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Gary Teale
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Gary Stewart Teale (born 21 July 1978) is a Scottish professional football player and coach.
Key Information
Teale started his career in Scotland in 1995 with Clydebank and Ayr United. He moved to England in 2001 when he signed for Wigan Athletic and played an important part in the Wigan side that rose from the third tier (Division Two) to second (Division One) for the first time in the club's history and then went one step further to reach the top flight. Whilst at Wigan he started in the 2006 Football League Cup final. He then left for Championship side Derby County where he achieved promotion to the Premier League for the second time, although Teale was not a member of the matchday 16 for the 2007 Football League Championship play-off final. During his time at Derby, he spent time on loan with Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley.
After three years and over 100 appearances for the club, Teale left Derby in June 2010 to sign for Sheffield Wednesday. Teale then moved to St Mirren in 2011, and he helped them win the Scottish League Cup in 2013. He became St Mirren manager in 2014, but left this position after the club were relegated in May 2015. Teale represented Scotland at international level, winning 13 caps for his country between 2006 and 2009.
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Teale began his career at Clydebank. As a youth player he spent time training with Davie Cooper, who Teale felt had a major influence on his development and career.[3] In 1995, he made his debut at the age of 16 in a Scottish League Cup match against Motherwell.[4] During his first season at the club, he made most of his appearances as a substitute,[5] and scored his first goal for the club towards the end of the season in a 2–1 win against St Mirren.[6] In the summer of 1996, Clydebank were forced to take several cost-cutting measures, leaving Teale as one of only two players on full-time contracts at the club.[7] He became a first team regular at the start of the 1996–97 season, and his impressive performances earned him a call up to the Scotland under-21s.[8] Later in the season, he was given trials at Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United,[9][10] but a move failed to materialise. He finished the season with six goals as the club were relegated to the Second Division. In October 1997, Teale was involved a car crash, later admitting that he was "lucky to be alive".[11] The incident left him with a broken collarbone, and did not feature in the team until the end of the following month. He struggled to maintain his place in the first team during the 1997–98 season, starting in only 13 of 27 league appearances, and at one point was dropped from the team by manager Ian McCall "in the hope it would give him a kick up the backside."[12] Clydebank finished the season as runners-up in the league, regaining promotion to the First Division.
In October 1998, due to Clydebank's growing financial difficulties, Teale was sold to Ayr United for a fee of £70,000, a signing described by McCall as "a Christmas bargain in October."[13] Although there was interest from several English clubs, Teale opted to remain in Scotland as he felt he was not yet ready to leave his home country.[14] He made his debut in a 2–0 win against St Mirren,[15] and scored his first goal for the club on his home debut two weeks later in a 4–2 win against Falkirk.[14] He played a pivotal role in a 3–0 Scottish Cup victory at home to local rivals Kilmarnock in 1999, winning a late penalty which was converted by Andy Walker, a goal that has gone down in history due to the humiliating manner in which Gordon Marshall the Kilmarnock goalkeeper was beaten.
Wigan Athletic
[edit]This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2011) |
In 2001, Teale signed for Wigan Athletic for an initial fee of £275,000, which rose to £400,000 due to subsequent additional payments.[4] He made his debut a day later against Oldham Athletic and scored his first goal for the club on 19 February 2002 in a 3–1 win against Notts County.[16] He picked up a Second Division winners medal for the 2002–03 season.
In the 2004–05 season Wigan were promoted into the Premiership for the first time in their history, after which Teale signed a new two-year contract with the club. He also helped Wigan reach their first ever major cup final when they finished runners-up to Manchester United in 2006. Teale was the only player to feature in every match during the cup run, and played the full 90 minutes of the final itself. He eventually left Wigan after six years at the club to join Derby County for £600,000 on 11 January 2007.
Derby County
[edit]Teale was brought to Derby by Billy Davies to sustain Derby's push towards the Premiership and made his debut in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 13 January 2007, scoring his first goal with the opener in a 2–2 draw with Hull City on 10 February 2007. Despite this, he failed to hold a regular place in the Derby first team towards the end of the season and failed to make the squad for Derby's 1–0 win over W.B.A in the 2007 playoff final which earned Derby promotion.
Teale found himself in and out of the starting line up as Derby struggled to adapt to the top flight and despite playing a part in 22 games, primarily as substitute, over the 2007–08 season, he was loaned out to Championship side Plymouth Argyle by new Derby boss Paul Jewell until the end of the 2007–08 season because he needed to 'regain some confidence'[17] Teale's loan spell at Plymouth impressed Argyle boss Paul Sturrock enough for him to want to sign the player on a permanent basis, though he was reluctant to meet Derby's £500,000 asking price.[18] Teale was also believed to be interesting Leeds United in the 2008–09 pre-season, who would offer £400,000.[19]
The 2008–09 season started in similar fashion as he was loaned out to Barnsley on a month's emergency loan deal, where he played three games. Upon his return to Derby Teale again sporadically appeared. However, with the resignation of Jewell and the appointment of Nigel Clough, Teale began to get a run in Derby's first eleven earning many accolades,[20] with his form improving to the extent that it prevented a loan move to Motherwell in the January 2009.[21] He got his second goal for the club, and his first career goal for two years on 7 February 2009 with the opener in a 3–0 victory at Plymouth Argyle. Such was the upsurgence in his form, he became something of a cult hero amongst the Derby support, earning himself the nickname Tealinho.[22] Teale opened his goalscoring account for the 2009–10 season with an 87th-minute winner against Peterborough United and made his 100th appearance for the club as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest on 30 January 2010.
On 5 May 2010 it was announced that Teale would leave Pride Park after three and a half years when his contract expired. He left Derby on 30 June 2010 with 104 appearances and five goals.[23]
Sheffield Wednesday
[edit]On 2 July 2010, Teale signed a two-year contract at Sheffield Wednesday and was given the number 21 shirt.[24] He scored his first goal for Sheffield Wednesday against Southport in the FA Cup on 7 November 2010.[25] Three days later he bagged his second goal as Wednesday beat Hartlepool in the Football League Trophy.[26] Teale left Hillsborough by mutual consent on 1 July 2011, and signed a two-year deal with St Mirren.
St Mirren
[edit]After Teale left Hillsborough by mutual consent on 1 July 2011, and signed a two-year deal with St Mirren. Teale scored his first goal for Saints in a 2–0 victory in a friendly match against Dumbarton on 12 July 2011. After just 4 minutes David Barron played a ball over the Dumbarton defence, and Teale lobbed the Dumbarton goalkeeper.
Teale was part of the side that won the 2012–13 Scottish League Cup. St Mirren defeated Heart of Midlothian 3–2 in the 2013 Scottish League Cup Final at Hampden Park. Teale will be remembered for his great run down the right wing, and cross field pass that allowed Esmaël Gonçalves to score Saints equalising goal after 37 minutes. On 16 April 2013, it was announced that Teale had signed a new one-year deal with St Mirren, that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2014.[27]
After limited appearances during season 2013–14, it was not known if Teale would be offered a new contract. On 13 May 2014 Teale signed a new two-year deal with the club, taking on a player-coach role to assist newly appointed St Mirren manager Tommy Craig.[28] He was appointed caretaker manager after Craig was sacked in December 2014.[29] In January 2015, Teale was appointed St Mirren manager on a contract until the end of the 2014–15 season.[30] Teale was relieved of his managerial duties after the final game of the season, as St Mirren appointed Ian Murray as their new manager on 22 May 2015.[31] On 1 June 2015, Teale left St Mirren by mutual consent, after failing to secure the manager's job on a permanent basis.[32]
International career
[edit]Teale made his debut for Scotland under-21s against Latvia in 1996.[9]
Teale's performances for Wigan earned him a call-up to the Scotland national football team for the first time in 2004, but was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.[33] He won his first cap in a 3–1 defeat to Switzerland on 1 March 2006.
He has intermittently played for his country since, including some crucial appearances in Scotland's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
In 2008, he was called up to George Burley's first Scotland squad alongside fellow on loan Plymouth player Russell Anderson.
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 2 December 2014
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[34] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Clydebank | 1995–96 | Scottish First Division | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | |
| 1996–97 | Scottish First Division | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 6 | ||
| 1997–98 | Scottish Second Division | 28 | 6 | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 6 | ||
| 1998–99 | Scottish First Division | 8 | 3 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 3 | |||
| Total | 84 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 95 | 16 | ||
| Ayr United | 1998–99 | Scottish First Division | 23 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 5 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Scottish First Division | 32 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 2 | |
| 2000–01 | Scottish First Division | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 5 | |
| 2001–02 | Scottish First Division | 18 | 4 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 6 | ||
| Total | 104 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 124 | 21 | ||
| Wigan Athletic | 2001–02 | Second Division | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||
| 2002–03 | Second Division | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 4 | |
| 2003–04 | First Division | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2004–05 | Championship | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 3 | ||
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Total | 162 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 185 | 10 | ||
| Derby County | 2006–07 | Championship | 16 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | Championship | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | Championship | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 31 | 3 | ||
| Total | 87 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 5 | ||
| Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 2007–08 | Championship | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Barnsley (loan) | 2008–09 | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2010–11 | League One | 41 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 51 | 5 |
| St Mirren | 2011–12 | Scottish Premier League | 34 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 43 | 2 | |
| 2012–13 | Scottish Premier League | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 37 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 85 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 578 | 43 | 43 | 6 | 44 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 678 | 57 | ||
Career honours
[edit]Clydebank
- Scottish Football League Second Division promotion: 1997–98
Wigan Athletic
- Football League Second Division: 2002–03
- Football League Championship second-place promotion: 2004–05
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2005–06[35]
Derby County
St Mirren
Scotland
- Kirin Cup: 2006
Managerial statistics
[edit]- As of 23 May 2015[update]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| St Mirren | 9 December 2014 | 23 May 2015 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 30.43 | |
- Includes statistics as caretaker manager.
References
[edit]- ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 402. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
- ^ "Gary Teale". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Spirit of Cooper and Clydebank steel Teale for France showdown". The Scotsman. 5 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Teale of fortune". The Sunday Times. 26 February 2006. Archived from the original on 22 September 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "Statistics: Clydebank". Clydebank F.C. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Scottish Soccer Round-up". London, England: Sunday Mirror. 5 May 1996. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ "Bankies stars Bowie out". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 1 July 1996. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ "Scots three face chop". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 27 September 1996. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Spurs go for Bankie babe". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 31 January 1997. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "I want Kenny to Teale me in". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 19 March 1997. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "Smash KO's Bankies ace". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 24 October 1997. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "I beat David Coulthard in the vote race; Stranraer v QOS". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 27 December 1997. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Christmas arrives early for United". Herald Scotland. 3 October 1998. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Teale's a steal". London, England: The Mirror. 19 October 1998. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Morton hit three to leave Stranraer stranded; Round-up". London, England: Sunday Mirror. 4 October 1998. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "Notts County 1 Wigan Athletic 3". Manchester Evening News. 20 February 2002. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Teale Moves to Plymouth on Loan". BBC Sport. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Tykes take on Teale". Sky Sports. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Friday's gossip column". BBC News. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Clarkson, Ian (3 February 2009). "Teale's confident better times lie ahead for Rams". Give Me Football. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Teale form halts switch to Well". BBC News. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Is it Teale or Tealinho? Gary enjoying a resurgence". therams.co.uk. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "McEveley & Teale Move On". dcfc.co.uk. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Teale checks in at Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Southport 2–5 Sheff Wed". BBC. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ "Sheff Wed 4–1 Hartlepool". BBC. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ "Gary Teale signs new St Mirren contract". BBC. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "St Mirren's Tommy Craig choice 'not driven by finance'". BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ^ "St Mirren: Tommy Craig exits as manager after 19 games". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "St Mirren: Gary Teale gets manager's job until end of season". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "St Mirren: Ian Murray leaves Dumbarton to be Buddies boss". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "Gary Teale has left St Mirren 'by mutual consent'". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Teale injury blow". BBC Sport. 24 February 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Scottish Challenge Cup, Football League Trophy and the Football League Championship play-offs
- ^ "Man Utd ease to Carling Cup glory". BBC Sport. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- Gary Teale at Soccerbase
Gary Teale
View on GrokipediaClub career
Early career
Gary Stewart Teale was born on 21 July 1978 in Glasgow, Scotland.[7] He developed his early football skills through local youth involvement, joining Clydebank Boys Club before progressing to professional ranks.[8] Teale signed his first professional contract with Clydebank on 19 June 1995 at the age of 16.[7] He made his senior debut on 2 August 1995 in a 2–1 league victory over Stenhousemuir in the Scottish First Division.[7][9] Becoming a regular starter from the 1996–97 season, Teale scored his first professional goal on 4 May 1996 during a 2–1 win against St Mirren.[8] Over two full seasons from 1996 to 1998, he contributed significantly in league play with 60 appearances and 12 goals, including 33 appearances and 6 goals in 1996–97 as Clydebank battled relegation from the First Division, followed by 27 appearances and 6 goals in 1997–98 when the club secured promotion from the Second Division.[10] Overall, across all competitions during his time at Clydebank, Teale recorded 104 appearances and 16 goals, honing his reputation as a dynamic right winger noted for his pace and precise crossing ability.[7] In October 1998, amid Clydebank's financial troubles, Teale transferred to Ayr United for a fee of £70,000.[11] At Ayr, he continued to develop in the Scottish First Division, making 104 appearances and scoring 13 goals across all competitions from 1998 to 2001.[12] Notable performances included scoring in key derbies, and his standout 2000–01 season saw him net 8 goals in total, contributing to Ayr's strong push toward promotion contention in the league.[10] These formative years solidified Teale's skills as a speedy, direct winger capable of delivering impactful contributions on the flank. In 2001, Teale transitioned to English football by signing with Wigan Athletic.Wigan Athletic
Teale joined Wigan Athletic from Ayr United on 14 December 2001 for an initial fee of £275,000.[13] His league debut came the following day in a 1–1 draw against Bury, marking his adaptation to the physical demands of the English Second Division after success in Scottish lower divisions.[14] Over the next six seasons, Teale established himself as a reliable right winger, making 162 league appearances and scoring 8 goals for Wigan between 2001 and 2007.[14] He played a pivotal role in the club's rapid ascent, contributing to promotions from the Second Division to the First Division as champions in 2002–03 and from the Championship to the Premier League via the play-off final victory over Reading in 2004–05.[15] Among his standout contributions, Teale started in the 2006 Football League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, where Wigan suffered a 0–4 defeat to Manchester United; early in the match, he delivered a dangerous cross from the right that Henri Camara headed wide.[16] Teale's wide play complemented the club's forward line, particularly in partnership with striker Nathan Ellington, whose goals often stemmed from Teale's precise crosses and deliveries during Wigan's rise from the lower tiers.[15] As his time at Wigan wound down amid increased competition, he departed permanently for Derby County in January 2007.[17]Derby County
Teale joined Derby County from Wigan Athletic on 11 January 2007 for a transfer fee of £600,000, signing a three-year contract until June 2010.[18][19] His arrival came midway through Derby's successful 2006–07 Championship campaign, where he contributed to the team's promotion to the Premier League with 16 league appearances and 1 goal.[20] In the 2007–08 Premier League season, Teale featured in 18 matches for Derby, starting 9, as the team endured a historically poor campaign, finishing with a record-low 11 points and suffering relegation.[21][22] Derby scored just 20 goals while conceding 89, exposing chronic defensive vulnerabilities that undermined the squad's efforts despite Teale's experience from Wigan's more stable Premier League stint.[23] The season's struggles, including only one victory—a 1–0 home win over Newcastle United—intensified fan frustrations with the team's inability to compete at the top level.[24] Limited opportunities at Derby prompted loans to regain form. In January 2008, Teale moved to Plymouth Argyle for the remainder of the 2007–08 Championship season, making 12 appearances and scoring 1 goal in a bid to aid their survival push.[21] Later, in August 2008, he joined Barnsley on a short-term loan, featuring in 3 matches without scoring, as he sought more regular minutes amid Derby's post-relegation squad reshuffles. Returning to Derby for the 2008–09 and 2009–10 Championship seasons, Teale made 53 league appearances and scored 3 goals, adapting to the physicality and intensity of second-tier football after the Premier League exposure.[25] However, Derby's inconsistent results, including mid-table finishes, highlighted ongoing defensive frailties, with the team conceding heavily in key matches and failing to mount a serious promotion challenge. Overall, Teale's Derby tenure spanned 87 league appearances and 4 goals from 2007 to 2010, marking a downturn from his Wigan achievements.[2] Derby released Teale in May 2010 upon the expiry of his contract, ending a three-year spell overshadowed by the Premier League debacle and subsequent Championship mediocrity.[26]Sheffield Wednesday
In July 2010, Gary Teale signed a two-year contract with Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer from Derby County, becoming the club's fifth summer signing under manager Gary Megson.[27][28] Teale quickly adapted to life at Hillsborough, featuring regularly as a right winger during Sheffield Wednesday's 2010–11 League One campaign. He made 41 league appearances, scoring 2 goals and recording 8 assists, while adding 3 more goals and 1 assist across 10 cup ties for a total of 51 outings and 5 goals.[29] His goals included the opener in a 5–2 FA Cup first-round victory over Southport on 7 November 2010, where he finished from close range after a move down the left, and a rebound strike in a 6–2 league win against Bristol Rovers on 11 December 2010.[30][31] Teale's creative play was evident in key assists during Yorkshire derbies, contributing to draws against rivals such as Leeds United and Barnsley amid a season where Wednesday secured a solid mid-table position, finishing 15th with 58 points.[32][29] As a 31-year-old veteran, Teale's role evolved to include greater defensive tracking back alongside his attacking duties, helping stabilize the flanks in a team adjusting to life in the third tier following relegation. This experience built on his prior loans from Derby, providing the consistency needed for a full season in the Championship-level squad he joined.[33] Despite a year remaining on his deal, Teale departed Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent on 1 July 2011, driven by a desire to return to Scotland and fulfill a long-held ambition to play in his homeland again.[34][35]St Mirren
Teale joined St Mirren on 1 July 2011, signing a two-year contract after leaving Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent, marking his return to Scottish football after nearly a decade in England.[36] The 32-year-old winger brought international experience and versatility to the squad, quickly becoming a regular in the Scottish Premiership.[35] In April 2013, Teale extended his deal by one year, committing until the end of the 2013–14 season, and signed another one-year extension in 2014 to remain through 2015.[37][38] Over his four seasons with St Mirren, he made 85 appearances in the Scottish Premiership without scoring, contributing primarily through assists and defensive work on the flanks.[39] A highlight came in the 2013 Scottish League Cup final, where St Mirren defeated Hearts 3–2 at Hampden Park; Teale provided a key assist for Esmaël Gonçalves' equalizing goal in the 39th minute with a cut-back after receiving a pass from Steven Thompson, helping secure the club's first major trophy in 26 years.[40] His leadership and experience were pivotal in the triumph, which he later described as the pinnacle of his career.[41] As Teale entered his mid-30s—turning 35 in 2013—his playing time diminished from the 2013–14 season onward, shifting him to a squad player role amid the team's struggles.[42] He featured in just 16 league matches that year and 5 in 2014–15, focusing on mentoring younger players while the club battled relegation. St Mirren were demoted from the Premiership after finishing bottom in May 2015, prompting Teale's departure by mutual consent on 1 June 2015, effectively marking his retirement from playing at age 36.[43][2]International career
Youth international career
Teale earned six caps for the Scotland under-21 team between 1996 and 1999 while playing club football for Clydebank and Ayr United.[3] He made his under-21 debut as a substitute in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against Latvia on 6 October 1996, which Scotland drew 0–0 away in Riga.[44] His other appearances included qualifiers against teams such as Belgium and Latvia, where his pace on the right wing was a notable feature, though he did not score in any of his under-21 outings.[45] Scotland's under-21 side failed to qualify for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship during Teale's involvement, exiting in the qualifying stages without advancing to the finals. In addition to his under-21 experience, Teale won a single cap for the Scotland B team, starting in a 2–0 victory over Poland on 6 December 2005 at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, as part of the UEFA Future Cup, where he assisted both goals scored by Gary McDonald and Lee Miller.[46][47] These representative honors came amid strong form at Ayr United, where his international recognition boosted his performances and contributed to the club's promotion push in the 1999–2000 season.[3]Senior international career
Teale earned 13 caps for the Scotland senior national team between 2006 and 2009, scoring no goals during his international tenure.[12][48] His debut came as a second-half substitute in a 1–3 friendly defeat to Switzerland on 1 March 2006 at Hampden Park, under manager Berti Vogts.[3][48] He followed this with appearances in the 2006 Kirin Cup, featuring in a 5–1 win over Bulgaria on 11 May and a 0–0 draw against Japan on 13 May, both as a substitute.[49][48] Teale's most notable contributions occurred during Scotland's 2008 UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign, where he started matches against strong opponents. On 28 March 2007, he started and played 67 minutes in a 0–2 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying loss to Italy in Bari, contributing to a competitive performance that highlighted Scotland's resilience.[48] Later, on 7 October 2006, he came off the bench after 31 minutes in a memorable 1–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying upset victory over France at Hampden Park, helping secure a historic result.[48] Under Walter Smith, Teale was included in the squads for the 2007–08 campaigns, providing width on the right wing with his crossing ability, as seen in his assist for Kris Boyd's opening goal in a 2–1 win over Georgia on 24 March 2007.[50][48] Teale continued to feature under George Burley in the 2008–09 World Cup qualifying efforts, making substitute appearances in friendlies and qualifiers. His final caps came in March and April 2009: 85 minutes in a 3–0 loss to the Netherlands on 28 March, and 12 minutes in a 2–1 win over Iceland on 1 April.[48][51] Although primarily known for his attacking flair from his youth international experience, Teale's senior role emphasized defensive solidity on the flank, supporting Scotland's counter-attacking style during these qualification periods.[3]Coaching career
Managerial role at St Mirren
Gary Teale was appointed as caretaker manager of St Mirren on 9 December 2014, following the sacking of Tommy Craig, with Teale continuing in his dual role as player and assistant coach.[52] On 29 January 2015, he was given the position on a permanent basis until the end of the 2014–15 season, remaining a player-manager while assisted by David Longwell.[53] Teale oversaw 23 matches in the Scottish Premiership during his tenure from January to June 2015, achieving 7 wins, 1 draw, and 15 losses, which equated to a 30.43% win rate and 0.96 points per match.[54] https://www.transfermarkt.us/gary-teale/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/35078/verein_id/465/datum_zu/2015-01-29/datum_ab/2015-05-23 Amid significant injury problems to key players, he implemented squad rotations to manage resources and emphasized youth integration. Teale's time in charge ended with St Mirren's relegation to the Scottish Championship after finishing bottom of the Premiership table, prompting his departure by mutual consent on 1 June 2015, as the club sought a new direction under Ian Murray.[43] The board highlighted the poor league results as the primary reason, despite Teale's efforts to stabilize the team through the season's latter stages.[55]Later coaching roles
Following his departure from St Mirren in 2015, Teale advanced his coaching credentials by obtaining the UEFA Pro Licence, enabling a focus on youth development and grassroots programs.[56] In 2021, Teale was appointed Head Coach at XL Soccer Academy, a U.S.-based institution in Lake Nona, Florida, that integrates academic education with soccer training for young students, and he has held this position through 2025.[6] Teale's responsibilities include leading training sessions, mentoring players, and designing curricula that emphasize life skills such as discipline and teamwork alongside technical soccer abilities, leveraging his Premier League background from clubs like Wigan Athletic and Derby County.[6] He incorporates anecdotes from his playing career into sessions to inspire students and promote a coaching philosophy centered on personal growth and core values through the sport.[6] Since 2015, Teale has avoided senior club management, concentrating instead on academy and grassroots initiatives to nurture emerging talent.[5]Career statistics
Club statistics
Gary Teale's club career, spanning from 1996 to 2015, encompassed over 600 appearances and approximately 56 goals in all competitions across Scottish and English football. In Scottish leagues with Clydebank and Ayr United, he recorded approximately 150 appearances and 25 goals in all competitions.[57] His English league contributions with Wigan Athletic, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Barnsley, and Sheffield Wednesday totaled approximately 300 appearances and 14 goals.[2][42] The following table summarizes Teale's domestic league statistics by season and club, including matches played (MP), goals (Gls), and assists (Ast) where available; data for his early career at Clydebank and Ayr United is aggregated due to limited seasonal breakdowns in records.| Season | Club | MP | Starts | Minutes | Gls | Ast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–1998 | Clydebank | 20 | - | - | 7 | - |
| 1998–2001 | Ayr United | 101 | - | - | 13 | - |
| 2001–2002 | Wigan Athletic | 23 | 18 | 1,456 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002–2003 | Wigan Athletic | 38 | 38 | 2,489 | 2 | 6 |
| 2003–2004 | Wigan Athletic | 28 | 15 | 1,506 | 2 | 4 |
| 2004–2005 | Wigan Athletic | 37 | 29 | 2,508 | 3 | 2 |
| 2005–2006 | Wigan Athletic | 24 | 20 | 1,728 | 0 | 3 |
| 2006–2007 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 7 | 534 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006–2007 | Derby County | 16 | 11 | 962 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007–2008 | Plymouth Argyle | 12 | 8 | 674 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007–2008 | Derby County | 18 | 9 | 917 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008–2009 | Barnsley | 3 | 2 | 199 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008–2009 | Derby County | 25 | 24 | 1,929 | 1 | 5 |
| 2009–2010 | Derby County | 28 | 21 | 2,010 | 2 | 4 |
| 2010–2011 | Sheffield Wednesday | 41 | 37 | 3,028 | 2 | 8 |
| 2011–2012 | St Mirren | 34 | 21 | 1,871 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012–2013 | St Mirren | 30 | 23 | 2,158 | 0 | 8 |
| 2013–2014 | St Mirren | 16 | 6 | 661 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014–2015 | St Mirren | 5 | 3 | 284 | 0 | 0 |
International statistics
Gary Teale amassed a total of 20 international appearances for Scotland across youth and senior levels from 2000 to 2009, with the majority occurring during qualification campaigns for the UEFA European Championship, though he did not feature in any major tournament finals.[3][12] His contributions were distributed as follows:| Level | Caps | Goals | Period | Key Opponents and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under-21 | 6 | 0 | 1998–2000 | Latvia, Belgium; qualification matches |
| B Team | 1 | 0 | 2005 | Poland (friendly) |
| Senior | 13 | 0 | 2006–2009 | France, Italy, Netherlands, Japan; Euro qualifiers and friendlies |