Footballer Josh McPake Goes From Jobless to Scotland Squad

Josh McPake spent six months without a football club in 2023, training anywhere that would have him and facing rejection after rejection. This week, the 25-year-old winger received his first call-up to Scotland's national team.

The turnaround happened because McPake refused to give up. When no professional clubs wanted him, he signed with third-tier Stirling Albion in March 2024 on a short-term deal, working harder than he ever had before.

Former Stirling boss Darren Young watched McPake transform himself during those crucial months. "He helped put balls away after training, he was always doing extra bits of shooting and finishing," Young recalled. The talented winger learned to track back on defense, not just shine going forward.

St Johnstone gave McPake a two-year deal next, but he couldn't break into the team. Manager Simo Valakari offered him to multiple clubs in January 2024, hoping to get him playing time somewhere. Nobody wanted him.

That rejection became McPake's wake-up call. "If things had stayed the way they were then football was done for him," Valakari said plainly. McPake needed to change or find a different career.

So he changed everything. Hearts signed him, and he's been spectacular, quickly becoming a fan favorite in Edinburgh. The supporters even created a song for him to the tune of ABBA's Dancing Queen.

Why This Inspires

McPake's story matters because it shows that talent alone isn't enough. He came through Rangers' prestigious academy and was named their player of the year in 2019, but ego and inconsistency nearly ended his career before it truly started.

What saved him wasn't a lucky break. It was humility, work ethic, and the willingness to improve his weaknesses. When he dropped to Scotland's third tier, he could have coasted on natural ability, but instead he stayed after training to work on defensive skills.

Young saw the shift happen in real time. "The penny dropped and he realized to improve and progress, that's what he had to add," he explained. McPake chose growth over comfort.

Now at 25, McPake looks back on his chaotic journey with gratitude. "I wouldn't change my journey for anything," he insists, and it's easy to see why. The setbacks taught him lessons that success never could have.

From jobless to representing his country in under two years, McPake proved that it's never too late to turn things around when you're willing to put in the work.