Gordon Strachan

5th November 1996 – 10th September 2001

Born and raised in Edinburgh Gordon had an illustrious playing career winning 50 caps for Scotland and winning domestic honours with Aberdeen, Manchester United & Leeds United making 635 league appearances on both sides of the border. Since hanging up his boots he has managed the Sky Blues, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough before his current post as national manager of Scotland.

After making his senior debut with Dundee as a 17-year old Gordon played 69 games for the club before he joined Aberdeen in 1977. A right-sided midfield player, Gordon spent seven seasons at Pittodrie as the Dons made a serious challenge on the Old Firm domination of the domestic game. In 1978 Alex Ferguson took over as manager and under him Gordon won League winners’ medals in 1980 & 1984, three Scottish Cup winners’ medals and in 1983 a European Cup Winners Cup medal. In 1984 he was signed for Manchester United by Ron Atkinson and won the FA Cup in his first season. Two years later Ferguson replaced Big Ron & Gordon was reunited with the man who he had had disagreements with at Aberdeen. Their relationship survived until 1989 when Leeds’ manager Howard Wilkinson persuaded Gordon to drop down to the Second Division and become the club’s captain. He helped Leeds win promotion to Division 1 in his first full season & in 1991 the club were the last champions of Division One before the start of the Premier League.

In 1995 Atkinson, newly appointed as manager of the Sky Blues persuaded Strachan, now 38, to leave Leeds and become his number two with a view to him taking over the reins two years down the road. Originally expecting to hang up his boots he was persuaded to play for City to help the side avoid relegation & he performed outstandingly. Strachan took over training and coaching of the team whilst learning the finer points of management from Atkinson. In 1995-96 Strachan again put on his boots & made 12 senior appearances to again help the club avoid relegation. In a crucial game at Tottenham Strachan was the man of the match & inspired City to a famous victory that virtually sealed their Premiership safety.

After another poor start in the 1996-97 campaign with only one win in 12 games, the board decided to move Ron upstairs & give Gordon his chance. His first game in charge was a disastrous League Cup defeat to Gillingham but soon he began to influence things on the pitch. The team’s roller coaster form meant they were again embroiled in a relegation dog fight & for the third season running Gordon, now aged 40, put on his boots. The fight went right to the last day & City’s victory at White Hart Lane ensured they avoided the drop.

Gordon was given transfer funds & signed Magnus Hedman, Roland Nilsson, George Boateng and later Romanian international Viorel Moldovan. The Sky Blues had their most successful season for years & were unlucky to lose an FA Cup quarter final at Bramall Lane. The team finished eleventh in the Premier League & were feted for their attractive football.

The following season was a bit of a letdown but the Sky Blues were never in relegation difficulties. Top scorer and captain Dion Dublin was sold to Aston Villa but Strachan was allowed to spend but not all of his signings were a success. Foreigners like Jean-Guy Wallemme & Phillipe Clement struggled & although Steve Froggatt was a good signing the club finished 15th.

In 1999-2000 the signings of Moroccans Hadji & Chippo together with £6m spent on Robbie Keane showed that the club were ambitious and the team played an exciting brand of football, especially at home where few teams could stop them. Away from Highfield Road however the team failed to win a single game & as a result the team finished 15th.

After Keane was sold & captain Gary McAllister left on a free transfer City failed to adequately replace them & the 2000-01 season became a desperate battle against relegation. For once City’s fighting spirit deserted them & relegation was confirmed at Villa Park. Five games into the following season the board sacked him.

Within weeks he was back in work at Southampton & steered the Saints to Premiership safety from a seemingly impossible situation. The following season he guided the club to the FA Cup final where they lost to Arsenal. After leaving St Mary’s in 2004 he had a 16-month break from football before joining Celtic. He won three consecutive SPL titles under Gordon & twice led the Hoops to the last 16 of the Champions League before stepping down in 2009.

Strachan and his two sons started their own football school in the Coventry area in August 2009.

He was manager of Middlesbrough for less than a year and was then out of management for three years before being appointed Scotland manager in January 2013. He didn’t manage to get Scotland to a major tournament and resigned in October 2017 after the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. In July 2019, Strachan was appointed to a technical director position with Dundee.

Premier League Manager of the Month December 1996
Premier League Manager of the Month February 1998

From: 5th November 1996
First game: 13th November 1996 v Gillingham, home, Coca-Cola Cup 3rd Round Replay, lost 0-1

Until: 10th September 2001
Last game: 8th September 2001 v Grimsby Town, home, First Division, lost 0-1

214 games as manager

	Lge	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Win %	Pos
1996-97	Prem	26	8	8	10	33	39	32	30.7	17th
1997-98	Prem	38	12	16	10	35	44	52	31.5	11th
1998-99	Prem	38	11	9	18	39	51	42	28.9	15th
1999-00	Prem	38	12	8	18	47	54	44	31.5	14th
2000-01	Prem	38	8	10	20	36	63	34	21.0	19th
2001-02	Div 1	5	1	1	3	3	4	4	20.0	19th
Totals		183	52	52	79	193	255	208	28.4

League Cup: 14 games (8 wins, 6 losses)

FA Cup: 17 games (10 wins, 3 draws – 1 loss on pens, 4 losses)