Gordon Strachan named as Scotland Manager

Gordon Strachan has been unveiled as the new Scotland manager. The 55-year-old replaces Craig Levein who was sacked in November.

Strachan who was inducted into the Scotland Hall of Fame after amassing 50 caps for his country 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.

“I know I face challenges, on behalf of the nation, but I hope to be able to make this nation proud… with help from other people.

“I always wanted to be Scotland manager and, with the help of a lot of other managers and players, I am here today.”

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said: “Gordon made no secret of his desire for this job and we are delighted he is now in charge of the national team.”

Asked if whether he believes it was still possible for Scotland to make it to Brazil, Strachan replied: ‘ We’ll give it a go! I want the players to give something back to the fans. We want to give something back to the fans and qualify for a major competition.’

In his managerial career, Strachan had spells with Coventry, Southampton and Celtic – where he won three successive SPL titles – before moving to Middlesbrough in 2009.

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since reaching the 1998 World Cup in France.

“To progress with the squad. 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,” said Strachan.

Scotland have picked up just two points in their bid to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, but Strachan rejected the suggestion that a top-two spot is out of his players’ reach.

“If we work together as a group and a set of fans I know for a fact we’ll be successful,” he added. “I can’t ask for anything more than we’re doing at the moment.

“We still have to collect as many points as we can and it’s disrespectful to say we’ll use the games just to improve. We’ll give it a go.

Strachan’s first match in charge will be a friendly against Estonia in February, before World Cup qualifier double header against Wales at Hampden and a trip to Serbia on 22 and 26 March.