{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer (born 2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ross McCausland | image = Ross McCausland 2023 (cropped).jpg | caption = McCausland playing for [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in 2023 | full_name = <!-- if different --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|5|12|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Antrim, County Antrim|Antrim]], Northern Ireland | height = 1.70m<ref>https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ross-mccausland</ref> | position = {{ublist|[[Forward (association football)|Forward]]|[[Right Midfielder]]}} | currentclub = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2018 | youthclubs1 = County Antrim | youthyears2 = 2018–2019 | youthclubs2 = [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]] | youthclubs3 = [[Rangers F.C. B Team and Academy|Rangers]] | youthyears3 = 2019–2023 | years1 = 2022– | clubs1 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] | caps1 = 44 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2025–2026 | clubs2 = → [[Aris Limassol FC| Aris Limassol]] (loan) | caps2 = 22 | goals2 = 4 | nationalyears1 = 2018 | nationalteam1 = [[Northern Ireland national under-16 football team|Northern Ireland U16]] | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2018–2019 | nationalteam2 = [[Northern Ireland national under-17 football team|Northern Ireland U17]] | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2021 | nationalteam3 = [[Northern Ireland national under-19 football team|Northern Ireland U19]] | nationalcaps3 = 4 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2022– | nationalteam4 = [[Northern Ireland national under-21 football team|Northern Ireland U21]] | nationalcaps4 = 3 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 2023– | nationalteam5 = [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] | nationalcaps5 = 5 | nationalgoals5 = 0 | club-update = 11:21, 26 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 10 September 2024 }} '''Ross McCausland''' (born 12 May 2003) is a Northern Irish professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays for {{Scottish football updater|Rangers}} club [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], and the [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland national team]].<ref name="soccerway"/>
==Club career== ===Rangers=== McCausland joined the [[Rangers F.C. B Team and Academy|Rangers Academy]] from Northern Irish side [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]] in the summer of 2019 for £60,000.<ref name="Four Players Join Academy">{{cite news | url=https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/four-players-join-academy/ | title=Four Players Join Academy | publisher=Rangers Football Club | work=Rangers.co.uk | date=31 August 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/ross-mccausland-set-rangers-contract-28049344 | title=Ross McCausland set for Rangers contract talks in bid to fend off transfer interest | publisher=Football Scotland |date =5 November 2023 | accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref> In 2021, he signed a contract extension with the club running until 2024.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/ross-mccausland-signs-contract-extension/RecFmlZXqdq0ynVx60ALw| work=Rangers.co.uk | publisher=Rangers Football Club| date=27 September 2021| title=ROSS MCCAUSLAND SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION }}</ref>
Having been selected regularly for the club's B-team in the 2021–22 season (featuring in the [[UEFA Youth League]] as well as the [[Lowland Football League|Lowland League]] and [[Scottish Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]),<ref name="soccerway"/> McCausland made his first team debut for Rangers on 14 May 2022, replacing [[Amad (footballer)|Amad]] as a 61st-minute substitute during a 3–1 win over [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]]; he set up fellow debutant [[Cole McKinnon]] for his first goal.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61360062 | title=Heart of Midlothian 1-3 Rangers | work=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | date=14 May 2022 | access-date=14 May 2022 }}</ref> He continued to be a B-team player during the 2022–23 season<ref name="soccerway"/> and made only one senior appearance, being used as a late substitute by manager [[Michael Beale (football coach)|Michael Beale]] in a league match away to [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] on 21 May 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65586920 | title=Hibernian 1-3 Rangers | work=BBC Sport | date=21 May 2023 }}</ref>
After the sacking of Beale during the 2023–24 season, McCausland started to get a run of games under interim manager [[Steven Davis]] and then the new permanent manager [[Philippe Clement]]. On 5 October 2023, he made his first appearance against Cypriot side [[Aris Limassol FC|Aris Limassol]] in the [[UEFA Europa League]], coming on as an 84th minute substitute for [[Scott Wright (footballer)|Scott Wright]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66929464 | title=Aris Limassol 2-1 Rangers | work=BBC Sport | date=5 October 2023 }}</ref>
McCausland impressed supporters with his performance off the bench against [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] in October 2023; he was denied a first Rangers goal in a victory over [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]] in a [[Scottish Premiership]] fixture, with the strike ruled out for a foul by [[Abdallah Sima]] in the build-up.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67324985 | title=Livingston 0-2 Rangers | work=BBC Sport | first=George | last=O'Neill | date=12 November 2023 }}</ref>
McCausland signed a new four-year contract with Rangers on 28 November 2023 and was promoted to the first-team squad permanently.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/ross-mccausland-signs-new-rangers-contract/7hWvAOaKT0cCAlv9gbYzy7|title=Ross McCausland signs new Rangers contract|work=Rangers FC|publisher=rangers.co.uk|date=28 November 2023}}</ref> Two days later he celebrated with a first goal for the club against Aris Limassol, after coming in as a first half substitute for [[Todd Cantwell]].<ref name="Aris">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67515252 | title=Rangers 1-1 Aris Limassol | work=BBC Sport | first=Andy | last=Campbell| date=30 November 2023 }}</ref> On 17 December, McCausland started in the [[Scottish League Cup]] final against [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]], and won his first trophy when Rangers captain [[James Tavernier]] scored the only goal of the match.<ref name="SCL2324">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67684521|title=Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen|website=BBC|date=17 December 2023|accessdate=17 December 2023}}</ref>
McCausland scored his first Premiership goal against [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] on 2 January 2024, but a run of starting appearances ended when he was injured by a tackle from [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] defender [[Dan Casey (footballer)|Dan Casey]] on 2 March, causing him to miss several fixtures; when he returned to fitness he was again among the substitutes. He was nominated for the [[PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year]] award,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/pfa-scotland-wonderkids-can-be-2034-world-cup-stars-as-young-player-award-marks-10-years-since-andy-robertson-4616451 |title=PFA Scotland wonderkids can be 2034 World Cup stars as young player award marks 10 years since Andy Robertson |publisher=The Scotsman|author =Alan Pattullo|date=4 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref> but lost out to [[David Watson (footballer, born 2005)|David Watson]] of Kilmarnock.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c1vw9w7rpn0o |title=Lawrence Shankland, David Watson & Rangers trio win PFA awards |website=BBC Sport |date=5 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref>
McCausland scored his first goal of the season 2024-25 against St Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup, with the assist coming from teammate [[Cyriel Dessers]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rangers vs St Johnstone |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cgjv57g9nndt |access-date= |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
===Aris Limassol=== On 1 August 2025, McCausland joined [[Aris Limassol FC|Aris Limassol]] on a season long loan which included a conditional obligation to buy at the end of the loan deal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ross McCausland Joins Aris Limassol On Loan |url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/ross-mccausland-joins-aris-limassol-on-loan/UtISc8OKyA0JzTpcAJmGc |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=www.rangers.co.uk}}</ref>
==International career== McCausland played regularly for Northern Ireland as a youth internationalist. On 14 November 2023, he received his first call-up to the [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland senior team]] for a round of [[UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying]] matches.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/ross-mccausland-receives-first-northern-ireland-call-up-for-euro-double-header/a1622153782.html | title=Ross McCausland receives first Northern Ireland call-up for Euro double-header | work=Belfast Telegraph | date=14 November 2023 }}</ref> Three days later he made his debut against [[Finland national football team|Finland]], starting in a 4–0 defeat.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67376194 | title=Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland | work=BBC Sport | date=17 November 2023 }}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 1 February 2026 (UTC)}}<ref name="soccerway">{{Soccerway|id=ross-mccausland/578190|name=Ross McCausland|access-date=}}</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"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish Cup]], [[Cypriot Cup]]}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish League Cup]]}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|[[Rangers F.C. B Team and Academy|Rangers B]] |[[2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup|2019–20]]<ref name="RM2425">{{soccerbase season|129304|2019|accessdate=28 December 2022}}</ref> |—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=SCC|Appearance(s) in [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]}}||0||1||0 |- |[[2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup|2021–22]]<ref name=RM2122>{{soccerbase season|129304|2021|accessdate=28 December 2022}}</ref> |—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=SCC}}||0||3||0 |- |[[2022–23 Scottish Challenge Cup|2022–23]]<ref name=RM2223>{{soccerbase season|129304|2022|accessdate=26 May 2023}}</ref> |—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=SCC}}||0||3||0 |- |[[2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup|2023–24]]<ref name=RM2324>{{soccerbase season|129304|2023|accessdate=26 May 2023}}</ref> |—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=SCC}}||1||3||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||1||10||1 |- |rowspan="5"|[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] |[[2021–22 Rangers F.C. season|2021–22]]<ref name=RM2122/> |[[Scottish Premiership]] |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1<!-- Sub app v Hearts, missed on Soccerbase [https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/match-report-hearts-1-3-rangers/1TDzSS9lPGdPl0mAWmPot2 ] -->||0 |- |[[2022–23 Rangers F.C. season|2022–23]]<ref name=RM2223/> |Scottish Premiership |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |[[2023–24 Rangers F.C. season|2023–24]]<ref name=RM2324/> |Scottish Premiership |29||3||4||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||39||4 |- |[[2024–25 Rangers F.C. season|2024–25]]<ref name=RM2425/> |Scottish Premiership |13||0||1||1||2||1||9{{efn|Two appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}||1||colspan="2"|—||25||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !44||3||5||1||3||1||14||2||colspan="2"|—||66||7 |- |[[Aris Limassol FC|Aris Limassol]] (loan) ||[[2025–26 Cypriot First Division|2025–26]] |[[Cypriot First Division]] |16||4||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in [[UEFA Conference League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||20||4 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !60!!7!!7!!1!!3!!1!!16!!2!!10!!1!!96!!12 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Rangers''' *[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[2023–24 Scottish League Cup|2023–24]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase|129304}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCausland, Ross}} [[Category:2003 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Association footballers from County Antrim]] [[Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland]] [[Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Lowland Football League players]] [[Category:Scottish Professional Football League players]] [[Category:Cypriot First Division players]] [[Category:Rangers F.C. players]] [[Category:Linfield F.C. players]] [[Category:Aris Limassol FC players]] [[Category:Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers]] [[Category:Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers]] [[Category:Northern Ireland men's international footballers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's association footballers from Northern Ireland]] [[Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in Cyprus]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus]]