Steven Naismith

Steven Naismith is a former Scotland international football player who played as a forward and has since moved into a managerial career.

Club career

Naismith commenced his professional club football career at Scottish side Kilmarnock in 2003 and played for them for four years, scoring 29 goals in 102 league matches. His impressive performances in the Scottish Premier League saw him earn a move to Glasgow giants Rangers in 2007.

Naismith soon established himself as a key player for the Gers and helped them win the league title three years in a row between 2009 and 2011. He also won the Scottish Cup with Rangers in 2009 and the Scottish League Cup the following two years.

In the summer of 2012 after Rangers were relegated to the Scottish Third Division because of financial irregularities, Naismith moved to Everton and became a key player for them in the Premier League.

He spent three and a half years at Everton netting 25 goals in 123 appearances, before joining Norwich City in January 2016, but the club would be relegated to the Championship. He stayed with Norwich but suffered a serious ankle injury and was loaned to Scottish club Hearts in January 2018.

Naismith stayed on loan at Hearts for the 2018-19 season, winning the September Scottish Premiership Player of the Month, before taking out the club's Player of the Year, and making his stay permanent. Hearts were relegated but Naismith remained with them in the second tier, helping them earn immediate promotion back before finishing his playing days.

International career

Naismith made his international debut for Scotland in June 2007 against the Faroe Islands, but has failed to establish himself as a regular for his country. He made 51 appearances for 10 goals for Scotland between 2007 and 2019.

Managerial career

In April 2023, Naismith stepped in as Hearts interim manager following the sacking of Robbie Neilson. Naismith had been the club's player development manager prior to that. He earned the managerial job on a permanent basis in June 2023, despite winning only two of seven games.