The Scottish FA has confirmed the appointment of Graeme Smith as the new Goalkeeping Performance and Coach Education Manager.
He joins from Rangers, having held the role of Head of Academy Goalkeeping for the past five years.
Smith, who represented the likes of Kilmarnock, Rangers, St Johnstone and Peterhead, called time on a near two-decade playing career in 2018 to take up the academy role at the Rangers Training Centre.
During his time at Rangers, Smith worked closely in the development of several promising up and coming young goalkeepers, including Robby McCrorie, Jay Hogarth and Lewis Budinauckas.
His new role will see him split his time between Scotland's men's and women's youth international squads, with a particular focus on the Men's Under-21 side, where he will work as Goalkeeping Coach. In addition, Smith will play a major role in the Scottish FA's Coach Education department, while he will also help develop goalkeepers in the Scottish FA JD Performance Schools and work with clubs within the Club Academy Scotland framework.
Smith began his career at Kilmarnock and remained at Rugby Park until 2007 when he joined Rangers. He would spend two seasons at the Ibrox club before moving on to St Johnstone and then St Mirren.
He then joined Peterhead in 2012, spending five seasons at Balmoor and playing his part in the club's promotion to League One in 2014 before finishing his career at Raith Rovers.
Following Paul Mathers' departure to Dundee United in the summer, Smith joined Scot Gemmill's coaching staff on a temporary basis for Scotland Men's Under-21s' UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying campaign. Scotland currently sit second place in Group B and enjoyed a memorable 2-0 victory over Belgium in November.
The experienced coach has also worked with a number of Scotland youth national teams in the past and has delivered on different awards with the Coach Education department.
Following his departure from Rangers, he now joins the Scottish FA on a permanent basis.
Graeme Smith, Scottish FA Goalkeeping Performance and Coach Education Manager: "I thoroughly enjoyed going away with the Scotland Under-21s in September, October and November and I am excited about joining the Scottish FA on a permanent basis. I got to know Scot Gemmill and the staff and see how things worked. The calibre of player was very high and we had good results when we were away as well which helps.
"It's a bit different to club football but it feels like a natural progression in my career in terms of where I want to go. I have a great deal of experience in academy football and I wanted to challenge myself with something new and this fitted the bill.
"In my work with the Scotland youth squads, I will attempt to secure experienced goalkeeping coaches that are of the highest possible standards, to give the goalkeepers the best chance to progress through the pathway towards the A squad, while I'll also work in the Coach Education department to help progress the Scottish coaches that we have and help upskill them.
"I was quite fortunate in my last role at Rangers as we helped provide a pathway to Robby McCrorie be exposed to first-team football. This role is going to be similar in terms of working with the clubs, identifying potential goalkeepers we see coming through the system and helping to steer them on their journeys to help them maximise their chances."
Greig Paterson, Scottish FA Head of Coach Education and Development: "Graeme is someone we know very well at the Scottish FA Coach Education Department, with his involvement in several different courses and initiatives, as well as his work with the U21s, over the past few years.
"We look forward to having Graeme's ability and experience with us in a full-time capacity, and I know he is keen to build on the established goalkeeping coach education pathway that already exists and push our provision and standards further still.
"Graeme will also work closely with the Scottish FA Performance Department, to ensure the best opportunities for the future of Scotland's young goalkeepers, as the departments collaborate to ensure more efficient ways of working and an aligned approach to the development of our young players and aspiring coaches."