 Scott Wootton playing for theWellington Phoenix in 2024. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Scott James Wootton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1991-09-12)12 September 1991 (age 34) | ||
| Place of birth | Birkenhead, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Perth Glory | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2007 | Liverpool | ||
| 2007–2010 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | →Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | →Peterborough United (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2012 | →Nottingham Forest (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2013 | →Peterborough United (loan) | 2 | (1) |
| 2013–2016 | Leeds United | 66 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | →Rotherham United (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Milton Keynes Dons | 39 | (1) |
| 2018–2021 | Plymouth Argyle | 69 | (1) |
| 2021 | →Wigan Athletic (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Morecambe | 10 | (1) |
| 2022–2025 | Wellington Phoenix | 94 | (3) |
| 2025– | Perth Glory | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007 | England U17 | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 October 2025. | |||
Scott James Wootton (/ˈwʊtən/WUUT-ən;[3] born 12 September 1991) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as adefender forPerth Glory in theA-League.
Wootton also gained three caps for the EnglandU17 national team.
Born inBirkenhead,Wirral, Wootton began his career withTranmere Rovers before joiningLiverpool at the age of 13. After making his under-18s debut at the age of 14, he left Liverpool forManchester United two years later. After captaining the academy team in 2009–10, he was promoted to the reserves for the 2010–11 campaign, where he became a regular player in the early part of the season.
On 30 September 2010, he joinedTranmere Rovers on a month's loan.[4]
He made his debut on 2 October 2010, scoring a late equalising goal in the 1–1 draw withBrighton.[5] He went on to make five appearances for the club while on his loan spell. He re-joined the club on 25 November on a second loan spell.[6] His first confirmed league goal came on his second debut for Rovers on 11 December against Leyton Orient.[7]
Wootton made his Manchester United senior debut in Gary Neville's testimonial game in May 2011. He came on to replace Neville in the 85th minute of the match.[8] On 1 July 2011, Wootton joined teammateRyan Tunnicliffe atPeterborough United, with a loan contract confirmed later in the month.[9]
Wootton made his Peterborough United debut on 20 August 2011 in a 7–1 win overIpswich Town.[10] On 23 January 2012, he returned to Manchester United after having his loan spell terminated.[11]
Wootton completed a loan switch toChampionship sideNottingham Forest on the 31 January 2012 deadline day, where he remained on loan until the end of the season.[12]
Wearing the number 31 shirt, Wootton made his competitive, first-team debut for Manchester United on 26 September 2012, in a 2–1 win againstNewcastle United in theLeague Cup atOld Trafford.[13] On 2 October he made hisUEFA Champions League debut, coming on as a second-half substitute forJonny Evans in a 2–1 win againstCFR Cluj.[14] On 31 October 2012, Wootton started for Manchester United in a 5–4 loss againstChelsea, with Wootton conceding a penalty in injury time which was converted by Chelsea wingerEden Hazard to send the tie into extra time.[15]
On 9 January 2013, Wootton joined Peterborough United on loan until the end of the season alongside his Manchester United teammateDavide Petrucci.[16] Wootton scored on his debut on 12 January, in a 2–1 defeat toNottingham Forest.[17] However, his loan spell was cut short when he picked up a hamstring injury that ruled him out for a number of weeks, forcing a return to his parent club.[18]
On 20 August 2013, Wootton joined Championship clubLeeds United on a three-year contract.[19][20] Wootton cost Leeds £1 million.[21] Wootton was allocated the number 22 shirt for the 2013–14 season. Upon signing for Leeds Wootton revealed that it 'wasn't a difficult decision to join a club the size of Leeds'.[22] On 27 August 2013, Wootton made his Leeds United debut in the League Cup, scoring in 3–1 victory overDoncaster Rovers.[23][24] Wootton made his league debut againstQueens Park Rangers on 31 August, replacingTom Lees.
Despite the summer sale ofTom Lees, Wootton found himself dropping down the pecking order after the summer signings ofGiuseppe Bellusci,Liam Cooper andDario Del Fabro, Wootton found himself as fifth-choice centre-back (also behind captainJason Pearce), on 27 November 2014 Wootton joinedRotherham United on loan until 10 January 2015.[25] After an impressive run of form for Rotherham United, a permanent transfer was blocked at the last minute on 15 January 2015 by Leeds ownerMassimo Cellino. Wootton subsequently returned to Leeds from his successful loan spell.[26] Wootton came immediately back into the Leeds starting line-up againstBirmingham City on 17 January.
During 2015, Wootton became Leeds regular right-back in a 4–2–3–1 formation, withSam Byram playing in a right wing role. On 23 February, Wootton signed a new one-year contract extension to his original deal.[27]
On 31 July 2015, Wootton was given the number 4 shirt for the 2015–16 season.[28] On 12 August 2015, Wootton started in a new role underUwe Rösler as adefensive midfielder againstDoncaster Rovers in the League Cup; Leeds lost 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regulation time, with Wootton giving away a penalty in the first half.[29]
On 20 February 2016, Wootton scored a memorable own goal in a 1–0 defeat against Premier League sideWatford in the FA Cup, to send Watford through to the quarter-finals of the Competition.[30] Wootton played his last game for Leeds in the final game of the 2015–16 season on 7 May 2016 againstPreston North End in a 1–1 draw.[31]
On 10 May 2016,Yorkshire Evening Post revealed that Wootton was set to be released by the club, amid confusion over a contract extension announced on 23 February 2015, believed to be until 2017, that paperwork was never actually finalised.[32]
On 5 August 2016, Wootton joinedLeague One clubMilton Keynes Dons on a two-year deal.[33] Wootton made his debut for the club on 9 August 2016 in his more natural position of centre back, captaining a young Dons' side in a 2–3EFL Cup first round away win againstLeague Two teamNewport County.[34]
On 20 August 2016, Wootton started his first league game for the club and scored a 95th-minute winner with a header in a 0–1 away win toRochdale.[35]
On 30 August 2016, during anEFL Trophy group stage tie againstBarnet, Wootton suffered a rupturedanterior cruciate ligament (ACL). On 1 September 2016, Milton Keynes Dons announced that due to his injury it was anticipated that Wootton would be sidelined for up to nine months.[36]
He made his first team return againstWigan Athletic on 5 August 2017, the first day of the following league season; however, he was sent off as they lost 1–0.[37]
On 27 June 2018, following his release from Milton Keynes Dons, Wootton signed for League One clubPlymouth Argyle effective from 1 July 2018.[38] Following a troubled first season through injuries and the Pilgrims getting relegated from League One, the19–20 season in League Two proved something of a redemptive season for Wootton. Given the no.5 shirt, Wootton went on to play the majority of Argyle's games as the right-sidedcentre half in a3–5–2 formation.[39][40] He scored his first goal for the club on 7 September 2019 againstOldham Athletic in their 2–2 draw at Home Park.[41]
Argyle were promoted, finishing third inLeague Two onPPG. Wootton was offered a new contract at Argyle, and signed it on 25 June 2020.[42]
On 1 February 2021, Wootton joined League One sideWigan Athletic on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[43] He scored his first goal for Wigan, a last minute winner, in a 2–1 win atBristol Rovers on 23 February 2021.[44]
Wootton was released by the Pilgrims at the end of the 2020–21 season.[45]
On 10 August 2021, Wootton joined League One sideMorecambe on a one-year deal.[46] On 7 January 2022, Wootton had his contract with the club terminated by the request of Wootton and his agent.[47]
On 7 January 2022, following his release from Morecambe, Wootton agreed to joinA-League sideWellington Phoenix for the remainder of their season.[48] On 16 February 2022, Wootton scored his first goal for the Phoenix in a 3–0 victory againstBrisbane Roar.[49] The Phoenix renewed his contract for three more seasons on 24 March 2022.[50]
In May 2025 he moved to Australia, joiningPerth Glory on a two year contract.[51]He made his debut against former club Wellington Phoenix in the Australia Cup 2025 Round of 32.[52]
Wootton appeared three times for theEngland U17 team in the 2007 Nordic Championships.[53][54]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League Cup | Other[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2010–11 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 2010–11 | League One | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2011–12 | Championship | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| Nottingham Forest (loan) | 2011–12 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2012–13 | Championship | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | |
| Leeds United | 2013–14 | Championship | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 23 | 1 | |
| 2014–15 | Championship | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Championship | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 66 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 74 | 1 | |||
| Rotherham United (loan) | 2014–15 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2016–17 | League One | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | League One | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Total | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | 2018–19 | League One | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | League Two | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
| 2020–21 | League One | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| Total | 54 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 84 | 1 | ||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2020–21 | League One | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Morecambe | 2021–22 | League One | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | A-League Men | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | A-League Men | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | A-League Men | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| Total | 94 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 3 | ||
| Perth Glory | 2025–26 | A-League Men | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 316 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 364 | 10 | ||
