European: Strachan takes Charge plus Profile

Name: Gordon Strachan
DOB: 9th February 1957
Previous Clubs: Southampton and Coventry City.

Gordon Strachan returned from his sabatical from the game on June 1, taking over from Martin O'Neill at Celtic - who himself had decided to take a break from football.

Celtic had just dramatically surrendered the SPL crown to Rangers in the final minutes of the season. And after five years of success under O'Neill, Strachan knows there will be a lot of expectation at Parkhead.

Strachan's previous job had been with Premiership side Southampton. He had indicated when he took the job that he would take a break from football at the end of his contract, and he was true to his word.

Although he was initially expected to see out the end of his deal until the end of the 2003/04 campaign, the uncertainty over his position and the club's direction was always a worry and, eventually, he left on February 13, 2004.

The game lost one of its most colourful characters, a dying breed in today's game, but after just over a year working for the BBC as a pundit he was to return in his native Scotland

Strachan's playing career was hugely successful, both in Scotland and in England.

The Edinburgh-born, right-sided midfielder started out with Dundee, but it wasn't until he was signed by Aberdeen that he came to prominence.

The Dons' period of remarkable success would begin when Alex Ferguson was appointed at Pittodrie, leading the club to a level of honours unheard of for a side outside the Old Firm.

Strachan would win two Scottish League titles, the Scottish FA Cup three times, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup in a glittering spell.

Source ESPN

[Edited on 5/31/05 by rynaldo82]

In 1984, Manchester United had shown a great deal of interest in the skillful star - with Ron Atkinson spending £500,000 to take him to Old Trafford in August.

The Scot's time with the Red Devils was nowhere near as decorated, with only an FA Cup winners' medal to show for his efforts.

He would, however, be reunited with Ferguson when the manager also made the move from Aberdeen to Manchester in 1986. While at first this appeared to be the perfect reunion, their relationship eventually turned sour and Strachan hopped across the Pennines to join Leeds United in 1989.

It was at Elland Road that Strachan found himself rejuvenated under Howard Wilkinson's revolution, and in his first season he would help the club to the old Second Division title and earn a return to the top flight.

Two years later, at the age of 35, Leeds captain Strachan had added the '92 championship to his list of playing honours and was named the Footballer of the Year - becoming the only player to win the award on both sides of the border.

While his club career was highly successful, Strachan also enjoyed a lengthy international career with Scotland. He played in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, and won his 50th and final cap against Finland in 1992.

Strachan's playing career would finally draw to a close when reunited with Atkinson at Coventry City, who he joined on a free transfer in March 1995. His new beginning in management would also be at Highfield Road.

He became assistant manager upon arrival at Coventry, and by November 1996 Atkinson had been moved upstairs into the now much-maligned 'director of football' role with Strachan taking a more hands on role.

Strachan soon emerged as a real character on the touchline and in the press room with his dry wit - rarely afraid to show emotion or speak his mind.

Coventry just managed to avoid relegation in his first season at the helm. Only a last-day victory at Tottenham Hotspur saved them from life in the First Division and sent Middlesbrough down in their place.

The following season, however, he looked to be getting things right. The Sky Blues were guided to an 11th-place finish in 1997 - equaling their best ever finish in the Premiership - followed by placings of 15th and 14th.

But it all went pear shaped for the pint-sized boss in the 2000/01 season, when Coventry City's 34-year stay in the top flight of English football would come to an end after winning just eight games all season.

Many thought Strachan should have been replaced there and then, but chairman Bryan Richardson was determined to give Strachan the chance to put things right. But a poor start to life in the First Division spelt the end for his five-year tenure and he left the club in September 2001 after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Grimsby Town.

Strachan, however, was only out of work for six weeks. Southampton had endured a torrid start to the season under Stuart Gray, who was eventually sacked in October and within days Strachan had found himself a new challenge.

The mere fact that Strachan guided the side to safety was his first major achievement, but he would eventually lead them to a finish of 11th. The 2002/03 season, however, would see the manager guide the Saints into the top half of the table and a place in the FA Cup final.

Southampton eventually finished eighth in the table, a position that could arguably have been bettered had they not had the distraction of the FA Cup.

The Saints lose 1-0 to Arsenal in the final, but qualified for the UEFA Cup - their first European campaign since the 1984/85 season.

Strachan, who was named Manager of the Month for December, has transformed a side known as perennial strugglers into European competitors.

The 2003/04 season would see Strachan's career take a new direction. For weeks he was linked with a return to Elland Road with crisis club Leeds United, and with his Saints contract up at the end of the campaign it looked a real possible.

After what seemed like an age of silence from St Mary's on the matter, Strachan eventually denied that he would make the move back up to West Yorkshire. But, just two months later, he would announce that he was to leave Southampton.

Source ESPN

"I need to apologise to people who have phoned me over the last five or six days," said Strachan. "It was Martin's time.

"I didn't want to get involved in anything; Martin deserved that time to win the cup and enjoy his last couple of days here.

"People have been asking me for years about whether I'd go back to Scotland and I thought maybe 'no'. But, manager of Celtic, in seconds it's 'yes' and that's it.

"They are a world famous club and you cannot turn down that chance to perform as a manager here and in a stadium as fantastic as this. It's a thing I just couldn't turn down.

"I do feel invigorated. I said when I stopped at Southampton, the next job I want is something exciting and this definitely had it. Even the wife could tell I was really excited about this job.

"You know it when somebody asks you if it's going to be the right job for you.

Sky sports link

"Its an incredible rise to stardom, at 17 you're more likely to get a call from Michael Jackson than Sven Goran Eriksson" - Gordon Strachan on Wayne Rooney

"My bum has been through every temperature known to man."
Gordon Strachan (On heat treatment and ice-packs, 1993) :

*hehe. i will find more of these

New Celtic chief Gordon Strachan admits he wants to keep Craig Bellamy, Jackie McNamara and Neil Lennon at the club.

Strachan was unveiled as successor to Martin O'Neill on Tuesday and he is already planning for next season.

The former Southampton boss has made signing Bellamy on a permanent basis, and sorting out new deals for Lennon and McNamara, his top priority.

Sky sports

hmm tough job the Celtic one, havent most if all clubs in scotland got a heavy debt? That makes it that more tricky

hehe... to be honest, i dont know what the figures are supposed to be. Shouldnt be much in debt cos we have only spent like 350K on a player since about 2 years ago lol.

There supposed to be 4 players he wants, i think Robbie Keane Tops that list, and Kevin Philips aswell..

We need a midfielder and a left back.

Maybe Strachan can get the best out of the keeper Hedman cos at one point, he was good!.

Great move in getting Strachan, he should have gone to West Ham but i guess Celtic is more high profile for him. He will carry on what Martin O'neill started and they will win a few more trophies yet..

yer, i think its going to be a good move.

o'neill. he was great no doubt about it but 5 years, maybe it was time to move on even if his wife was alrite.

strachan i like, hes got a sense of humour and he looks football.

Strachan is a fiery character and he won't take any rubbish from the players. It will be interesting to see how he does, but i think he will be a big success..

Yeah he will do well at Celtic, very good manager.
O'Neill leaves, comes back in two years and takes over at Man Utd.

strachan is supposed to do alot of teams to make his teams fit,

so i wonder if hartson will lose a few stone lol. but something like that is important cos soo much of the players just look tired

a few seasons ago, they where saying Thompson for England, the guy cant get past any1 these days.

we got that guy stevie person, he was great and scored like 4 goals in 6 games i think for midfielder when he joined us, last season he didnt get any games, bar 2 or 3. no1 really knows why but the rumour is he has been indulging in drugs so i dunno

hes supposed to be after a guy called Riordion, a young guy at Hibs he is, hes half decent. And is leaving them.

Another guy is Miller, i think its Lee Miller.

And Neimi,

so it is players and we do need to add that ummpffff factor to the team, there no point having a team running about with guys who cant cut it without younger players bursting with energy.

thing are going well, alright, we got put out of Europe but the team we played against we didnt know anything a bout them, the team were all new to each other basically and it was Strachans first game.

but since then, we have started to come on and with beating rangers you just have too look at the team and see that we are really attacking, i remember Strachan saying something a while ago saying you can never have too many attacking players cos its them who score goals.

Lennon is in midfield, just doing his usual job, and then we have Petrov, Nakamura and Mc'Geady all attacking

big hartson is upfront, hes a bit distracted these days and has often been on the bench cos hes knocking about with another woman, hes holding up the ball and on runs Beattie, or Maloney or Zurawaski depending who gets the nod and then we have Sutton tooo. Now its easy to see why Aliadere left, he didnt have much chance cos they guys are doing well.

Even forgotting man Stevie Perseon is getting games again, the defence aint brilliant or big names but they are getting to know each other. and the keeper is good.