Steven Naismith
A fiercely intelligent Scottish forward whose game was built on relentless movement and big-game goals, now shaping the national team's tactics as a coach.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Scottish association football player·Birthday: September 14·Millennials
Biography
Steven Naismith's career is a masterclass in footballing intelligence maximizing physical gifts. Emerging from Kilmarnock's youth system, he announced himself with a hat-trick against Falkirk at 19. A move to Rangers brought trophies and European nights, but it was at Everton where his Premier League qualities shone. Never the fastest or strongest, Naismith's value was in his ceaseless running, clever positioning, and a knack for crucial goals—including a perfect hat-trick against Chelsea. He played with a visible, burning comprehension of the game. That cerebral approach made his transition to coaching seem inevitable. After a player-coach role at Hearts, he moved full-time into management, eventually earning a key position on Steve Clarke's Scotland staff, where his tactical insight and understanding of the modern player are now applied to the international stage.
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.
Steven 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 Steven Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Steven'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
- Won the Scottish Premier League and two Scottish League Cups during his time with Rangers.
- Scored a perfect hat-trick (left foot, right foot, header) for Everton against Chelsea in a 2015 Premier League match.
- Earned 51 caps for the Scotland national football team, scoring 10 goals.
- Appointed assistant manager of the Scotland national team in 2023 under head coach Steve Clarke.
Did You Know?
He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, which he studied for during his early career.
He donated his match wages from his time at Everton to charity, specifically to support people affected by the conflict in Syria.
He played in the UEFA Europa League final for Rangers in 2008, which they lost to Zenit Saint Petersburg.
He began his coaching badges while still an active player at Norwich City.
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