A newspaper article in the Bradford Teleraph and Argus on 16th November 2010 revealed that former Bradford City legend and Scottish international Stuart McCall was working for Norwich City as a scout, having been recruited by City's Chief Scout Ewan Chester.

After playing for non-league Farlsey Celtic,McCall started his professional career with Bradford City, where he made his senior debut in 1982. He played six seasons at Valley Parade, during which time he won the Division Three championship, a title which was overshadowed by the Bradford fire disaster when 56 people died and in which his father Andy was injured. After missing out on promotion in 1987–88, McCall moved to Everton in June 1988 for £850,000. He had played 285 games for Bradford, scoring 46 goals

McCall made 103 appearances for Everton, scoring 6 goals.He was also a substitute in the 1989 FA Cup Final when he scored Everton's equaliser in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool to take the game into extra-time. He scored another equaliser during extra-time, but Liverpool's own substitute Ian Rush also scored two to secure a 3–2 victory for Liverpool. Apart from the FA Cup final defeat in 1989, the closest he came to winning a trophy at Everton was in the 1989–90 season, when Everton topped the league in late autumn and remained in contention for the title for the most the rest of the season until disappointing form in the run-in saw them finish sixth.

Despite being born in Leeds, England, McCall qualified to play for Scotland through his Scottish father and won 40 caps for Scotland, and he scored one goal in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He played in two European Championships but his international career ended after he was left out of the 1998 World Cup squad.

In 1991, Rangers paid £1.2 million for McCall. In his first season at Ibrox, Rangers won the league and cup double, before they achieved greater success in 1992–93, winning both cups 2–1 against Aberdeen and coming nine points ahead of Aberdeen in the league. McCall also enjoyed European success that season when the Glasgow club narrowly missed out on an appearance in the UEFA Champions League 1992–93 final, coming second in the semi-final group stage to eventual winners Olympique de Marseille. In 1993–94, Rangers added another Scottish League Cup title along with the league championship. The following season saw Rangers win the league by their greatest margin as they finished 15 points ahead of Motherwell. In 1995–96, Rangers' points tally of 87 was a record-high total. McCall played in his fourth Scottish Cup final as Rangers defeated Hearts 5–1

McCall still had one year left on his Rangers contract in 1998, but much of the team that Walter Smith had built had left and McCall was allowed to leave on a free transfer by new manager Dick Advocaat, as long as he joined an English club.[9] Barnsley and Huddersfield Town were both interested in signing McCall, but he rejoined Bradford City as club captain and led them into the Premiership. They avoided relegation in the first season in the Premiership.

In July 2000, McCall accepted his first coaching role, when he was appointed assistant manager to Chris Hutchings at Bradford City, after Hutchings was promoted from the role to replace Paul Jewell as City manager. Just four months later, Hutchings was sacked, and McCall was appointed as caretaker–player manager. His first game in the role was against his former team Everton, who were led by his former manager Walter Smith, but ended with a 1–0 defeat. He was in charge for one more game, which also ended in defeat, until Jim Jefferies was appointed the new manager. Jefferies brought with him his own assistant Billy Brown, and McCall was appointed first-team coach.

After leaving Bradford City, he joined Sheffield United, where he also took up a coaching role. When he retired in 2004, he remained at Sheffield United as assistant to Neil Warnock until May 2007, when he returned to Bradford City for a third time, this time as manager. He spent two-and-a-half seasons in charge of Bradford City leaving in February 2010.

In Mid-December 2010, McCall was linked to the vacancy at Motherwell, following the departure of Craig Brown to Aberdeen. He is reported to have been interviewed for the vacancy along with John Hartson, Chris Sutton, Ricky Sbragia and Alan Stubbs. McCall was appointed Motherwell manager on 30th December 2010. His first game in charge was a 0–0 draw away to Hamilton Academical on New Year's Day 2011

In May 2013, McCall had talks with Sheffield United about their managerial vacancy but decided to stay at Motherwell and the chance to play in the Europa League following their second place finish in the Scottish Premier League.

McCall said "It has been a really difficult last few days, As most people probably know, I spent five great years at Sheffield United. I was grateful to the board for allowing me to speak to them, but I went with an open mind. I had no desire to leave Motherwell after enjoying two-and-a-half great years at the club. There is no doubt Sheffield United are a fantastic club. But, after careful consideration and deliberation, I am more than happy to continue my current role at Fir Park. I have built up a tremendous feeling for Motherwell, the people who work at the club and the supporters. It would take something really special to tempt me away."

McCall resigned as Motherwell manager on 2nd November 2014 after five straight defeats left them second bottom of the Scottish Premiership table. mcCall will continue to work with Gordon Strachan's Scotland side, a role that he took up in January 2013.

On 20th June 2016, he returned as manager of Bradford City, replacing Phil Parkinson. He gave up his role with the Scottish national team.

On 5th February 2018 Bradford City sacked manager Stuart McCall after a run of six successive defeats in all competitions. They were sixth in the table despite a run of five straight league defeats. However, that run of form has seen them slip 13 points behind the automatic promotion places, while they also lost 2-0 at League Two side Yeovil in the FA Cup.

He was appointed manager of Scunthorpe on 27th August 2018 replacing Nick Daws with the Iron placed 18th in League One after five games.

McCall was sacked by Scunthorpe on 24th March 2019 with the Iron slipping within two points of the League One drop zone. His final game as manager was a 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Rochdale on 23rd March 2019. First-team coach Andy Dawson will be in caretaker charge at Glanford Park for the rest of the 2018/19 season.

On 4th February 2020, McCall was appointed as Bradford manager for the third time, succeeding Gary Bowyer who left after seven games without a win. McCall signed a contract until the end of the 2020/21 season.

He left the club on 13th December 2020. He oversaw 29 matches during his third managerial spell in the City dugout - winning seven, drawing five and losing 17. Unfortunately they had only taken 4 points from their last 10 games leading to McCall's dismissal.

On 22nd July 2021 McCall joined Championship side Blackpool as assistant head coach to Neil Critchley. He left the Seasiders on 25th November 2021 to become assistant to Paul Heckingbottom at Sheffield United. McCall and Heckingbottom were sacked by the Blades on 5th December 2023 with United at the bottom of the Premier League with five points after losing 11 of their opening 14 games.

On 20th August 2023 he was appointed assistant manager to Heckingbottom at Preston North End.