Former Celtic and Hibs midfielder Scott Allan has officially announced his retirement from playing, bringing an end to a career that spanned over 15 years and saw him turn out for a host of clubs across Scotland and England.

The 33-year-old, who was most recently with Kelty Hearts in a player-coach capacity, will now move into full-time coaching after being appointed to the backroom staff at East Kilbride.

East Kilbride Football Club are delighted to welcome Scott Allan who joins as First Team Coach.

Allan joins having enjoyed a playing career at the highest level in the country and we are delighted to bring his experience into the setup. pic.twitter.com/niOSxI0TuQ

— East Kilbride FC (@officialEKFC) July 9, 2025

He joins up with Simon Ferry and manager Mick Kennedy as part of the League Two side’s first-team coaching team.

Allan’s playing journey began at Dundee United before he earned a move to West Bromwich Albion. Spells followed at Portsmouth, Rotherham, and MK Dons, but it was in Scotland where he made his name. His standout season at Hibernian in 2014-15 earned him a move to Celtic, though his time at Parkhead proved frustrating, with limited opportunities to make an impact.

As i step away from playing the game i love , I want to take a moment to reflect on my journey. From the time I was a kid, it was my dream to play in front of a full stadium, wearing my name on the back of my shirt. The feeling, the adrenaline, the connection with fans—nothing… pic.twitter.com/X4IQQ261Je

— Scott Allan (@ScottAllan_) July 9, 2025

Despite that, Allan returned to Hibs and continued to show his quality as a creative force in midfield. He also turned out for Rovers, Inverness, and most recently Arbroath, before stepping into coaching with Kelty.

Allan’s career was made even more impressive by the fact he played while managing type 1 diabetes, and later, a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious diagnosis that might have ended many players’ careers much earlier.

Three years after his final spell at Hibs, he’s now opted to hang up the boots and focus fully on his next chapter in football. East Kilbride will now benefit from his experience and footballing brain as they push for progress under their new coaching team.