Stephen Craigan

Club career A boyhood Glentoran fan, Craigan started his career in Scotland with Motherwell in 1994 when he was signed by Alex McLeish. However, after only twenty-six appearances, he was released on a free transfer. He signed for Scottish Second Division club Partick Thistle in 2000 and helped them back to the Scottish Premier League, making 121 appearances. After his contract expired in 2003, he returned to Motherwell, who were then managed by former England international Terry Butcher.

Since then, Craigan has been an integral part of Motherwell's steady progress in the league. Craigan has since gone on to become Motherwell's most capped player. He works for BBC Radio Scotland, also commentated on some European matches for Setanta Sports and ESPN. Craigan is a regular pundit on Sky Sports News Radio, rounding up the weekly hot topics in the Scottish Premiership. This temporary appointment ended when Jim Gannon was hired as the new manager. He endured a troubled relationship with Gannon, featuring in only seven of the seventeen league games he was in charge at Motherwell after being publicly criticised by the manager, but returned to regular first-team action under Craig Brown. On 16 April 2011 Craigan scored his first goal since 2006 with a header to open the scoring in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone, which Motherwell won 3–0 to advance to the 2011 Scottish Cup Final.

On 9 June 2011, Craigan signed a new one-year contract at Motherwell. Craigan was awarded a testimonial match, against his former club Partick Thistle. He scored the only goal of the game, on 13 July 2011. On 9 May 2012, Craigan announced that he would retire after Motherwell's last game of the 2011–12 Scottish Premier League season.

On 29 October 2021, it was announced that Craigan was to be inducted into the Motherwell F.C. Hall of Fame.

International career Craigan is Motherwell's record cap holder, having received 54 caps for Northern Ireland while playing for the club. Craigan played in their 1–0 victory against England in September 2005 and the 3–2 win over Spain a year later. He captained his country on their end of season tour in 2010 against Turkey and Chile and continued as captain against Montenegro on 11 August 2010. His 50th cap came in a surprise victory away to Slovenia on 3 September 2010, in their first game of the Euro 2012 campaign. On 19 July 2011, Craigan announced his retirement from International football, earning 54 caps, the last of those coming against Slovenia.

Coaching career Craigan has made steady strides into management. As well as being caretaker manager for Motherwell in 2009, After manager Ian Baraclough left the club in September, Craigan was put in temporary control of the first team.

Media career

Since BT Sport took over ESPN UK's rights to the SPFL in 2013, Craigan's journeyman football career has been superseded by his work as a studio pundit on the network, regularly appearing alongside Darrell Currie, and fellow pundits Chris Sutton and Ally McCoist. From the start of the 2016–17 season Craigan has also appeared on BT Sport's coverage of the Scottish League Cup, working as an analyst and co-commentator, alongside Rob MacLean or Rory Hamilton. He also works as a pundit on Premier Sport's coverage of Scottish Football.

Career statistics

Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Motherwell 1997–98 140000000140 1998–99 100101000120 1999–2000 4010100060 Total 260202000300 Partick Thistle 2000–01 351201010391 2001–02 320602030430 2002–03 390103000430 Total 10619060401251 Motherwell 2003–04 363001000373 2004–05 373105100434 2005–06 362003000392 2006–07 340303000400 2007–08 380302000430 2008–09 220301020280 2009–10 280101060360 2010–11 350613060501 2011–12 260101000280 Total 292818117114034110 Motherwell Total 318820120114035710 Career Total 424931127118048611

International