Greg Taylor

Biography

Greg John Taylor is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Greek Superleague club PAOK and the Scotland national team. He was in the Rangers youth system but was released and then signed for Kilmarnock, where he made his senior debut. After three seasons in the Kilmarnock first team, Taylor was sold to Celtic in September 2019. After playing regularly for the Scotland under-21 team, Taylor made his full international debut for Scotland in June 2019. In March 2017, Taylor played in his first match for the Scotland under-21 side in a friendly against Estonia. Selected for the Scotland under-20 squad in the 2017 Toulon Tournament. In the second match, Taylor scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Brazil U20, which was the nations first ever win against Brazil at any level. The team went on to claim the bronze medal. It was the nations first ever medal at the competition. Taylor was also the only Scottish player named in the 'team of the tournament', as well as being named 4th best player. Selected for the U21 squad in the 2018 Toulon Tournament, the team lost to Turkey under-21s in a penalty-out and finished fourth. Taylor was named in the full Scotland squad for UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying fixtures in June 2019; he remained on the bench in the home game against Cyprus at Hampden Park. After captain Andy Robertson picked up an injury, Taylor debuted at left-back against the world's top-ranked team, Belgium on 11 June, and played the full match in Brussels as Scotland lost 3–0. Manager Steve Clarke hailed Taylor's debut as "excellent". He then played in the next two games, on 16 and 19 November, winning against Kazakhstan and Cyprus. His performances were praised especially for his link up play with left sided Celtic teammate, James Forrest. Taylor was born in Greenock and raised in nearby Gourock, attending Clydeview Academy. His younger brother Ally plays for Alloa Athletic, and made his first team debut in February 2020 while Greg was playing for their opponents Celtic.