{{short description|Scottish footballer}} {{lead too short|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Michael Gardyne | image = | fullname = | height = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Dundee, Scotland | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = 2004–2006 | youthclubs1 = Celtic | years1 = 2006–2007 | clubs1 = Celtic | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2006–2007 | clubs2 = → Ross County (loan) | caps2 = 32 | goals2 = 6 | years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = Greenock Morton | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2008–2012 | clubs4 = Ross County | caps4 = 141 | goals4 = 26 | years5 = 2012–2015 | clubs5 = Dundee United | caps5 = 30 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2013–2014 | clubs6 = → Kilmarnock (loan) | caps6 = 23 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2014–2015 | clubs7 = → Ross County (loan) | caps7 = 24 | goals7 = 6 | years8 = 2014–2021 | clubs8 = Ross County | caps8 = 171 | goals8 = 14 | years9 = 2021–2022 | clubs9 = Inverness Caledonian Thistle | caps9 = 11 | goals9 = 5 | years10 = 2022–2025 | clubs10 = Montrose | caps10 = 105 | goals10 = 8 | club-update = 23:05, 29 December 2025 }} '''Michael Gardyne''' (born 23 January 1986) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Gardyne previously played for Ross County, Morton, Kilmarnock, Dundee United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Montrose.
==Club career== Born in Dundee, Gardyne began his career with Celtic, the team he supported as a boy. He signed a professional contract in 2004 and was tipped to be one of the "next crop of youngsters to emerge"<ref name="scotland">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3743630.stm|title=Scotland to emerge from darkness|date=15 October 2004|access-date=12 January 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> but found first-team opportunities limited and spent his first two seasons in the reserve team.<ref name="reserves">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/4242270.stm|title=Du Wei comes through Celtic debut|date=14 September 2005|access-date=12 January 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Once credited for performing a 'toilet activity' within a teammate's football boot. Additionally, Gardyne himself confessed to being too focus on making teammates laugh rather than performing top quality skill at training while at Celtic.
Gardyne spent the 2006–07 season on loan to Ross County, scoring on his debut<ref name="debut">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/5246354.stm|title=Airdrie United 0–2 Ross County|date=5 August 2006|access-date=12 January 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> and being part of the side that won the 2006–07 Challenge Cup, scoring the first penalty in the shootout victory against Clyde.<ref name="clyde">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/6137982.stm|title=Ross County 1–1 Clyde (aet)|date=12 November 2006|access-date=12 January 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
After returning to Celtic, Gardyne left the club permanently and joined Greenock Morton on a free transfer on 31 August 2007, having worked with Morton manager Jim McInally previously in Celtic's youth team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/morton/6973118.stm|title=Morton sign Russell and Gardyne|date=31 August 2007|access-date=1 September 2007|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> The move lasted just five months, however and Gardyne returned to Ross County in January 2008, going on to help them win the Second Division title that season. Gardyne's form in the 2009–10 season saw him nominated for the Scottish Football League First Division Player of the Year<ref name="award">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/8621078.stm|date=15 April 2010|access-date=13 January 2012|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Rangers quartet vie for Player of the Year award}}</ref> and gain a Scottish Cup runners-up medal. The following season, Gardyne tasted cup success again when County won the Challenge Cup for the second time in three seasons.<ref name="challenge">{{cite web|title=Queen of the South 0–2 Ross County|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/9450656.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|last=Miller|first=Stevie|date=10 April 2011|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref>
Out of contract at the end of the 2011–12 season, Gardyne signed a pre-contract agreement with hometown Scottish Premier League club Dundee United in January 2012,<ref name="utd">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16499442|title=Ross County's Michael Gardyne set to join Dundee United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 January 2012|access-date=11 January 2012}}</ref> some 18 months after the move was first rumoured.<ref name="rumoured">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/8870142.stm|title=Friday's Scottish gossip|date=30 July 2010|access-date=13 January 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> In early August, Gardyne scored on his league debut in the victory against Hibernian, appearing as a late substitute.
In August 2013, Gardyne joined Kilmarnock on loan for 6 months,<ref name="killie">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23906299|title=Kilmarnock land Michael Gardyne on loan from Dundee Utd|date=30 August 2013|access-date=31 August 2013|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> and in January 2014 it was confirmed that the loan deal had been extended until the end of the season.<ref name="killieextended">{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/452191/Killie-can-keep-loan-pair|title=Killie can keep loan pair|date=6 January 2014|access-date=6 January 2014|publisher=Express Sport}}</ref>
On 1 September 2014, Gardyne returned to Ross County, signing on loan until January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Gardyne returns to Ross County on loan from Dundee United|url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/ross-county/290454-michael-gardyne-returns-to-ross-county-on-loan-from-dundee-united/|publisher=STV Sport|date=1 September 2014|access-date=1 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721163130/http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/ross-county/290454-michael-gardyne-returns-to-ross-county-on-loan-from-dundee-united/|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his first appearance since returning to the club on 13 September 2014, in a 2–1 home defeat against Motherwell.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ross County 1–2 Motherwell|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29090490|publisher=BBC Sport|last=Thomson|first=Andrew|date=13 September 2014|access-date=17 September 2014}}</ref> Dundee United announced in April 2015 that Gardyne would be released when his contract expired at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee United to release trio at the end of the season|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32541731|access-date=30 April 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 April 2015}}</ref>
In May 2015, Gardyne signed for Ross County on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ross County: Woods exits as Gardyne & Boyd sign new deals|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32902768|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 May 2015|access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> Gardyne became Ross County's all-time top goal scorer on 29 December 2015 when he scored twice against Kilmarnock in a 3–2 win which brought him to 60 goals for County.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ross County: Michael Gardyne becomes club's record goalscorer|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35196596|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 December 2015|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> On 13 March 2016, Gardyne scored the opening goal as Ross County won their first major silverware with a 2–1 victory over Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup.<ref name="BBC35738631"/> Gardyne was released by Ross County on 27 May 2021 along with nine other players<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news-items/squad-update|title=squad update|website= Ross County F.C.|access-date=27 May 2021|date=27 May 2021}}</ref> and subsequently joined Highland derby rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skinner |first1=Andy |title=Billy Dodds hoping to rekindle successful partnership with Michael Gardyne at Caley Thistle |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/3275467/billy-dodds-hoping-to-rekindle-successful-partnership-with-michael-gardyne-at-caley-thistle/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=Press and Journal |date=2 July 2021}}</ref> Gardyne would have his contract with the ''Caley Jags'' mutually terminated in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-06|title=Club Statement|url=https://ictfc.com/club-statement-13|access-date=2022-01-06|website=ICTFC|language=en-GB}}</ref>
Gardyne signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Montrose in January 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Skinner|first=Andy|date=7 January 2022|title=Michael Gardyne joins Montrose following Caley Thistle exit|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/3822987/michael-gardyne-joins-montrose-following-caley-thistle-exit/|access-date=7 January 2022|website=The Press and Journal|language=en-UK}}</ref>
==Club statistics== {{updated|match played 6 May 2023}}<ref>{{soccerway|michael-gardyne/38611|accessdate=22 August 2016}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Scottish Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Ross County (loan) |2006–07<ref name="MG06">{{soccerbase season|41510|2006|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish First Division |32||6||1||0||2||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC">Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup</ref>||0||39||6 |- |Morton |2007–08<ref name="MG07">{{soccerbase season|41510|2007|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish First Division |10||0||1||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||12||0 |- |rowspan="6"|Ross County ||2007–08<ref name="MG07"/> |Scottish Second Division |16||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||16||4 |- |2008–09<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2008|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="4"|Scottish First Division |27||1||1||0||0||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||30||1 |- |2009–10<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2009|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |34||5||7||3||3||2||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||3||48||13 |- |2010–11<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2010|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |30||3||2||0||1||1||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||1||37||5 |- |2011–12<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2011|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |34||13||3||4||3||1||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||41||18 |- !colspan="2"|Total !141!!26!!13!!7!!7!!4!!11!!4!!172!!41 |- |rowspan="4"|Dundee United |2012–13<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2012|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Premier League |30||3||4||0||2||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEL">Appearance in the Europa League</ref>||0||37||3 |- |2013–14<ref name="MG13">{{soccerbase season|41510|2013|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|Scottish Premiership |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2014–15<ref name="MG14">{{soccerbase season|41510|2014|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !30!!3!!4!!0!!2!!0!!1!!0!!37!!3 |- |Kilmarnock (loan) |2013–14<ref name="MG13"/> |Scottish Premiership |23||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||23||1 |- |Ross County (loan) |2014–15<ref name="MG14"/> |Scottish Premiership |24||6||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||26||6 |- |rowspan="7"|Ross County |2015–16<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2015|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|Scottish Premiership |35||5||4||0||4||3||colspan="2"|—||43||8 |- |2016–17<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2016|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |33||2||1||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||38||2 |- |2017–18<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2017|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> |33||3||1||0||5||1||colspan="2"|—||39||4 |- |2018–19<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2018|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |25||2||3||1||5||1||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||35||4 |- |2019–20<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2019|accessdate=20 January 2021}}</ref> |rowspan=2|Scottish Premiership |14||0||0||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||17||0 |- |2020–21<ref>{{soccerbase season|41510|2020|accessdate=20 January 2021}}</ref> |31||2||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||35||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !171!!14!!10!!1!!24!!5!!2!!0!!207!!20 |- |Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2021–22 |Scottish Championship |11||5||0||0||4||0|| colspan="2" |—||15||5 |- |rowspan=3|Montrose |2021–22 |rowspan=2|Scottish League One |14||3||0||0||0||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="PO">Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs</ref>||0||16||3 |- |2022–23 |30||3||1||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||1||32||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !44!!3!!1!!0!!0!!0!!3!!1!!48!!7 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !486!!67!!31!!8!!40!!9!!22!!5!!578!!89 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== ===Club=== ;Ross County * Scottish First Division (second tier): 2011–12, 2018–19 * Scottish Second Division (third tier): 2007–08 * Scottish Challenge Cup: 2006–07,<ref name="clyde"/> 2010–11,<ref name="challenge"/> 2018–19<ref>{{cite web|title=Ross County lifted the Challenge Cup for a third time|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47622909|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=23 March 2019|date=23 March 2019}}</ref> *Scottish League Cup: 2015–16<ref name="BBC35738631">{{cite web |last1=Wilson| first1=Richard| title= Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35738631|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 March 2016|date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
===Individual=== * PFA Scotland First Division Team of the Year: 2011–12 * PFA Scotland Team of the Year (Championship): 2018–19
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{Montrose F.C. squad}} {{2011–12 PFA Scotland First Division Team of the Year}} {{2018–19 PFA Scotland Scottish Championship Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardyne, Michael}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Dundee Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:Greenock Morton F.C. players Category:Ross County F.C. players Category:Dundee United F.C. players Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. players Category:Montrose F.C. players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen