Scotland Appoints Strachan to help with rescue

Gordon Strachan has been appointed the new manager of Scotland following November’s sacking of Craig Levein.

Strachan, 55, who has previously managed 4 sides including Southampton and Celtic has been out of management since leaving Middlesbrough in 2010. He has since been doing TV and Media work.

Having played for his country 50 times, it is a move that will please many Scottish supporters and the appointment is expected to be officially confirmed very soon.

Strachan has previously won managerial awards in Scotland from sports writers, so you would expect a slight upbeat feel when he starts the job in a home friendly vs Estonia on Febuary 6th.

His task will then be to try and turn around a so far embarrassingly poor 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. Which includes fellow Brits Wales and notably; Belgium and Croatia who are both joint at the top of Group A.

Scotland are bottom, with just 2 draws from 4 games, meaning Strachan will need more than a minor miracle if he is to get his side to Brazil next year.

But really, for the former Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds and Coventry midfielder, his task will be to try and turn around the current Scottish football decline – and attempt a Euro 2016 qualification.

Strachan is the best man for the job, out of available managers, who Scotland could realistically get. He has the personality and confidence behind him to make a change in a currently desperate Scottish side.

The Scottish FA haven’t taken long to bring Strachan in, and that will please the Tartan army. Realistically, the aim will be to finish 3rd in their World Cup qualifying group this year – therefore making their ranking higher thus a theoretically easier Euro 2016 qualifying group.

Strachan has a busy year ahead then, but he also has the task of facing England at Wembley in August; a fixture that in the past has been a fiery rivalry.

It is the first time the two will clash since Scotland’s 1-0 win at the old Wembley in 1999, during Euro 2000 qualifying. However, England won 2-1 on aggregate.

During his time managing in Scotland previously, Strachan steered Celtic to 3 SPL titles and 2 Champions League knock out rounds in a 4 year era.

By Stowe Gregory @stowegregory