Chris Aitken

Christopher Aitken (born 21 September 1979) is a Scottish retired footballer and current manager of Kilwinning Rangers.

For the Australian footballer, see Chris Aitken (Australian footballer).

Chris Aitken
Personal information
Full name Christopher Aitken
Date of birth (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Kilwinning Rangers (manager)
Youth career
0000–1998 Erskine B.C.
1998–2000 Greenock Morton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000 Greenock Morton 2 (0)
2000–2001 Clyde 23 (2)
2001–2003 Greenock Morton 19 (1)
2003–2005 Hamilton Academical 54 (8)
2005–2008 Stirling Albion 101 (37)
2008–2010 Ayr United 42 (6)
2010–2011 Stirling Albion 31 (9)
2011–2016 Stranraer 117 (24)
Total 389 (87)
Managerial career
2016–2017 Stranraer (assistant)
2017 Stranraer (interim manager)
2017–2020 Stranraer (assistant)
2020–2021 East Kilbride (assistant)
2021–2023 East Kilbride
2023- Kilwinning Rangers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:31, 27 February 2023 (UTC)

He moved into management at East Kilbride after his elder brother Stephen resigned from his position on 10 August 2021.[1]

Stephen is also a former footballer.[2][3]

Playing career

Morton, Clyde & Morton again

Aitken started his professional career at Greenock Morton making his debut against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 1 April 2000. Aitken was with the Greenock club for only two games before being signed by Clyde on 14 June 2000.[4]

He made his first team debut for Clyde on 5 August 2000 against Falkirk[5] and went on to make a further 23 appearances for Clyde. Aitken scored his first goal of his professional career against Airdrie on 22 November 2000.[6] Aitken stayed with Clyde for just over a season before returning to play for Greenock Morton on 10 November 2001.

He made his second debut for Morton on 10 November 2001 against Forfar Athletic. Aitken remained with Greenock Morton for two seasons making 19 appearances for the club, before signing for Hamilton Academical in June 2003.

Hamilton

Aitken made his debut for Hamilton and scored his first goal on 2 August 2003 against St Johnstone in the Scottish League Challenge Cup.[7] He went on to make over 50 league appearances, scoring 8 goals for the club during his time there, before he signed for Stirling Albion on 31 January 2005.

Stirling

Aitken made his debut for Stirling Albion against Dumbarton on 5 February 2005. Aitken scored his first goal for Stirling Albion against Brechin City on 26 February 2005. Since signing in 2005, Aitken went on to make over 90 league appearances, scoring over 30 goals for the Binos. Aitken was awarded the Players Player of the Year award for the 2006–07 season. He was made captain of the Stirlingshire side and at the end of the 2007–08 season, Aitken won the Stirling Albion supporters club player of the year award and the Stirling Albion supporters Trust award. Aitken was the leading goal scorer for Stirling Albion in the 2007–08 season.[8] In May 2008, after Stirling Albion were relegated to the Scottish Second Division, Aitken agreed a two-year deal with Second Division rivals Ayr United, stating that Ayr's ambition is what drew him to Somerset Park.[9]

Ayr

In May 2008, Aitken became Ayr's eighth signing since the end of the 2007–08 season.[9] Chris is widely recognised as one of the best penalty kick taker's in Scottish football, having only missed two out of 40 attempts. He played a major part in Ayr's playoff success in the 2008–09 season, scoring three goals against Brechin and captaining the side all the way to the First division. On 13 January 2010, Chris, by mutual agreement, had his contract ended, and signed for former club Stirling Albion.

Stirling (second spell)

Aitken made his second début for the Beanos in a 3–3 draw with East Fife on 23 January 2010. Three goals in his first two games back in an Albion shirt showed that Chris was just as potent a goal threat as ever. It was announced he was to be released from 15 May 2011.[10]

Stranraer

After his release he joined Stranraer for the 2011–12 season, signing a deal in May 2011. Aitken spent 5 seasons with Stranraer before retiring at the end of the 2015–16 season.[11]

Coaching career

After being involved with first-team coaching with Stranraer during the 2015–16 season, Aitken was appointed assistant manager to Brian Reid shortly after announcing his retirement.[11] After Reid left the club by mutual consent in January 2017, Aitken was made interim manager until Reid's successor could be appointed.[12] Not long after this, former Blues assistant Stephen Farrell was named the new manager of Stranraer, taking up the position following on 23 January 2017.[13] Aitken remained as interim manager for the Scottish Cup match against Aberdeen, which the side lost 4–0,[14] before returning to his previous position as assistant manager. On 10 August 2021, became caretaker manager at East Kilbride.[15]

In February 2023, Aitken took over as manager of West of Scotland Football League side Kilwinning Rangers;[16] bringing in Ian Durrant and Owen Archdeacon to form his coaching team.[17]

Managerial statistics
As of 27 January 2017
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Stranraer (interim) January 2017 January 2017 1 0 0 1 000.0 [18]

References
  1. McGilvray, Andy (10 August 2021). "Stevie Aitken leaves East Kilbride manager's job". Daily Record. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  2. Band of Brothers at Stirling, Scottish Professional Football League, 4 March 2011
  3. Stephen Aitken’s success at Stranraer noticed, The Scotsman, 15 September 2014
  4. "Summer Signings". BBC Sport. 12 August 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  5. "Clyde 3–1 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 5 August 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  6. "Airdrieonians 1–3 Clyde". BBC Sport. 22 November 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  7. "Hamilton Accies 2–3 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 2 August 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  8. "Player of the Year Awards 2007/2008". James Stewart. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  9. "Ayr sign Aitken from Stirling". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  10. "Playing staff update". Stirling Albion FC. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  11. "Aitken Named Blues Number Two". Stranraer FC. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  12. "Chairman Q&A". Stranraer FC. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  13. Findlay, Alan (20 January 2017). "Stephen Farrell". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  14. Davie, Scott (21 January 2017). "Aberdeen 4–0 Stranrear". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  15. "East Kilbride caretaker not concerned by boss decision delay after beating Vale". 19 August 2021.
  16. "Chris Aitken arrives in Buffs town". Kilwinning Rangers F.C. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  17. McGowan, Eric (14 February 2023). "Rangers legend Ian Durrant unveiled as assistant manager of Scots non-league side". Daily Record. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  18. "Five For Friday: Five Firsts". Stranraer FC. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
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