Quality Time | Stuart Armstrong, presented by GE Appliances

In this edition of 'Quality Time' presented by GE Appliances, Vancouver Whitecaps FC's latest signing Stuart Armstrong shares some stories on his time with Dundee United FC and Celtic FC and his initial thoughts on MLS.

"Honestly, at this point in my career, I was looking for a new experience and a new challenge. Vancouver is an amazing city, and it felt right. I'm really excited to be here and to be playing football again."

Why did you choose to move to Vancouver?

Honestly, at this point in my career, I was looking for a new experience and a new challenge. Vancouver is an amazing city, and it felt right. I'm really excited to be here and to be playing football again.

Did you follow MLS much before hearing of Vancouver’s interest in you? What do you know about the league?

I didn’t follow the league too closely, though I would watch highlights now and then, especially of players I know who are currently in MLS, like Johnny Russell at Kansas and Erik Sviatchenko at Houston. I’d watch their highlights more to keep up with them than with the teams themselves. I didn’t know much about MLS, except that it’s a growing league with increasing investment, modern facilities, and new stadiums. I need to learn about the playoff system since it’s different from what we’re used to, but I’m excited to learn more.

What is your relationship with Ryan Gauld like?

I haven’t seen him properly in a long time. I remember him from when he was very young at Dundee United. I’m looking forward to seeing how he’s changed as a person. He’s now the club captain, and the last time I saw him, he was 16 or 17 years old. I’ve seen him since then, but I haven’t worked with him day to day since he was a kid, so I’m excited to catch up with him and see how he is now.

How was your time at Dundee United FC?

It was amazing. As a young player coming through the system, the excitement of playing for the first team and being involved in professional football was unreal. I would pinch myself to check that I was still a professional football player. It was amazing. Then reality hits, and you have to fight for your spot on the roster with a lot of pressure in football. But we had great times there. The year I played with Gauld, we had an incredible team. We should have won the Scottish Cup final, and we played exciting, free-flowing football with some amazing guys in the changing room. I have many great memories from my time there.

You won the domestic treble in back-to-back seasons with Celtic. What was it like playing on that team with those players and being consistently successful for such a long period?

Celtic is a very tough place to be, especially when things aren’t going well. When I first moved there, I had a rough start, but then things really started to click. Winning the invincible treble was one of the highlights of my career—it was amazing. We qualified for the Champions League and faced the pressure of winning every single week. To win two trebles in a row was incredible, and then I left, and I think they won another treble. It’s an incredible club with incredible fans. The feeling you get playing at the stadium is top-notch.

Do you have a favourite moment in your career so far?

There are a few special moments. You never forget your first game, winning the treble the first time, and some amazing experiences in the Premier League beating the big teams. Scoring for Scotland is definitely up there.

What is your style of play?

I like connecting with other players and playing fast-moving football, like doing little one-twos. I enjoy being creative and think of myself as a creative player. I prefer not having a set structure in certain areas of the field, giving me the freedom to see what’s in front of me and find solutions.

How much pride do you feel in representing Scotland for such a long time and on some of the world’s biggest stages, such as the EUROs?

It’s really rewarding. Playing for your country is different from playing for your club; there’s a different expectation, and you’re representing the whole country. Doing well and seeing how happy it makes everyone is an incredible feeling. Making it to two EUROs and seeing how the squad has developed under the manager is amazing. The atmosphere is like a club environment, and it’s such a great time. It’s laid-back and fun. I’m sure Gauld will tell you the same when he returns. I feel very fortunate to have been part of it for so long.

What’s your favourite hobby outside of soccer?

Golf.

What’s your favourite movie?

The Grand Budapest Hotel.

What type of music do you listen to?

It’s tough to say. I’d say rap, but more R&B than traditional rap. If I had to sing a song for karaoke right now, I’d switch to acoustic and probably sing “Shut Up and Dance with Me.”