Born on the 31st of August 1990 in Scotland, Gary Mackay-Steven is an influential forward, primarily operating as a left winger for Kilmarnock FC. Identified by his jersey number 14, Mackay-Steven is well-proportioned for a footballer, standing at 5ft 8in (1.75m) tall and weighing 11st (70kg).
His football career began in earnest in January 2011 when he joined Airdrieonians in the Scottish Championship, during which he made an influential appearance 19 times during his debut season. As a forward, his performance caught the eyes of scouts from Dundee United, which led him to transfer to the Premiership club in July 2011. His tenure at Dundee United was marked by 110 first-team appearances across four seasons where he netted 21 goals.
In February 2015, Mackay-Steven made a notable transfer to Celtic FC, with a deal that cost the Premiership giants around £250,000. This ensured a successful spell at the club, which extended over three seasons. While at Celtic, Mackay-Steven proved to be a prolific asset to the team, clocking up 46 first team appearances and netting eight goals. His time at Celtic was particularly noteworthy, as he showed a real knack for finding the back of the net, despite limited appearances. His successful relationship with the forward line was indicative of a player with a solid understanding of the midfield and forward positions.
However, in July 2017, Aberdeen FC swooped in with a £150,000 deal to secure Mackay-Steven's services, and he went on to make 51 first team appearances, finding the net nine times over two seasons. Notably, in 2019, the Scottish forward decided to venture to new shores, transferring to New York City FC in the MLS. He spent one and a half seasons with the U.S. side, making 34 appearances and scoring three goals.
His longing for native soil seemed to have pulled him back to the Scottish Premiership, with Hearts FC securing his return in January 2021. He represented Hearts 36 times, scoring twice over two seasons. However, Mackay-Steven's journey through the Scottish Premiership was not at its end.
In June 2023, Mackay-Steven changed clubs again, although the details of this transfer were left unspecified. By December of 2023, he had joined Kilmarnock in the Premiership, where he has since made a 12 appearances and scored one goal to date. During his current 2024 - 2025 season for Kilmarnock, Mackay-Steven has so far made three first team appearances.
It is also notable that he has featured in cup competitions, including the League Cup 2024 - 2025 where he made a start for Kilmarnock, the Scottish Cup 2023 - 2024 where he made an appearance as a substitute, and the Conference League Qualifiers 2024 - 2025 where he made two appearances as a substitute. Little can be doubted about the influential role Gary Mackay-Steven has had in his present club, Kilmarnock, and his previous clubs' successes.
