Bain, Scott

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Fullname: Scott Bain
aka: –
Born: 22 November 1991
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Signed: 31 Jan 2018 (from Dundee on loan), 31 May 2018 (permanent from Dundee)
Left: –
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: TheRangers 2-3 Celtic, SP, 11 Mar 2018
Squad No.: 29
Internationals: Scotland [which international team played for]
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]

Biog

Some players can get just so lucky. Scott Bain had proven himself at Dundee but there was hardly much clamour about him at the time.

Celtic already had 3 stalwarts in the goals line-up ahead of him and so seemed full up but they weren’t all wholly convincing. Firstly, the junior goalkeeper was sent out on loan by Celtic, only to then see Craig Gordon end up with a long term injury v Hibs in a freak on field incident with ex Celt Ambrose. The remaining goalkeeper was De Vries had injury problems, so by luck Bain was to win a loan move to Celtic by default. Incredible!

Ironically at the start of January 2018, Bain was going out on loan from Dundee to Hibs only for the freak circumstances at Celtic to change things; late negotiations led to the Hibs loan being cancelled and Bain put on the next train to Glasgow. He actually left Dundee under a cloud with his prior manager, ex-Rangers player Neil McCann. That actually warmed him to the Celtic support who had a great antipathy to Neil McCann for both him time as a Rangers player and his often partisan & ignorant match analysis when a Sky Sports pundit.

If that wasn’t drama enough for Bain, then his debut at Celtic was to be quite an entrance too.

He was to be thrown into the deep end, making his debut (soon after his arrival) in a match v TheRangers in place of the injured front two of Gordon & De Vries (both recently quite maligned). Many were concerned especially with an unconvincing defence in front, as Ajer was moved to right back and Boyata was just back from injury. Duly, a mistake by the Celtic defence led to an early goal conceded after just 2.5 minutes, but Bain wasn’t at fault and went onto play a fair role in a fabulous 3-2 victory with a few fine saves that made all positive for his future at Celtic. He was raw but had shown promise, and with the transition period for goalkeepers as he arrived, there was an added incentive to try to make the no.1 shirt his own over time.

Following the promise shown in those games on his loan move, Scott Bain was to sign permanently for 4 years in May 2018:

“I don’t think it could have gone any better. It’s funny, there’s a lot of little things that went my way to get to Celtic on loan and then to play the game against Rangers, which sent me on my way to this four-year-deal. It’s been great and I’ve loved every minute.”

He finally overtook Craig Gordon as the no.1 in around mid-season of 2018/19, and had an exceptional start with a long string of clean sheets in the first quarter of 2019. Against Airdrie (ne Clydebank) in the Scottish Cup he made five saves in five seconds in one cup game, which astounded everyone. A fine performance with some great saves v Valencia in the UEFA Cup, albeit in a 1-0 defeat in Feb 2019, seemed to cement his place in the side, especially as unlike Craig Gordon, Bain was a lot more comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Celtic were completing the incredible feat of the treble-treble and Scott Bain had played his part, growing as a player, and had come a long way. He was the goalkeeper in the Scottish Cup final v Hearts that sealed it all. He had a fine season in 2018/19 with many blank sheets in goals, and won caps for the national side too.

It all came unstuck early in season 2019/20. A disastrous match v FCR Cluj at home in a 4-3 defeat in the Champions League qualifiers, he was held culpable for certain goals and a shakey start to the season. However, there were new defenders in front of him and at this point there was little confidence in that unit. It wasn’t Scott Bain’s fault alone. Celtic were knocked out the Champions League and relegated to the Europa League, and the new Lennon regime had still much to learn. It was unfortunate for Scott Bain.

The big change came when ex-Celt Fraser Forster returned to Celtic on loan for a season. Fraser Forster’s time at Southampton had come unstuck but Fraser Forster was still an excellent keeper at his best, and this pushed Scott Bain back in line for the first team pick in goals to once again be second in line, but Celtic had confidence in him and signed him up for a further four year contract in October 2019.

When Fraser Forster returned back down south at the end of the season, there was a chance for Bain to regain the no.1 jersey, but disappointing performances in the pre-season tour in Summer 2020, suggested he wasn’t going to be able to make the full step up. Celtic brought in Vasilis Barkas and again Bain was pushed down the rankings. For Bain, the no.1 spot was deemed a step too far, but there was no denying his work rate and attitude but Celtic were aiming for a step up. He was still a frugal and worthwhile back-up to the no.1 keeper in the squad, regardless of whoever they were.

Celtic experienced a disastrous season in 2020/21 in the aim to achieve a record ten in a row, collapsing with little fight. The expensive signing of Barkas turned out to be a very poor fit whose confidence collapsed, not helped by a poor manager (Neil Lennon) and covid restricted environment making it difficult to assimilate for new players from abroad.

Consequently Scott Bain in time retook the number one jersey but he never convinced everyone despite all his efforts. He was playing behind a shambolically managed defence who as a whole repeatedly leaked goals from set pieces. If anything, his form continued to prove to many that he was a competent keeper but not consistently to the high demands that Celtic required.

Possibly his high point that season was saving a penalty v Lille in a 2-2 draw in the Europa League (Oct 2020), but that was scant consolation in a dire European campaign and the domestic campaigns were worse.

Bain showed a lighter side when asked if he felt, following a run across November and December 2020 that came when Barkas was dropped and ended with Hazard replacing him, his chance of playing again this season had gone.

“There’s that saying that if you hang around the barber’s shop long enough you are going to get a haircut so I was always hoping I’d get back in. Thankfully the chance has come.”

Ange Postecoglu era

Once Ange Postecoglu arrived as the new manager, a big surprise transfer in was former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was a superb keeper. That meant that Scott Bain was back again in the waiting queue, however he was still ahead of Barkas who was completely written off. Bain had played in the opening 2-1 league defeat to Hearts, which was a shock result in some ways as Hearts were newly promoted and Celtic were expected to get off to a decent start. If anything positive for Celtic, it shook things up for further changes although it was to work against Scott Bain.

He was to be mostly out the picture for the title winning season of 2021/22 but in fairness Joe Hart would be too strong competition for anyone. Then the subsequent signing of Ben Siegrist in June 2022 indicated that his opportunities with Celtic’s first team were coming to an end.

However he was given a surprise three year extension in 2023, so proved the management still had faith in him, albeit still behind Joe Hart, quite an achievement for a 31-year-old reserve keeper. Some were sceptical but believed it may have been more due to ensuring Celtic met some homegrown player quota for European competition, but that didn’t seem wholly convincing.

The next week he was played v Hibs in the penultimate league match of the season (a dead rubber match), and had a great game in a mostly reserve side before two big howlers from him let Hibs storm to a 4-2 victory, with wits stating he had made a mockery of his new contract!

Brendan Rodgers (2nd stint) era

[….]

Quotes

“I don’t think it could have gone any better. It’s funny, there’s a lot of little things that went my way to get to Celtic on loan and then to play the game against Rangers, which sent me on my way to this four-year-deal. It’s been great and I’ve loved every minute.”
Scott Bain on signing for Celtic (May 2018)

“Scott Bain was once my boot boy, now performing heroics on European stage. Unbelievable work Stevie Woods has done with him and a great goalkeeping department they have at Celtic.”
Jamie Langfield (@saintmirrenfc Goalkeeping Coach) after Valencia away performance (Feb 2019)

Bain showed a lighter side when asked if he felt, following a run across November and December in February 2021 that came when Barkas was dropped and ended with Hazard replacing him, his chance of playing again this season had gone:
“There’s that saying that if you hang around the barber’s shop long enough you are going to get a haircut so I was always hoping I’d get back in. Thankfully the chance has come.”

“Bainy! Every morning in the dressing room when I see @ScottBain_, he always looks very fashionable.”
Kyogo

[…]

Playing Career

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Rangers 2-3 Celtic: Scott Bain savours ‘unbelievable’ Celtic debut

Scott Bain was handed a baptism of fire on Sunday, making his Celtic debut in the Old Firm derby

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43365763

Scott Bain hailed his Celtic debut as the “biggest win” of his career after helping the Scottish champions clinch a pulsating Old Firm derby.The on-loan goalkeeper made his first appearance since 28 October as 10-man Celtic beat Rangers 3-2 at Ibrox.”It was the biggest game I ever played in and the biggest win I have ever had,” Bain, 26, said of the victory.

“The scenes at the end of the game were unbelievable, like nothing I have ever seen before.”Bain, a January loan signing from Dundee, was beaten by Josh Windass in the third minute gone as Rangers struck first.Tom Rogic equalised, before Daniel Candeias again nudged Rangers ahead, only for Moussa Dembele to level before the break.Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic was sent off for an elbow to the face of Alfredo Morelos, but the depleted visitors landed the crucial blow after 69 minutes, Odsonne Edouard curling home.Bain, at Celtic until the end of the season, made several crucial saves, most notably denying Alfredo Morelos from close range with the Colombian clear through on goal.The striker should have levelled the game in the dying minutes, but could only hit the post from inside the six-yard box, with the goal at his mercy, the ball rebounding into the arms of the Celtic goalkeeper.

Bain and his team-mates took the ecstatic acclaim of their fans at full-time – an experience the stopper says he will cherish.”The fans were superb and I just wanted to savour that after the game and really enjoy it,” Bain said of the celebrations in front of the away stand.”I don’t normally do that but today was special, the way we won the match, going behind twice, going a man down.”I will definitely look back at the end of my career on this and think that was an unbelievable debut to make, especially here at Ibrox.”Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers revealed Bain was only told he would start on the morning of the match, when fellow goalkeeper Dorus de Vries was ruled out injured.

“I thought I handled it well,” Bain said. “I woke to a text at 8am this morning. I knew Dorus might be struggling so I had plenty of time to get myself right and focused on the game.”I was glad that I could contribute to the win.”

Scott Bain: From Dundee outcast to Celtic and Scotland No.1

Remaining Time -0:51
Andrew Smith
Published: 22:30 Saturday 16 March 2019
Updated: 08:53 Sunday 17 March 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/scott-bain-from-dundee-outcast-to-celtic-and-scotland-no-1-1-4890647

When Scott Bain steps on to the Dens Park pitch this lunchtime for his first competitive game at the ground since his acrimonious parting of the ways with Dundee, the 27-year-old would be entitled to ruminate on the wacky world of football.

Following his last appearance on Tayside on 28 October, 2017 Bain became Public Enemy No.1 for his then manager Neil McCann following a spat between the pair over a 3-1 loss to Hamilton Accies that led to his banishment from the Dundee senior set-up. Just 17 months on, Bain is now No.1 for both a treble-chasing Celtic and his nation, with Scotland manager Alex McLeish presenting him as the anointed one to fill the vacancy created by Allan McGregor’s international retirement last week,

It is debatable whether there has been such a swift upturn in fortunes in the career of a Scottish footballer in recent times. Bain, though, refuses to see it as such, which speaks of the equilibrium that has allowed him to remain at ease with his meteoric rise.

He never felt his career had gone to the dogs when McCann barked at him that he was finished at a club to which he gave four good years.

“It was such a short time,” Bain says. “I always felt that come the January window I would get a move somewhere and go on from there. You don’t expect it to go as well as it has and to come to Celtic and be playing at this moment. You can never say you expected this but I expected to get out and play because I knew I had the qualities and ability that a team would want to take.”

Bain thought he had got out to play when Neil Lennon took him to Hibernian on loan in January 2018, only for Brendan Rodgers to then sign him for Celtic on the final day of that window without the keeper having played for the Easter Road side. It was a further two months – and a dramatic 3-2 derby win at Ibrox – before he would make his Celtic debut following an injury to established No.1 Craig Gordon. Now, he is considered by McLeish as the man to form Scotland’s defensive bedrock for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign that will begin with a double-header comprising away games against Kazakhstan on Thursday and San Marino three days later.

Bain is reluctant to take for granted that, with Sunderland’s Jon McLaughlin and Millwall’s Jordan Archer also in the squad, he will be given the nod for the two games and so add to the cap he earned against Mexico in Scotland’s summer tour of the Americas last June.

“It’ll ultimately be down to the manager,” he said. “It is an opportunity for the three of us and we will all be going in there champing at the bit to be the No.1 and play. Since I have come to Celtic, I have just seen everything as opportunities to play. This is another opportunity that I hope I can take if I am called upon.”

Despite the opportunity presented to him, Bain says he was left disappointed by McGregor’s decision to step away from international football.

“It’s a massive blow for the country because he’s a top goalkeeper who’s been a great servant for the nation. He’ll be a big miss,” said Bain, who was first called into a Scotland squad by Gordon Strachan as the result of McGregor withdrawing through injury before the country was scheduled to play a friendly with Qatar and a Euro 2016 encounter away to Republic of Ireland in June 2015.

“Every time I was away I was impressed with how good he was – his speed across the goal and determination not to lose goals. His shot-stopping ability was second to none, really. It was great to work and push yourself to be at that level as well.”

Bain has been pushed by huge goalkeeping presences at both country and club level. He played second fiddle to Gordon at Celtic until Rodgers elected to install Bain as first pick only at the start of this year. The Dalkeith-born keeper is at pains to stress this switch has not caused animosity between the pair.

“We always think about each other. We always talk about games and nothing really changes whoever plays. We get on the same way and I still ask him for advice on situations in games. If I think there is something I should have done better or that I should have been in a different position, I will always ask him. He is always honest and it is a good relationship we have.

“It is the same talking about Greegsy [McGregor]. When you work with these players and goalkeepers that are at this standard, you need to raise your game just to be in the same line as them. I think it has put me in a place where I need to be at my very best every day and I am really enjoying working with Craigy and Woodsy [Celtic and Scotland goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods] and trying to be at that standard all the time.”

Bain’s enthusiasm for the game means he treats every game he plays with the same relish, which appears to translate into impressively nerveless displays. There is no sense that sentiment will come into play on his return to Dens Park for today’s game – which will be immediately followed by Bain and fellow club internationalists James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and Oliver Burke flying out with the Scotland squad to Kazakhstan.

“There’s still a few boys that were there when I was there,” Bain said. “Most of the boys I played with have moved on to different clubs. I’m really just treating it as any other game and will try and go up there and do what I’ve been doing for the club in recent games.

“I have enjoyed every game that I have played for this club and I think that has been the key for me, really. I am at a stage now where I am just trying to improve and I am not focused on anyone else.

“It is just a case of seeing how good I can be. How much can I improve and where can I improve? It has been really positive for me to be in that mindset. In terms of big games, I have always gone in thinking that this could be my last big game to play in and that I have to enjoy the occasion. I made my [Celtic] debut at Ibrox and really enjoyed the [Betfred] cup final against Aberdeen [in December]. Since coming in, every game has been a massive game for us and will continue to be until the end of the season.”

Another quirk of the season has been Bain finding himself being overseen by Lennon at Celtic following the departure of Rodgers to Leicester City. It was Lennon, then Hibs manager, who gave him the escape route from Dundee with a loan move to Easter Road that ended up seeing the pair actively work together there for little more than a week.

“When he [Lennon] got the [Celtic] job we had a meeting and he just said, ‘we got there eventually’,” Bain explains.

It could be a tagline for his circuitous route to the summit of his sport.

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Celtic star set for surprise 3-year-deal as EPL duo target highly-rated defender

Celtic are set to hand goalkeeper Scott Bain a new three-year-deal despite not having featured this season.
By Chris Andrews
Published 19th May 2023, 07:36 BST
Updated 19th May 2023, 07:36 BST
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-star-set-for-surprise-3-year-deal-as-epl-duo-target-highly-rated-defender-4148920

The 31-year-old will extend his stay at the Scottish champions beyond 2024 when his current deal expires, according to the Daily Mail. He has proven to be a popular squad member and due to injury issues with Benjamin Siegrist he has been back-up to Joe Hart for a large chunk of the season.

Since joining on loan in January 2018 in an unusual three-way deal which involved Hibs and Dundee and Scott Allan and Simon Murray, Bain has since gone on to sign permanently and has made 74 appearances for the club, albeit none this season. He has also gone on to make his Scotland debut and win a number of trophies during his time at Celtic Park. With his new deal he will continue to compete to be No.2 while putting pressure on Joe Hart, Ange Postecoglou’s No.1 who was included in PFA Scotland’s Premiership team of the year.

Meanwhile, Celtic youngster Mitchel Frame is understood to be attracting interest from Premier League clubs. The Daily Record reports Brighton and Crystal Palace are keen on the 17-year-old left-back. He is currently on international duty with Scotland Under-17s at the European Championships where he started the country’s opener, a 3-1 defeat to France. He will be expected to feature against Portugal when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon in Hungary.

Frame, who is under contract until 2025, was reportedly scouted during the France match, a game where he set up Rory Wilson for Scotland’s goal.

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