£12 million On paper, the Aston Villa signing was ideal for the EFL, yet it was a complete failure: Look at
FLW takes a look back at the career of former striker Ross McCormack of Aston Villa.
Although Ross McCormack’s career in the EFL has been amazing, it did not involve the disastrous transfer from Fulham to Aston Villa in 2016.
The striker gained notoriety in the north after playing for Motherwell and Rangers before being signed by Cardiff City in 2008, where he played for two seasons in South Wales.
In just over two seasons with the Bluebirds, McCormack scored 30 goals and grabbed five assists, leading to a move to Elland Road.
The Scot’s career at Leeds United began poorly, but he would go on to play more games there than at any other team.
When he concluded the 2013–14 season with 29 goals for the Whites in all competitions and finished second to Danny Ings for Championship Player of the Year, there was no finer season.
He won every Player of the Year award for the team that season and was included in the Championship PFA Team of the Year.
Before joining Fulham in 2014 at a reported £11 million, he played 157 games for the West Yorkshire team, tallying 58 goals and 31 assists.
After Leeds’ recent relegation from the Premier League, he had proven to be a good goal scorer for a mid-table team, frequently keeping the team out of danger on his own.
It was certain that he would be a success for the Cottagers.
In 100 games, McCormack scored 42 goals and added 22 assists, demonstrating his incredible form in West London.
Despite his goals, they had trouble in the league, primarily because of problems on the other end of the field.
He was voted Player of the Season by the majority of Fulham supporters, and he kept the title the next season, garnering almost three-quarters of the vote.
He also finished second in the league and was named to the Championship PFA Team of the Year.
Roberto di Matteo’s Aston Villa, a recently relegated Premier League team, might be the target of yet another transfer.
After agreeing to a four-year contract reportedly for £12 million, he got off to a decent start, scoring in the team’s opening match of the season—a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town.
On January 21, 2017, however, McCormack’s first-team status was withdrawn by Villa manager Steve Bruce due to his “continuous missing of training.”
He further stated that McCormack “is nowhere near fit enough to play and be involved.”
After just twelve days, McCormack joined fellow Championship team Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season, which turned out to be the beginning of the end for him.
Early in the 2017–18 season, McCormack made just two EFL Cup substitute appearances after returning from his loan in the summer.
He signed a loan deal with Melbourne City of the A-League in September, valid through January 2018.
Although he resumed his goal-scoring ways in Australia, he lacked self-control and frequently showed up late for training with his new team.
McCormack’s disagreements with Bruce kept him off the team even after he returned to Villa.
In May 2018, despite him not playing a league game for Villa that season, it was disclosed by Sky Sports that his £2.3 million annual contract would have a bonus of approximately £1 million added if Villa got promoted. This only served to infuriate the supporters of Villa.
The next season would see them promoted, and McCormack’s chances of being included again in their plans were no closer.
Before being released in 2020, he had two very unsuccessful loans at Motherwell, his former club, and the Central Coast Mariners.
Despite making only 24 appearances, he left Villa having contributed three goals and an assist.
McCormack was a ghost of the forward he once was, one of the division’s most formidable and feared players.
