Ross McCormack
A prolific Scottish striker whose goal-scoring prowess in England's second tier made him one of the Championship's most expensive transfers ever.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Scottish footballer·Birthday: August 18·Millennials
Biography
Ross McCormack's career is defined by a golden period where he was simply one of the most lethal forwards outside of England's Premier League. Emerging from the Rangers youth system, he truly found his footing in the Championship, first with Cardiff City and then, spectacularly, with Leeds United. At Leeds, he became the league's top scorer and the absolute focal point of the team, a clever finisher with a knack for free-kicks. That form triggered a big-money move to Fulham, a transfer fee that for a time stood as a record for the division. While his later years were marked by nomadic moves and a high-profile fallout at Aston Villa, his peak was undeniable. McCormack possessed a striker's instinct and technical quality that, for several seasons, made him a constant menace and a coveted asset in one of world football's most competitive leagues.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ross was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ross Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ross's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished as the top scorer in the English Football League Championship in the 2013-14 season with 28 goals for Leeds United.
- Was transferred from Leeds United to Fulham in 2014 for a fee reported to be £11 million, a record for the Championship at the time.
- Earned 13 caps for the Scotland national football team, scoring twice.
Did You Know?
He owns a racehorse named after his daughter, Tilly.
While at Aston Villa, then-manager Steve Bruce famously cited McCormack's broken electric gates as a reason for missing training, a story that became tabloid fodder.
He began his senior career at Rangers, making his debut under manager Alex McLeish.
“When I'm in that box, I see the net and I want to hit it.”
