Mark Kerr (footballer)

Scottish footballer

In July 2003, he moved to Dundee United on a Bosman transfer. Their manager Ian McCall had been keeping tabs on the Scotland Under 21 player since he himself left Falkirk. Kerr played in the majority of matches in every season, but in the 2008 Scottish League Cup Final, with his team 1–0 ahead in the closing minutes of normal time, he was responsible for a careless backpass pounced upon by Kris Boyd who equalised for Rangers; the game moved into extra time and a penalty shoot out, which United lost. Kerr chose to leave when his contract expired at the end of June 2008.

In July 2008, it was reported that Kerr was on the verge of a move to Dundee United's New Firm rivals Aberdeen, and he subsequently moved to Pittodrie on a Bosman transfer, taking over the number 8 shirt vacated by Barry Nicholson. Kerr was made Aberdeen club captain from the start of season 2009–10. He scored once for the club, his goal coming in a 2–1 loss at home to Kilmarnock on 5 May 2010.

Kerr agreed to join Greek side Asteras Tripolis; the move was announced on 6 June 2010. Asteras finished 13th in the 2010–11 Superleague Greece. He made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Kilmarnock on 7 February 2012. However, Dunfermline were relegated at the end of the season and Kerr left the club despite manager being offered a new contract by Jim Jefferies

After trial spells with Hibernian and Carlisle United, Kerr signed for Dundee, Dundee United's city rival. However, the move collapsed despite Kerr having a medical; he was 'frustrated' with the inability to complete the deal, and after joining Dundee, said he didn't know why his move to St Johnstone collapsed. On 13 July 2013, he scored a goal from 35 yards in a pre season friendly against Dumbarton at the Bet Butler Stadium in a 4–3 win. He signed a short term deal but was released on 30 January 2014.

Kerr signed for Queen of the South on 7 February 2014, having been released by Partick Thistle. On 30 December 2014, he left the Dumfries club by mutual consent.

Kerr signed for Falkirk for a second spell on 3 January 2015. Although agreeing a new one year contract in May 2017, he was released by the club in January 2018 after the side's poor results in the first half of the 2017–18 season. One of his teammates during his return spell was Lee Miller, with whom he had also played in his early years with the club (2000–03), as well as at Dundee United (2005–06) and Aberdeen (2008–10).

Shortly after leaving Falkirk, Kerr signed for Scottish League One club Ayr United linking up with former manager Ian McCall for the third time. At the end of the season Kerr celebrated promotion with Ayr as league champions. Shortly afterwards, he signed a new contract for another season. Kerr was appointed player/manager of Ayr in October 2019. After a run of one league win in ten games and with Ayr sitting second bottom of the Championship, Kerr left Ayr by mutual consent on 28 February 2021.

Having played once for the Under 21s Kerr made an appearance for the Scotland B team in December 2005, coming on as a substitute in the Future Cup competition, coincidentally also against Poland. Lee Miller again played alongside him for the B side.

Kerr's name became known around the world to fans of the Championship Manager video game series in the early 2000s, after some of its versions (produced around the time of his breakthrough at Falkirk) programmed his 'potential abilities' generously, whereby he would develop into one of the world's top players. In an interview for a book based around the series, Kerr stated that he rarely played the games, but had been approached on several occasions by people wishing to share stories of how 'he' helped their team to glory; in the real world, his integration into the unfamiliar environment of Greek football was made easier by his elevated profile in the virtual universe, as some of his new teammates recognised his name from the game.