Grounding at St Mirren shaped my Villa captaincy - McGinn
Scotland midfielder John McGinn says his grounding at St Mirren has enormously helped him as Aston Villa captain. McGinn came through the academy in Paisley before breaking into the first team, where he won the League Cup in the 2012-13 season and made almost 100 appearances. Three years at Hibs followed before a move to Villa in 2018, establishing himself as a crucial player in the Premier…
John McGinn, the Scotland midfielder, has attributed his success as Aston Villa captain to his time spent at St Mirren. The academy midfielder broke into the first team at St Mirren, where he won the League Cup in the 2012-13 season and made nearly 100 appearances. After three years at Hibernian, McGinn moved to Villa in 2018, where he has become a key player in the Premier League.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, McGinn, now 31, recalled how St Mirren was a great place to learn and develop his captaincy skills. The club was disciplined and grounded, providing him with valuable lessons that still benefit him today. He described the experience as the best apprenticeship he had, emphasizing that the club kept his feet firmly on the ground.
McGinn also highlighted the role of Tommy Craig, who gave him a chance in the professional ranks when few managers would have believed in him. Reflecting on his early career, McGinn shared a story of breaking through against Celtic's Victor Wanyama in a memorable 5th start at Hampden. That game taught him he was ready to face top players.
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