Billy McKinlay

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title: "Billy McKinlay" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1969-births", "1998-fifa-world-cup-players", "blackburn-rovers-f.c.-players", "bradford-city-a.f.c.-players", "clydebank-f.c.-(1965)-players", "dundee-united-f.c.-players", "premier-league-players", "fulham-f.c.-non-playing-staff", "fulham-f.c.-players", "leicester-city-f.c.-players", "living-people", "footballers-from-glasgow", "preston-north-end-f.c.-players", "scottish-football-league-players", "scottish-football-league-representative-players", "scottish-football-managers", "scottish-expatriate-football-managers", "scottish-men's-footballers", "scotland-men's-international-footballers", "scotland-men's-b-international-footballers", "scotland-men's-under-21-international-footballers", "english-football-league-managers", "english-football-league-players", "uefa-euro-1996-players", "watford-f.c.-managers", "watford-f.c.-non-playing-staff", "stabæk-fotball-managers", "scottish-expatriate-sportspeople-in-norway", "expatriate-football-managers-in-norway", "men's-association-football-midfielders", "real-sociedad-non-playing-staff", "sunderland-a.f.c.-non-playing-staff", "west-ham-united-f.c.-non-playing-staff", "stoke-city-f.c.-non-playing-staff", "scottish-expatriate-sportspeople-in-spain", "scottish-football-coaches", "eliteserien-managers"] description: "Scottish footballer (born 1969)" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_McKinlay" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Scottish footballer (born 1969) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]

Field	Value
name	Billy McKinlay
full_name	William James Alexander McKinlay
birth_date
birth_place	Glasgow, Scotland
height	1.73 m
position	Midfielder
currentclub	Everton (assistant)
youthyears1	1984–1985
youthyears2	1985–1986
years1	1986–1995
years2	1995–2000
years3	2000
years4	2000–2001
years5	2001
years6	2001–2002
years7	2002–2004
years8	2004–2005
totalcaps	387
nationalyears1	1988–1989
nationalyears2	1990–1994
nationalyears3	1990
nationalyears4	1993–1998
manageryears1	2014
manageryears2	2015–2016
manageryears3	2017
::

| name = Billy McKinlay | image = | caption = | full_name = William James Alexander McKinlay | birth_date = | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland | height = 1.73 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Everton (assistant) | youthyears1 = 1984–1985 | youthclubs1 = Hamilton Thistle | youthyears2 = 1985–1986 | youthclubs2 = Dundee United | years1 = 1986–1995 | clubs1 = Dundee United | caps1 = 222 | goals1 = 23 | years2 = 1995–2000 | clubs2 = Blackburn Rovers | caps2 = 91 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 2000 | clubs3 = → Leicester City (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2000–2001 | clubs4 = Bradford City | caps4 = 11 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2001 | clubs5 = Preston North End | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2001–2002 | clubs6 = Clydebank | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2002–2004 | clubs7 = Leicester City | caps7 = 53 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2004–2005 | clubs8 = Fulham | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | totalcaps = 387 | totalgoals = 27 | nationalyears1 = 1988–1989 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U21| nationalcaps1 = 6| nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 1990–1994 | nationalteam2 = Scotland B | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 1990| nationalteam3 = Scottish League XI| nationalcaps3 = 1| nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 1993–1998 | nationalteam4 = Scotland| nationalcaps4 = 29 | nationalgoals4 = 4 | manageryears1 = 2014 | managerclubs1 = Watford | manageryears2 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs2 = Stabæk | manageryears3 = 2017 | managerclubs3 = Sunderland (caretaker)

William James Alexander McKinlay (born 22 April 1969) is a Scottish football manager and former professional footballer who is currently assistant manager of Everton.

As a player, he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Bradford City and Fulham. He also played in the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Football League for Dundee United, the Football League for Preston North End and the Scottish Football League for Clydebank. McKinlay appeared 29 times for Scotland and played at Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.

As a coach, he has worked for Fulham, the Northern Ireland national team and Watford. He was appointed Watford head coach in September 2014 but left the post after eight days. After a spell as assistant head coach with Real Sociedad in Spain, he joined Norwegian club Stabæk in November 2015, before being sacked in July 2016. He has since worked at Sunderland, Stoke City and West Ham United.

In January 2025, McKinlay joined Everton as assistant head coach, working alongside head coach David Moyes.

Club career

A product of Dundee United's scouting and coaching network in the west of Scotland, Glasgow-born McKinlay was signed from Hamilton Thistle in 1986. He played in the 1988 Scottish Cup final side at the age of 19, after only twelve Scottish Football League appearances. He went on to play over two hundred matches for United, but missed out on the club's 1994 Scottish Cup win due to suspension. He was named in the SPFA Team of the Year for 1994.

Following Dundee United's relegation in 1995, McKinlay requested a transfer. He was sold to English Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers in October 1995 for a fee of £1.75 million. After leaving Blackburn in 2000, McKinlay had brief spells with Bradford City, Preston North End and Clydebank. In 2002, he joined Leicester City, scoring his only goal for them against Coventry City. In 2004, Fulham manager Chris Coleman signed McKinlay, primarily to assist the reserve squad.

International career

McKinlay represented Scotland at under-21 and B international level before making his full debut in 1993. He made 14 appearances for Scotland while with Dundee United, the last two as a First Division player. He is one of only three players from that division to play at full international level for Scotland since 1975. In total he played 29 times for Scotland between 1993 and 1998, scoring four goals. He was selected for the Euro 1996 and 1998 World Cup squads, making one appearance at each tournament.

Coaching career

Fulham

On 21 December 2007, Fulham first-team coach Ray Lewington and reserve team manager McKinlay took over after manager Lawrie Sanchez was sacked. Roy Hodgson was appointed nine days later. McKinlay coached Fulham's reserve side and developed youth talent, and in 2012 became Northern Ireland assistant manager, but returned to Fulham to manage the side's 4–0 defeat at Everton, on 28 April 2012 due to Martin Jol's chest infection and was again in charge on Merseyside, for Fulham's win against Liverpool. On 2 December 2013, McKinlay left Fulham after Martin Jol's departure a day earlier.

Watford

McKinlay was appointed as Watford first-team coach, under head coach Óscar García, on 26 September 2014. McKinlay replaced Garcia a few days later as head coach, after the Spaniard resigned due to suffering from ill health. McKinlay relinquished his role as Northern Ireland's assistant manager after becoming the Watford manager. After just eight days in the job, McKinlay was replaced as Watford head coach by Slaviša Jokanović. McKinlay had taken charge of two matches, a win against Brentford and a draw with Brighton.

Real Sociedad

On 27 November 2014, McKinlay joined Spanish club Real Sociedad as an assistant coach, working alongside David Moyes. He was sacked, along with Moyes, on 9 November 2015.

Stabæk

On 30 November 2015, McKinlay was appointed as manager of Norwegian Tippeligaen side Stabæk Fotball on a two-year contract. McKinlay resigned as manager on 8 July 2016, after being knocked out of the Europa League by Connah's Quay Nomads.

Sunderland

McKinlay joined Sunderland as a scout, initially under Moyes, in 2016. In October 2017 he was promoted to a temporary first team coaching role by manager Simon Grayson when assistant manager Glynn Snodin became ill. Following Grayson's sacking, McKinlay and Robbie Stockdale were appointed the club's joint caretaker managers in November 2017. After one game in charge, a 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough on 5 November 2017,

West Ham United

McKinlay left Sunderland to take a coaching position at West Ham United. He left the east London club at the end of the 2017–18 season, after manager David Moyes' contract was not renewed.

Stoke City

McKinlay joined Stoke City on 21 November 2019, as assistant manager to Michael O'Neill. McKinlay left Stoke by Mutual consent on 12 April 2021.

Return to West Ham United

In July 2021, McKinlay rejoined West Ham United as part of David Moyes' coaching staff. Upon the departure of club manager, David Moyes in May 2024, McKinlay left the club with other coaches and back-room staff.

Career statistics

::data[format=table title="Appearances and goals by national team and year{{Cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/10366/Billy_Mckinlay.html|title=Billy McKinlay (Player)|first=Benjamin|last=Strack-Zimmermann|website=national-football-teams.com}}"]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals	Total	29	4
Scotland	1993	1	1
1994	6	2
1995	8	1
1996	4	0
1997	3	0
1998	7	0
::

:Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McKinlay goal.

::data[format=table title="List of international goals scored by Billy McKinlay{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=617&lid=1|title=Billy McKinlay | Scotland | Scottish FA|publisher=Scottish Football Association}}"]

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	17 November 1993	National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta		1–0	2–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	20 April 1994	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria		2–1	2–1	Friendly
3	12 October 1994	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland		4–0	5–1	UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
4	7 June 1995	Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroes		1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
::

Managerial statistics

::data[format=table]

Team	From	To	Record	G	W	D	L	Win %	Total
Watford	29 September 2014	7 October 2014
Stabæk	30 November 2015	8 July 2016
Sunderland (joint caretaker)	1 November 2017	12 November 2017
::

References

References

1. {{Hugman. 12711
2. "Billy McKinlay: Overview". Premier League.
3. (18 August 2016). "From the archives: Centenary match". [[Scottish Professional Football League]].
4. (13 January 1995). "WELL BUFFED". The Scotsman.
5. (21 March 2003). "Coventry 1–2 Leicester". [[BBC]].
6. "Scotland U21 profile". Fitbastats.com.
7. "Scotland B profile". Fitbastats.com.
8. (28 December 2007). "Fulham appoint Hodgson as manager". BBC Sport.
9. (2 December 2013). "Coaching Staff Update". Fulham F.C..
10. (26 September 2014). "OFFICIAL: Hornets Appoint McKinlay As First Team Coach". Watford F.C..
11. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29412134 Watford: Oscar Garcia replaced by Billy McKinlay as head coach], BBC Sport
12. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29431699 Watford coach Billy McKinlay quits Northern Ireland role], BBC Sport
13. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29518405 Watford: Slavisa Jokanovic replaces Billy McKinlay as boss], BBC Sport
14. (27 November 2014). "David Moyes: Billy McKinlay named Real Sociedad assistant". BBC Sport.
15. (9 November 2015). "Real Sociedad sack former Man Utd manager". BBC Sport.
16. (30 November 2015). "Fra Bob til Billy". Stabæk Fotball.
17. (8 July 2016). "Billy McKinlay fratrer som trener". Stabæk Fotball.
18. "Simon Grayson on what Billy McKinlay brings to Sunderland coaching staff". Sunderland Echo.
19. (1 November 2017). "Sunderland: Billy McKinlay & Robbie Stockdale in caretaker charge but experienced boss wanted". BBC Sport.
20. (5 November 2017). "Middlesbrough 1-0 Sunderland". BBC Sport.
21. Gregory, Ross. (12 November 2017). "Sunderland in chaos as caretaker boss Billy McKinlay quits for West Ham". Sunderland Echo.
22. (16 May 2018). "David Moyes: West Ham manager departs after just six months in charge". BBC Sport.
23. (21 November 2019). "Billy checks-in". Stoke City F.C..
24. (21 November 2019). "Billy McKinlay: Former Scotland midfielder reunited with O'Neill at Stoke City". BBC Sport.
25. "Billy McKinlay: Stoke City assistant manager leaves by mutual consent". BBC Sport.
26. Press Association. (3 July 2021). "Billy McKinlay rejoins West Ham United coaching team". Sports Mole.
27. (21 May 2024). "Moyes Coaching Team Leave West Ham".
28. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Billy McKinlay (Player)".
29. "Billy McKinlay | Scotland | Scottish FA". Scottish Football Association.

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