Turkgucu Munchen have never had to concern themselves with being mistaken for one of the more established footballing institutions in the Bavarian capital.
Formed only 15 years ago, the club has occasionally threatened to climb to the second tier of German football without ever quite getting there.
After filing for insolvency a couple of seasons back, they returned to the obscurity of regional leagues. Never the subject of back-page headlines in Bild, this is the way they like it.
With their compact Grunwalder Stadium unlikely to cross the path of even the most ardent groundhopper, as far as being a potential staging post to international football is concerned, the minnows from Munich are probably as unlikely as it gets.
As of yesterday, though, the little-known German club was able to add that to their list of claims to fame.
Andy Irving has impressed at West Ham in his three appearances off the bench this year
Steve Clarke is hoping to bounce back following last month’s agonising late defeat to Portugal
Irving left Hearts in 2021 to make the switch to unknown German side Turkgucu Munchen
Named in Steve Clarke’s 23-man Nations League squad for the first time, former Hearts midfielder Andy Irving’s circuitous route to the international stage was a reminder that not all careers have to conform to the norm.
Having made his debut for Hearts in January 2018 and gained experience while on loan at Berwick and Falkirk, the Gorgie club were surprised when the midfielder turned down the offer of a new contact in 2021.
And when a little-known German club was revealed as his destination, it seemed legitimate to question the wisdom of his career choice.
Despite Turkgucu running into financial troubles in his solitary season, though, Irving did enough to use the experience as a springboard.
SK Austria Klagenfurt gave him an opportunity across the border. Within a year of starring in the Austrian Bundesliga, Irving had signed for West Ham before being immediately loaned back.
His apprenticeship complete, he belatedly moved to London this summer, doing enough in three substitute outings for the Hammers to convince Clarke that he deserves this opportunity.
‘A little bit different, obviously,’ said the Scotland manager of the 24-year-old’s road. ‘The first time I came across Andy, I was managing with Kilmarnock. He was playing for a Hearts team as a very young man, still growing into his frame a little bit.
Nicky Devlin has been rewarded for his fine form at Aberdeen this season
‘I think he’s surprising everybody with the choices that he made to move abroad, in a roundabout way, ending up in the English Premier League. It’ll be nice to see him again up close.’
While neither Liam Lindsay nor Nicky Devlin can boast quite as colourful a back story, the two other new faces in Clarke’s party also offer inspiration for those who feel they may have missed the boat.
It’s seven years now since former Partick Thistle defender Lindsay broke for the border to sign for Barnsley.
He had two years at Oakwell and two more at Stoke City before joining Preston in 2021. With injuries decimating Clarke’s defence, at 28, this is finally his chance to shine.
Devlin is two years older. Some 14 years after playing for Dumbarton and with stop-offs at Stenhousemuir, Ayr and Livingston, his consistency over a year at Aberdeen sees him honoured in a way he probably never thought possible.
The Scotland manager’s willingness to judge players in the here-and-now will be noted far and wide.
‘I think it’s important that everybody recognises there are different ways to get to the top, if you like,’ added Clarke. ‘I think your international squad selection is certainly getting to the top of your career.
Preston North End defender Liam Lindsay has earned his first call-up for the national side
‘I’ve shown in the past that I’m not afraid to pick boys that have been around and have been dependable club professionals.
‘One that springs to mind is probably Andy Considine, who came in late in his career and did very well for us. Hopefully, the boys that we’ve picked now, certainly the two more senior players, Nicky and Liam, can come in and grab the chance.
‘They’ll have the opportunity to impress us in training and possibly in the matches as well.’
Clarke could have done without the injuries that have forced him to shuffle his pack, but there’s certainly a freshness to the names which will hope to get off the mark in this campaign across the matches with Croatia and Portugal.
‘I like the balance of the squad,’ he said. ‘It gives us options.
We had a little bit of time to work last time. I thought the performances (against Poland and Portugal) were okay. The results, obviously not, so we’ve got a basis to work from.’
Some of the more familiar names will arrive with new perspectives. Neither Scott McTominay nor Billy Gilmour had played for Napoli the last time Clarke called them up. Both now have four appearances each for Antonio Conte’s side.
Top of Serie A after defeating Monza at the weekend, first impressions of the pair have been favourable.
Scott McTominay has made an excellent start to life at Napoli since his summer move
‘I like the fact that the players now are prepared to go abroad,’ Clarke offered.
‘They’re not afraid of that challenge. I think going to a club like Napoli, with the fanbase that they’ve got, it’s going to be a good challenge for both of them.
‘Obviously, those two boys are there, Lewis (Ferguson) has done really well (at Bologna). Che Adams has gone out there and started well for his new club, Torino.
‘Aaron Hickey had a good spell there. Josh Doig is out there playing Serie B but playing in Italy.
So, it looks as though it’s somewhere the Scottish boys like to go. Hopefully, they can go there, improve their performances and do well for us.’
Adams returns to the fold having missed the last double header through injury.
The striker recently publicly reiterated what playing for Scotland means to him. Not that Clarke needed any convincing.
‘I’ve got a really good relationship with Che,’ he said. ‘I know he’s grateful for the chance to play for Scotland and every time he turns up for us, he gives 100 per cent.’
