Greg Taylor
Taylor with Scotland in 2019
Personal information
Full name Greg John Taylor[1]
Date of birth (1997-11-05) 5 November 1997[2]
Place of birth Greenock, Scotland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Celtic
Number 3
Youth career
2008–2014 Rangers
2014–2016 Kilmarnock
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Kilmarnock 111 (1)
2019– Celtic 115 (5)
International career‡
2017 Scotland U20 5 (1)
2017–2018 Scotland U21 14 (0)
2019– Scotland 13 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:13, 3 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:22, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

Greg John Taylor (born 5 November 1997) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Celtic and the Scotland national team.

Club career

Early years

He started his career as a youth player at Rangers and was associated with the Ibrox club for six years until he was released, with the club saying he was "too small and too slight."[3] He then signed for Kilmarnock in July 2014,[4] and captained their under-17 and under-20 youth teams before making his progression into first team football in 2016.

Kilmarnock

Taylor made his first team debut for Kilmarnock on 14 May 2016, starting at left back in a Scottish Premiership game against Dundee United.[5] He then made his second start in the second leg of the Scottish Premiership Play-off Final, which Kilmarnock won 4–0 against Falkirk to win the tie 4–1 on aggregate. After the 2015–16 season ended, Taylor signed a three-year contract with Kilmarnock.[6]

Having kept his place in the team under managers Lee Clark, Lee McCulloch and Steve Clarke (the latter of whom oversaw a dramatic improvement in the club's form during 2017–18), Taylor was rewarded with another new contract in April 2018, running until June 2021.[7] Taylor scored his first goal for the club, the first in a 5–0 win against Hamilton Accies on 30 March 2019.

During the summer 2019 transfer window, Kilmarnock rejected offers for Taylor from Nürnberg,[8] Sunderland[9] and Celtic.[10]

Celtic

Taylor signed a four-year contract with Celtic on 2 September 2019.[11] He made his debut for the club against St Mirren at Celtic Park in a 2-0 home win in the Scottish Premiership on 30 October 2019.[12]

On 18 August 2020, Taylor scored his first goal for Celtic in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match against KR Reykjavík in a 6-0 victory.[13]

On 20th December 2020, Taylor featured as a starter for Celtic in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup final against Scottish Championship side Heart of Midlothian. In a dramatic match which seen both sides draw each other 3-3 after extra-time, Celtic won on penalties and lifted their 12th successive domestic honour as part of an unprecedented quadruple treble. This would also see Taylor collect his first Scottish Cup winners' medal and his second honour with Celtic.[14][15]

During the 2021–22 Scottish Premiership season, Taylor established himself as an integral part of Celtic's team under manager Ange Postecoglou and was awarded a long-term contract extension running until 2025.[16]

On 19th December 2021, Taylor started for Celtic in the 2021–22 Scottish League Cup final against Hibernian and went on to collect another cup winners' medal, largely thanks to a brace from Kyogo Furuhashi which sealed a 2-1 victory and ultimately the Scottish League Cup for Celtic that season.[17]

On 6 September 2022, Taylor played in his first UEFA Champions League group stage match in a 3-0 home defeat against Real Madrid.[18]

On 22 October 2022, Taylor scored the winning goal in a 4-3 victory against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle Park in the Scottish Premiership.[19]

International career

In March 2017, Taylor played in his first match for the Scotland under-21 side in a friendly against Estonia.[20][21]

Selected for the Scotland under-20 squad in the 2017 Toulon Tournament.[22] In the second match, Taylor scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Brazil U20,[23] which was the nations first ever win against Brazil at any level.[24] The team went on to claim the bronze medal.[25] It was the nations first ever medal at the competition.[26] Taylor was also the only Scottish player named in the 'team of the tournament',[27] as well as being named 4th best player.[28]

Selected for the U21 squad in the 2018 Toulon Tournament,[29] the team lost to Turkey under-21s in a penalty-out and finished fourth.[30]

Taylor was named in the full Scotland squad for UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying fixtures in June 2019;[31] he remained on the bench in the home game against Cyprus at Hampden Park. After captain Andy Robertson picked up an injury, Taylor debuted at left-back against the world's top-ranked team, Belgium on 11 June, and played the full match in Brussels as Scotland lost 3–0. Manager Steve Clarke hailed Taylor's debut as "excellent".[32][33]

He then played in the next two games, on 16 and 19 November, winning against Kazakhstan and Cyprus. His performances were praised especially for his link up play with left sided Celtic team mate, James Forrest.[34]

Personal life

Taylor was born in Greenock and raised in nearby Gourock, attending Clydeview Academy.[35] His younger brother Ally plays for Alloa Athletic,[3] and made his first team debut in February 2020 while Greg was playing for their opponents Celtic.[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of 3 September 2023[37][2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kilmarnock 2015–16[38] Scottish Premiership 1000001[lower-alpha 1]020
2016–17[39] Scottish Premiership 340103000380
2017–18[40] Scottish Premiership 380304000450
2018–19[41] Scottish Premiership 361203000411
2019–20[42] Scottish Premiership 2000102[lower-alpha 2]050
Total 111160110301311
Celtic 2019–20[42] Scottish Premiership 12030002[lower-alpha 2]0170
2020–21[42] Scottish Premiership 260100051321
2021–22[42] Scottish Premiership 240212070351
2022–23[42] Scottish Premiership 313402060433
2023-24[42] Scottish Premiership 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
Total 973101502011325
Career total 20841611602312636
  1. ↑ Appearance in the Premiership play-offs
  2. 1 2 Appearances in the UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 19 November 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland 201930
202010
202110
202250
202330
Total130

Honours

Celtic

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Player Details: Taylor, Greg John". FitbaStats. Bobby Sinnett and Thomas Jamieson. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Greg Taylor at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 Mitchell, Jonathan (26 May 2016). "Gourock player's pride at helping Kilmarnock keep top flight status". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Greg Taylor's Contract Extended". Kilmarnock F.C. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Kilmarnock 2-4 Dundee United: Clark changed players with play-off in mind". BBC Sport. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  6. ↑ McLaughlin, Chris (7 June 2016). "Kilmarnock eye 11 new signings as Greg Taylor extends contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Greg Taylor: Kilmarnock left-back agrees new contract until 2021". BBC Sport. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Winton, Richard (3 July 2019). "Greg Taylor: Kilmarnock reject £500,000 Nurnberg bid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Winton, Richard (28 August 2019). "Greg Taylor: Kilmarnock reject Sunderland bid for left-back". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Jane (30 August 2019). "Greg Taylor: Celtic fail in bid for Kilmarnock left-back". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "Greg Taylor: Celtic clinch signing of Kilmarnock & Scotland left-back". BBC Sport. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "2019-10-30: Celtic 2-0 St Mirren, SP – The Celtic Wiki". Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "Video: Greg Taylor scores his first Celtic goal to put them 4-0 up over Reykjavik". thecelticstar.com. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Scottish Cup (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Celtic 3-3 Hearts (4-3 on penalties): Celtic win Scottish Cup to complete historic quadruple treble". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Greg Taylor: Celtic left-back signs new contract running until 2025". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  18. ↑ UEFA.com. "Celtic-Real Madrid | Line-ups | UEFA Champions League 2022/23". UEFA.com. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "Celtic 'find way' to edge Hearts in VAR-laden epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Scotland U21 profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  21. ↑ "Scotland Under-21 0-0 Estonia Under-21". BBC Sport. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  22. ↑ "Scotland squad for Toulon announced". Scottish Football Association. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Scotland U20s 1-0 Brazil U20s". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  24. ↑ "Scotland U20 1-0 Brazil U20: Young Scots make history". The Scotsman. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  25. ↑ "Scotland finish third at Toulon Tournament with 3-0 win". Scottish Football Association. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  26. ↑ "JULES AND HOLSGROVE TAKE BRONZE WITH SCOTLAND IN TOULON". Reading FC. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  27. ↑ "Toulon Tournament 2017 best XI". 12 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "The Toulon Tournament 2017 awards". Toulon Tournament. 11 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "Scotland Under-21 squad announced for Toulon tournament". Scottish Football Association. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  30. ↑ "Scotland finish fourth at the Toulon tournament after shoot-out defeat to Turkey". Scottish Football Association. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  31. ↑ "Scotland squad: Steve Clarke selects five uncapped players". BBC. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  32. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku puts two past improving Scotland as Belgium hand Steve Clarke his first defeat". Daily Telegraph. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  33. ↑ "Steve Clarke hails Greg Taylor's 'excellent' Scotland debut in Belgium defeat". Daily Telegraph. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  34. ↑ McGarry, Graeme (23 November 2019). "Greg Taylor hoping link-up with Celtic teammates for Scotland can lead to more opportunities at club level". Glasgow Times.
  35. ↑ Scotland players' old schools send good luck messages, Henry Hepburn, TES (magazine), 11 June 2021
  36. ↑ Gannon, Michael (23 February 2020). "Celtic 3 Kilmarnock 1 as Leigh Griffiths returns in style to fire Hoops 12 points clear - 3 talking points". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  37. ↑ Greg Taylor at Soccerbase
  38. ↑ "Games played by Greg Taylor in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Greg Taylor in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Greg Taylor in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Greg Taylor in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Games played by Greg Taylor in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  43. ↑ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  44. ↑ "Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title". BBC Sport. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  45. ↑ Watt, Martin (7 May 2023). "Heart of Midlothian 0–2 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side seal back-to-back titles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  46. ↑ Celtic win fourth straight Scottish Cup as Hazard's shootout saves break Hearts, Ewan Murray, The Guardian, 20 December 2020
  47. ↑ Duncan, Thomas (3 June 2023). "Celtic 3–1 Inverness CT: Ange Postecoglou's side win Scottish Cup to claim treble". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  48. ↑ "Hibernian 1–2 Celtic". BBC Sport.
  49. ↑ Moffat, Colin (26 February 2023). "Kyogo strikes twice as Celtic beat Rangers in final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  50. ↑ "Hirst named in Team of the Tournament". www.swfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  51. ↑ Cassidy, Peter (9 May 2023). "Seven Celtic players in PFA team of the year but star duo miss out". STV Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2023.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.