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Gordon Strachan confirmed as Scotland coach

By Chris McLaughlinSenior Football Reporter, BBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Football comments 459

Scotland coach Gordon Strachan

Gordon Strachan has been confirmed as the new manager of Scotland.

The former Celtic and Middlesbrough boss replaces Craig Levein, who was sacked in November.

Strachan has signed a contract that will cover the remainder of the current World Cup qualifying campaign and the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

"I'm very proud but also my family are proud. The time is right for me to be able to take a job like this," he said after his appointment was announced.
Media conference: Gordon Strachan unveiled as Scotland manager

"There'll be rough times but I hope there'll be good times too.

"Every club you go to there's always challenges but this is the first time the challenge is on behalf of a nation.

"If you can be successful you can make a nation happy and make a nation proud and that is the priority for me to be able to do that with help from other people.

"I have the experience, I like working with people, I like dealing with people and I like trying to make people better."

The 55-year-old has been out of management since leaving Boro in October 2010.

Capped 50 times, Strachan featured in Scotland's 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals campaigns.

After playing spells at Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, the winger moved into management with the Sky Blues in November 1996.

After keeping Coventry in the Premier League for several seasons, they suffered relegation at the end of season 2000-01 and Strachan departed a few games into the following season.

He returned to the dugout when Southampton brought him in to replace Stuart Gray and the appointment helped Saints stave off relegation before they reached the FA Cup final in 2003.

But Strachan left the club the following year and took a break from football.

His move to Celtic in June 2005 followed Martin O'Neill's decision to leave Glasgow.

Strachan recovered from a 5-0 Champions League qualifying defeat by Artmedia Bratislava in his opening match - a tie that finished 5-4 on aggregate - to win the Scottish Premier League title three years in succession.

He also led the side to two appearances in the last 16 of the Champions League, the club having never reached the knock-out stages prior to Strachan's arrival.

However, Rangers won the SPL in 2009 and Strachan left Glasgow shortly after.

A year in charge of Boro followed but, after missing out on promotion in 2010, a poor start to the season led to Strachan leaving the club by mutual consent.

Levein's three-year spell in charge of Scotland came to an end after a poor start to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Media conference - Stewart Regan

Having missed out on qualification to Euro 2012, the Scots began their pursuit of a place in next year's finals in Brazil with successive home draws against Serbia and Macedonia.

Scotland then lost from a winning position in Wales before defeat in Belgium consigned Levein's side to the bottom of their group.

After Levein was sacked, Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark was placed in caretaker charge of the senior team for the friendly win in Luxembourg.

Strachan's first match in charge will be the February friendly against Estonia at Pittodrie Stadium, the venue where he enjoyed success as an Aberdeen player.

"I really want the squad and the staff to give something back to the country and the fans who support us because the fans are probably more famous than the squad now," Strachan added.

"So what we want to try and do is to give back something and make them turn up for a major finals competition.

"If we work together as a group and a set of fans I know for a fact we'll be successful.

"What I know is that these guys, for all they might get criticised, are the best at what they do.

"They play for Scotland and we have to find a system that suits these players to win games of football."

Follow Chris McLaughlin on Twitter: @bbcchrismclaug external-link

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459 comments

  • Comment posted by anm648, at 09:21 15 Jan 2013

    Good manager, Good decision, Good luck for the next campaign.

  • Comment posted by User0028287727, at 09:45 15 Jan 2013

    @25
    "He destroyed all that Martin O'Neill created at Celtic Park...."
    As much as I Ioved Martin O'Neill and what he did taking us to Seville I can't remember him getting to the last sixteen of the CL. Stachan had alot less money the O'Neill as well. I don't think you're being fair there. Just another member member of the anti-Strachan gang.....

  • Comment posted by Thistledubhme, at 09:31 15 Jan 2013

    I am a Rangers fan and I am happy that he is the next Scotland manager. The man is a winner, which he proved with 3 titles at Celtic. I don't really understand why the Celtic fans didn't like him, he did a good job there. He should keep the press on their toes as well, as he has the wit to belittle the inane questions. I wish him well.

  • Comment posted by Joey, at 09:49 15 Jan 2013

    @25
    Just as we'll he reigned in O'Neill's spending or you might have ended up like your chums across the city, bankrupt and in the third division.

    Good luck Strachan, looking forward to a new era for Scotland.

  • Comment posted by User0465638171, at 12:52 15 Jan 2013

    If the current Scotland team had 11 players anywhere near as good as Gordon Strachan was in his heyday we'd be booked for Brazil already.

    Correct choice of manager. He is a Scotland legend.

    It will be hard though, as the players just aren't good enough, so give the guy a chance to see what he can do before lambasting him.

    Good luck wee man. All of Scotland is behind you.

  • Comment posted by Football_understand, at 10:00 15 Jan 2013

    @53 absolutely spot on, if he was irish or had any celtic connections he would have been a legend over there! Strachan was a top player unlike levein and managed previously at the top level unlike levein, so right away there is a massive improvement, the squad for scotland has decent players just needs the correct direction and drive to achieve results, i think strachan can deliver

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 12:57 15 Jan 2013

    From a Rangers fan, I think Strachan is a good manager and a good choice.
    I cannot believe the lack of respect he got for his achievements at Celtic from their supporters, 3 league titles in 4 years and two last 16 appearances in the CL. All with less money and an inferior squad than Martin ON, who has god-like status at Parkhead. I was chuffed when he was sacked.
    As a Scotland fan, delighted!

  • Comment posted by Football_understand, at 09:42 15 Jan 2013

    @25(rangers fan) strachan won celtic the championship 3 years in a row, so i dont know how you could deteste him, and martin o'neil had big money to spend when he was celtic gaffer so there was always goin to be a difference in quality of a squad, some celtic fans disliked him for other reasons i wont go into. Anyways i think hes a great appt, good stature and well respected in the nation

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 11:57 15 Jan 2013

    "Who cares it's Scottish football, about as relevant as the Mongolian National team"

    Hopefully you're from a country that has won something recently then? Not England, I would guess, due to your poor grammar (second language???) and their lack of success for nearly fifty years. ;0)

  • Comment posted by WSV, at 12:05 15 Jan 2013

    Gordon is a safe choice for manger and as good as any other potential candidate. He still has to work with the existing crop of players though, but he has the scope to improve them and I wish him well. It will also be interesting to see how he interacts with the national youth system that was ‘relaunched’ last summer on the lines of Dutch coaching techniques of the Coerver methodology.

  • Comment posted by LiamD, at 11:14 15 Jan 2013

    The best man for the job. A manager that can get the most out of his players and will help realise this Scottish team's potential. I am very glad he has got the job.

  • Comment posted by User0427062491, at 10:30 15 Jan 2013

    GS is a half decent manager. Now all Scotland need are 11 half decent players instead of the present shower, and they might be able to beat somebody.

  • Comment posted by User0367114304, at 09:43 15 Jan 2013

    Great appointment, as a Celtic fan, he never fully got the credit he deserved for what he achieved at our club, he did a fantastic job & knew when to walk away with dignity. Hampden shall roar once again.

    As for @9 . . Things didn't work out at your club, however a lot of great managers have failed to bring you the success you crave. So let the wee man & us Scots have our moment in the sun.

  • Comment posted by stevie_bhoy, at 15:48 15 Jan 2013

    For a rubbish manager he sure knows how to qualify through a Champions League group, twice.

    He didn't inherit a great Celtic team at all, in fact he had to significantly re-build a lot of it. Surely good credentials for improving the current Scottish side? Realistically, finishing 3rd in this campaign would be a great result.

  • Comment posted by D1679312140476, at 12:27 15 Jan 2013

    Reporter: "Gordon, can we have a quick word please?"
    Strachan: "Velocity" [walks off]

    Lets hope there's more to come.
    Great signing for Scotland

  • Comment posted by mushroomfarmer, at 11:27 15 Jan 2013

    Good luck to him, he'll need it for sure, but whatever happens one thing for certain, he'll give us a laugh!

  • Comment posted by incawill, at 18:04 15 Jan 2013

    Maybe the quality isn't as good as before and I really hope it works out and gives us something to shout about again and be proud off, our diehard fans deserve it. Saying that if we stay at the same crap level we will still love and support ya SCOTLAND!!!

  • Comment posted by User0972093427, at 18:02 15 Jan 2013

    I really cannot believe it has taken this long to realise this is the best man for the job,
    GS should have been in place many many years ago.
    Good luck & lets hope he can bring Scottish football up to the mark

  • Comment posted by D1679379916130, at 15:15 15 Jan 2013

    Agree with 290. The players are there to be managed. Its the shape and tactics that have been missing. Get back to winning the home games with a settled team and formation, a wee bit of luck and hopefully everyone can start enjoying themselves again. Appointment probably a year to late.

  • Comment posted by User0448299841, at 22:01 15 Jan 2013

    The only comments that matter here are - "Best of luck Gordon" and "Come on Scotland" We don't support you because you are the best, we support you because we are Scottish. Ignore all of these negative comments, waste of good energy reading them. Humble, understated winners - The Scots.