Argyle.

During the 2005–06 season, McFadden was in and out of the Everton team as they struggled to re-capture their form of the previous season.

On 11 March 2006, he scored with a 35-yard volley to help Everton to a 3–1 victory over Fulham.

This scoring run of form continued the next week versus Aston Villa, a half-volley from just outside the area helping the Toffees to a 4–1 victory and ended the season with seven goals.

McFadden made an indifferent start to the 2006–07 season, following the arrival of record signing Andrew Johnson, managing only two goals in the first half of the campaign.

His goal in a Euro 2008 qualification match on 12 September 2007 against France in the Parc des Princes, which gave Scotland a 1–0 win, is regarded as one of the team's most famous goals.

McFadden played 48 times for Scotland, scoring 15 goals, in total.

On 24 January 2007, McFadden injured his fifth metatarsal during training for Everton.

After nearly three months on the sidelines, he made a scoring return to action for Everton as a second-half substitute versus Charlton Athletic on 15 April 2007.

McFadden scored a spectacular volley in injury time to secure a 2–1 win for the Toffees, a goal later voted goal of the season by the readers of Sky Sports.

In October 2007, McFadden scored a critical equalising goal in Everton's victory over Metalist Kharkiv in the UEFA Cup.

McFadden struggled to hold down a regular place in the Everton first-team and moved to Birmingham City for £5 million in January 2008.

He dedicated his goal against Middlesbrough on 2 January 2008 to the recently deceased Phil O'Donnell, by pointing to his black armband and then to the sky in tribute to the former Motherwell captain.

On 18 January 2008, McFadden joined Birmingham City on a three-and-a-half-year deal, with an option for additional two years, for an initial fee of £5 million, potentially rising to £6m depending on appearances.

McFadden's first goal arrived in his fourth game for the club, a penalty kick versus West Ham United at Upton Park, after he had been fouled by Lucas Neill.

In his next match, at home to Arsenal, he scored from a 20-yard free kick before adding the equalising goal from the penalty spot in the last minute of stoppage time.

McFadden scored Birmingham's first goal of the 2009–10 Premier League season, a 92nd-minute penalty, to give the club a 1–0 home win against Portsmouth.

A serious injury meant that McFadden missed most of the 2010–11 season and the Blues, who were relegated in his absence, decided not to renew his contract.

McFadden suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in September 2010.

McFadden signed again for the Toffees on a free transfer in October 2011, after regaining his fitness, and spent three months with Sunderland in 2012.

Towards the end of his playing career, McFadden had two further spells at Motherwell, either side of a year at St Johnstone.

During his third stint with Motherwell, McFadden also took on coaching duties.

After a brief spell playing for Queen of the South, McFadden took a coaching position with the Scotland team.

He returned to training in March 2011, but suffered a setback which meant he could not play in the 2010–11 season.

Following their relegation from the Premier League, Birmingham chose not to take up a two-year option on his contract but attempted to negotiate amended terms.

No agreement was reached, and McFadden left Birmingham after his contract expired on 30 June 2011.

He was appointed to an assistant coach position with the Scotland national team in March 2018.

McFadden was raised in Springburn, Glasgow and attended Turnbull High School in Bishopbriggs.

His parents operate a fish and chips takeaway in Glasgow city centre.

He joined the Motherwell youth system at a young age, making his first-team debut when he was 17 years old.