Gordon Strachan – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Midfielder

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Edinburgh

Date Of Birth

February 9, 1957

Age

Height (cm)

168

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

0.6

Per Game

Minutes

1679

52.5

Per Game

Goals

Per Game

Assists

0.1

Per Game

Gordon Strachan’s long and illustrious playing career was as good as over when Ron Atkinson persuaded the ginger-haired Scot to leave Leeds and join him at Coventry as his assistant in March 1995. Despite insisting he had no intention of playing for the Sky Blues, Gordon was pulling on his boots within weeks, adding stability to a side desperately low in confidence. His performance in the 3-1 victory at Tottenham in the penultimate game was sublime. He was used sparingly the following season and took over as manager in November 1996 after a poor start to the season. Once manager he rarely selected himself but did come off the bench to inspire comebacks at Southampton (2-2) and Liverpool (2-1) in City’s ultimately successful fight against relegation. As a manager he had mixed results. In 1997-98 the club finished 11th, equalling the best season since the Sillett era, lost only two home games and reached the sixth round of the FA Cup. Two years later his team were christened the ‘Entertainers’ after a string of good home displays but failed to win a single away game. In 2001 he was at the helm as the Sky Blues were relegated after 34 years in the top flight and after a poor start in the Championship he was sacked in September 2001.

As a player Gordon won 50 Scottish caps and was an outstanding performer for Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds United. He won the European Cup Winners Cup with the Dons, as well as numerous domestic trophies. At United he won the FA Cup in 1985 and although written off when he joined Leeds he helped the club to the old Second Division title and the last First Division title in 1992.

As a manager he joined Southampton just weeks after leaving City and steered them to an eleventh place and then an eighth place finish. In 2003 the Saints reached the FA Cup final but lost to Arsenal at Cardiff. He stood down in 2004 and had a year’s sabbatical before becoming Celtic manager in 2005.

Premier League (England)

1996-1997

299′

1995-1996

499′

1994-1995

449′

1247′

0 (0)

FA Cup (England)

1996-1997

0′

1995-1996

180′

0 (0)

Coca-Cola Cup (England)

1996-1997

17′

1995-1996

235′

252′

0 (0)

Totals:

1679′

0 (0)