Stephen Aitken (born 25 September 1976 in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...

) is a Scottish football player and coach who was most recently manager of

East Kilbride East Kilbride (; gd, Cille Bhrìghde an Ear ) is the largest town in South Lanarkshire in Scotland and the country's sixth-largest locality by population. It was also designated Scotland's first new town on 6 May 1947. The area lies on a raise ...

. Aitken played for Greenock Morton, Stranraer,

Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir (; gd, Featha Thaigh nan Clach) is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town is north-northwest of Falkirk and directly adjoins to Larbert in the west, where the nea ...

and Junior side Arthurlie. He rejoined Stranraer in 2009 as assistant manager to Keith Knox. Aitken retired as a player in 2011, and he has since managed Stranraer and

Dumbarton Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990. Dumbarton was the ca ...

. His younger brother

Chris Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, Christine, and Christos. Chris is also used as a name in its own right, however it is not as common. People with the given name * Chris Abani (born 1966), N ...

is also a former footballer.

Playing career

Aitken started his senior career with Greenock Morton, where he played for eight years before moving to Stranraer where he stayed for six years. Upon leaving Stranraer he joined

briefly, before leaving the senior game to join

Barrhead Barrhead ( sco, Baurheid, gd, Ceann a' Bharra) is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, southwest of Glasgow city centre on the edge of the Gleniffer Braes. At the 2011 census its population was 17,268. History Barrhead was formed whe ...

side Arthurlie in the Junior ranks.

Coaching career

In 2009, he returned to Stranraer for a second time at the age of 32, and shortly thereafter took up a role as assistant manager. On 27 October 2012 Aitken was appointed manager at the club. After a successful three years with Stranraer he joined

in May 2015, to replace Ian Murray. He won his first competitive game in charge 3–2 against former club Greenock Morton. After keeping the club in the

Scottish Championship The Scottish Championship, known as the cinch Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish Champio ...

for both of his seasons in charge, he agreed a new 2-year deal in May 2017. Aitken led the ''Sons'' to the Scottish Challenge Cup Final the following season, but a difficult league campaign resulted in relegation to

Scottish League One The Scottish League One, known as cinch League One for sponsorship reasons, is the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish League One was ...

after defeat to Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship play-offs. After a slow start to the 2018–19 Scottish League One season left the club in ninth position, Aitken left Dumbarton in October 2018. Aitken was appointed manager of Lowland League team

in May 2020. After his first season was declared null and void due to the

COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland The COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland is part of the COVID-19 pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Scotland on 1 March 2020. Community transmission was first reported on ...

, Aitken left Kilby a month into the

2021-22 Increment or incremental may refer to: *Incrementalism, a theory (also used in politics as a synonym for gradualism) *Increment and decrement operators, the operators ++ and -- in computer programming *Incremental computing *Incremental backup, wh ...

campaign after the club's worst start to a season in their history.

Managerial statistics

:' * East Kilbride statistics include League Cup forfeit victory against Kilmarnock on 10 July 2021.

Honours and achievements

Player

;Greenock Morton *

Scottish Second Division The Scottish Football League Second Division was the third tier of the Scottish football league system between 1975 and 2013. History The Second Division was created in 1975, as part of a wider reconstruction of the Scottish Football League (SFL ...

: 1994–95 ;Stranraer *

Scottish Third Division The Scottish Football League Third Division was the fourth tier of the Scottish football league system between 1994 and 2013. History The Scottish football league system had operated with three divisions in the Scottish Football League (SFL) f ...

: 2003–04 *

promotion: 2004–05

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aitken, Stephen 1976 births Arthurlie F.C. players Association football midfielders Greenock Morton F.C. players Living people People educated at Park Mains High School Scottish Football League managers Scottish Football League players Scottish football managers Scottish footballers Scottish Junior Football Association players Scottish Professional Football League managers Footballers from Glasgow Stenhousemuir F.C. players Stranraer F.C. managers Stranraer F.C. players Dumbarton F.C. managers People from Erskine Footballers from Renfrewshire East Kilbride F.C. managers Lowland Football League managers