Ali Coote

Alistair Michael Coote (born 11 June 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shelbourne.

Coote began his career with Dundee United and made his first team debut in 2015, before joining Brentford B in 2017. After failing to break into the first team squad, he moved to the League of Ireland in 2020 and played for Waterford, Bohemians and Shelbourne. He also briefly played in the United States for Detroit City and represented Scotland at U15, U16 and U17 level.

Early life Coote was born in Bedford, England and grew up in Newport-on-Tay, Fife, Scotland.

Club career

Dundee United A box-to-box midfielder, Coote began his youth career with Tayport Thistle, before moving to the academy at Dundee United. By late 2013, his performances saw him named by STV as one of 14 youth players to make an impact in 2014. Coote signed his first professional contract in June 2014 and won his maiden call into the first team squad for a Scottish Premiership match versus Celtic on 21 December 2014. He finished the 2014–15 season with three appearances. After returning from the loan, he made his sole appearance of the season as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 6 May 2016.

Dundee United's relegation to the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2015–16 season saw Coote promoted into the first team squad for 2016–17 and he was a regular inclusion on the substitutes' bench throughout the campaign. He made 20 appearances and scored no goals during three seasons as a professional at Tannadice Park.

Brentford B On 22 June 2017, Coote moved to England to join the B team at Championship club Brentford on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He made 33 appearances and scored 9 goals during the 2017–18 season. After loanee Nikolaj Kirk departed the club in March 2019, Coote took over the B team captaincy. During the 2019–20 pre-season, Coote was included in the first team squad for its training camp in Austria. He was frozen out of the B team during the first half of the 2019–20 season and departed Brentford in January 2020. He made 79 appearances and scored 19 goals in three seasons for the B team, He made 18 appearances and scored three goals during the COVID-19-affected 2020 season and departed the club at the end of the campaign. Coote made 32 appearances and scored two goals during a mid-table 2022 season, in which he was demoted to the U19 team, but he won his place back under new manager Declan Devine. During the 2023 season, Coote was part of the Leinster Senior Cup-winning squad and scored in the 5–0 Final victory over Usher Athletic. He was released when his contract expired and ended his three seasons with the club on 108 appearances and 15 goals.

Detroit City On 9 January 2024, Coote transferred to USL Championship club Detroit City and signed a two-year contract. He made 11 appearances and scored one goal prior to his departure on 18 June 2024.

Shelbourne On 18 June 2024, Coote transferred to League of Ireland Premier Division club Shelbourne and signed a contract effective 1 July 2024. He ended the League of Ireland Premier Division championship-winning 2024 season with 20 appearances and one goal. Coote signed a new one-year contract in November 2024. He made 44 appearances and scored seven goals during the 2025 season,

International career Coote made his international debut for Scotland at U15 level and won the first of his eight caps in an U15 tournament match versus Italy on 20 March 2012. He won five caps for the U16 team during the 2013–14 season and made appearances in both the 2013 Valerie Ivanov Tournament (scoring his first international goal) and the 2014 Aegean Cup. Coote experienced success in the 2013–14 Victory Shield, scoring his first international brace (versus Northern Ireland) and playing the full 90 minutes of the 1–0 victory in the final versus England. He won five U17 caps during the 2014–15 season and was called into the squad for the 2015 European U17 Championship finals, but was withdrawn from the tournament at the request of Dundee United.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

2014–15 Scottish Premiership

2015–16 Scottish Premiership

2016–17 Scottish Championship

East Fife (loan) 2015–16 LOI Premier Division

Detroit City

2026

Brentford B Middlesex Senior Cup: 2018–19

Scotland U16 Victory Shield: 2013–14