David Robert Mackay (born 2 May 1981) is a Scottish former professional football player, who was recently the assistant manager of Dunfermline Athletic.
[7] After gaining loan experience, Mackay returned to Dundee to get a first team recall and made his debut for the Dens, coming on as the 8th-minute substitute for Alessandro Romano, in a 1–0 win against Kilmarnock on 23 September 2001.
Reflecting on his 2003–04 season, Mackay knew that he would be expecting to increase his first team chances at Dundee following the Scottish Cup final.
[25] MacKay played a role when he set up a goal for Tommy Mooney, in a 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town on 30 October 2004.
[37] A month later on 5 February 2007, he scored the club's only goal of the game, in a 4–1 loss against Celtic in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
The first two months to the 2007–08 season saw Mackay scoring five times, coming against Ayr United (twice), Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton and Clyde.
[48] At the end of the 2007–08 season, with the club finishing seventh place in the league, he went on to make forty–one appearances and scoring ten times in all competitions.
Shortly after the 2008–09 season was concluded, Mackay was linked a move away from Livingston, as he was subjected to a bid, alongside Murray Davidson, from Scottish clubs like Dundee and Motherwell.
[64] He made his debut for the club, coming on as a 71st minute substitute, in a 5–0 win over Stenhousemuir the first round of the Scottish League Cup.
[65] Fifteen days later on 15 August 2009, Mackay made his league debut for St Johnstone, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Motherwell.
[74] However in the opening game of the season against Hearts, he started the match despite not fit, due to a back injury and played 54 minutes before being substituted.
[78] It wasn't until on 10 December 2010 when Mackay made his return from injury and set up the first goal of the game, in a 2–1 win over St Mirren.
[89] However, in the fifth round of Scottish Cup against Hearts, he was sent-off for the first time in his professional career, for a second bookable offence, in a 1–1 draw.
[90] After the match, MacKay expressed his surprised to have a red card or the first time in his professional career, though he was proud of his record up until his sending off.
[94] Reflecting on qualifying for Europe, Mackay reacted with mixed emotions, due to his sympathy for his former teammate James McPake, who played for Hibernian in the Scottish Cup, and his fears of not playing in Europe if FIFA barred Scottish clubs, citing ongoing situation at Rangers.
[95] At the start of the 2012–13 season, Mackay was promoted as St Johnstone's captain following the departure of Jody Morris, with his vice-captain role goes to Davidson.
[112] At the start of the 2013–14 season, Mackay led St Johnstone to a victory against Rosenborg in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round first leg.
[114] After the match, Mackay told BBC Scotland about how proud he was of helping St Johnstone going through in the UEFA Europa League.
[118] Mackay helped St Johnstone kept three consecutive clean sheets in the first three league matches of the season and was on a scoresheet, in a 4–0 win over Ross County on 17 August 2013.
[125] After missing one match due to rest, he returned to the starting line–up as captain and led the club beat Dundee United 2–0 to win the Scottish Cup final for the first time ever.
[126][127] After the match, Mackay said winning the Scottish Cup and the medal for the final was worth the wait for him, as he had been desperate to lift the trophy.
[132] In the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round second leg against Spartak Trnava, Mackay scored a late consolation, in a 2–1 loss.
[134] However, in the return leg, MacKay was unable to help St Johnstone overturn the deficit, resulting in their elimination from the UEFA Europa League.
[137] Shortly after, his appeal was overturned by the Scottish Football Association and Boerrigter, in turn, was charged and missed two matches, prompting him to comment on the red card, stating that he had been innocent the whole time.
[153] After serving a one match suspension, Mackay made his return to the starting line–up as captain and led St Johnstone beat Kilmarnock 2–1 on 7 November 2015.
[161] Upon retirement, he was met with praise, with his teammate Steven Anderson describe him as the best player who has never been capped in Scotland,[162] while his former Manager McInnes referred Mackay as his perfect signing in his managerial career.
[166] After a spell coaching St. Johnstone U20s, Mackay was appointed manager of Scottish League Two side Stirling Albion in November 2016.
[169] He led Stirling Albion go on an eight match unbeaten streak between 11 February 2017 and 25 March 2017, which helped the club ease relegation fears.
[178] After being sacked by the club, Mackay revealed that he just completed UEFA Pro License and hasn't ruled out returning to management.
[187] On the same day that Dundee confirmed his release, Mackay rejoined James McPake and was named assistant manager of Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic.