 Strachan as manager ofCeltic in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gordon David Strachan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1957-02-09)9 February 1957 (age 69)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dundee (technical director) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1971–1974 | Dundee | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1977 | Dundee | 69 | (13) |
| 1977–1984 | Aberdeen | 183 | (55) |
| 1984–1989 | Manchester United | 160 | (33) |
| 1989–1995 | Leeds United | 197 | (37) |
| 1995–1997 | Coventry City | 26 | (0) |
| Total | 635 | (138) | |
| International career | |||
| 1979 | Scotland U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 1980–1992 | Scotland | 50 | (5) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1996–2001 | Coventry City | ||
| 2001–2004 | Southampton | ||
| 2005–2009 | Celtic | ||
| 2009–2010 | Middlesbrough | ||
| 2013–2017 | Scotland | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gordon David StrachanOBE (/ˈstræxən/ born 9 February 1957) is a Scottish formerfootball coach and player who is currently Technical Director ofDundee. He played forDundee,Aberdeen,Manchester United,Leeds United andCoventry City, as well as theScotland national team. He has since managed Coventry City,Southampton,Celtic,Middlesbrough and Scotland.
In club football, Strachan played 635 league games, scoring a total of 138 goals, playing 21 of 25 career seasons in either the English or Scottish top-flight. In international football Strachan earned 50 caps, scoring five goals and played in twoFIFA World Cup final tournaments,Spain 82 andMexico 86. Strachan retired from playing in 1997 at age 40, setting aPremier League record for an outfield player.
Aright-sided midfielder, Strachan made his senior debut in 1974 with Dundee before moving on within Scotland, to spend seven seasons at Aberdeen. He first played for the Scotland national team in 1980. While at Aberdeen Strachan won multiple domestic league and cup honours in the early 1980s, as well as the1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup and1983 European Super Cup. Moving to England, Strachan won the1985 FA Cup final in five seasons with Manchester United. He spent the next seven seasons as club captain at Leeds, winning the 1989–90 Second Division and 1991–92 First Division league titles. He played his last game for Scotland in 1992. He moved to Coventry in 1995 for a final three seasons, as aplayer-coach.
Strachan became full-time manager of Coventry when the incumbentRon Atkinson was appointed asdirector of football. Strachan spent five years as manager of Coventry, but was dismissed in 2001 after the club was relegated from the top-flight for the first time in 34 years. He returned to the Premier League as Southampton manager and guided the "Saints" to the2003 FA Cup final, where they lost 1–0 toArsenal. Strachan resigned from Southampton in 2004 and took a 16-month break from management. He returned to Scotland to become manager of Celtic, where he achieved three successive league titles and other domestic cup wins. Strachan left Celtic in May 2009 after failing to win a fourth title. He then became manager ofMiddlesbrough in the EnglishChampionship, but left the club after an unsuccessful 12 months in the job. Strachan then managed the Scotland national team for five years, but was unable to secure qualification for a major tournament.
Strachan was named asFWA Footballer of the Year for the1990–91 season while at Leeds. He was also named Manager of the Year in Scotland several times by writers and players while at Celtic. In 2007, Strachan was inducted into theScottish Football Hall of Fame. He is the father ofCraig Strachan andGavin Strachan and the grandfather ofLuke Strachan, all of whom were also footballers.
Strachan was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the1993 New Year Honours for services to association football.[4]
Born and raised inMuirhouse,Edinburgh, Strachan supportedHibernian as a boy.[5][6] His father, Jim, worked as a scaffolder, and his mother, Catherine, worked at a whisky distillery.[7] At age 15, he damaged his vision playing football on the school playground when a pen in his pocket became lodged in his right eye; the pen came within "a thousandth of an inch" of permanently costing him the vision in his eye.[8] He was offered a contract by Hibernian managerEddie Turnbull, but his father decided against the offer after stating the club did not pay sufficient expenses for footwear.[9]
Strachan began his career withDundee, having decided to sign with the Scottish club at age 14.[9] In joining the club, he rejected an approach fromManchester United,[6] reasoning he had a better chance to establish himself in the first team atDens Park.[9] His natural talent was immediately apparent, and he quickly earned a reputation as an outstanding player in the second team, twice winning the Scottish Reserve Player of the Year Award.[6] He made his mark as an 18-year-old when he outplayedAlan Ball in a friendly withArsenal in August 1975;[6]The Sunday Post compared him to a youngBilly Bremner.[10] Strachan became a regular player in the1975–76 season, the inaugural season of theScottish Premier Division, featuring in 17 of the club's 36 league matches;[11] however,David White's "Dee" were relegated on the last day of the season afterrivalsDundee United edged ahead on goal average with an unlikely draw with championsRangers.[12]
New bossTommy Gemmell handed 19-year-old Strachan the captaincy for the1976–77First Division campaign,[13] and he remains the youngest player to have captained Dundee.[6] Strachan considers his performance as captain as very poor. "I was a pathetic Billy Bremner. I wanted to go about bumping into people, growling at people, shouting at people. And I forgot to be a footballer."[14] The club failed to shine in the lower divisions, and Strachan lost his first-team place early in the1977–78 season following a drinking session withJimmy Johnstone; Gemmell was also concerned that Strachan was "getting kicked a lot" after opposition teams worked out that the way to stop Dundee was to take out their playmaker.[15] Strachan decided to leave Dundee as the club seemed unlikely to win back their top-flight status; the Dundee chairman was also keen on cashing in his most prized asset, and told Gemmell that "we need £50,000 by Friday or the banks are closing the gate".[6][16] His last match for Dundee was on 26 October 1977 in a 6–0 defeat in the League Cup toQueen of the South atPalmerston Park, which Strachan described in his autobiography as "embarrassing".
Strachan was signed byAberdeen managerBilly McNeill in November 1977 for a fee of £50,000 plusJim Shirra.[16] Poor form and niggling injuries made1977–78 a mediocre season for Strachan, though the club went on to finish second in the Scottish Premier Division. He was not picked for the1978 Scottish Cup Final defeat to Rangers.[17] Strachan did win the Scottish 2nd XI Cup with the reserves in 1978.[18]
McNeill left thePittodrie Stadium forCeltic in summer 1978, andAlex Ferguson was appointed as the new manager.[19] Strachan played atHampden Park in the1979League Cup defeat to Rangers, and set upDuncan Davidson for the game's opening goal.[20] Though the1978–79 campaign was a disappointment, Aberdeen went on to win the league title in1979–80 after closing a ten-point deficit over Celtic with a late run that included two victories atCeltic Park.[21] They again reached theLeague Cup Final, beating bothOld Firm sidesen route, where they lost 3–0 to Dundee United at Dens Park.[22] At the end of the season, Strachan was electedSFWA Footballer of the Year.[6][23] After gaining assuranceAlex McLeish would also stay with the club, Strachan signed a new contract to keep him at Pittodrie until 1984.[24]
Aberdeen could only manage a second-place finish in1980–81, as Celtic regained the league title. Aberdeen exited theEuropean Cup in the second round with defeat to eventual championsLiverpool; managerBob Paisley said Strachan would become "Britain's first £2 million player", in what was a (successful) early attempt atmind games.[25] He missed the second half of the season with a muscle tear in his stomach.[26] With fit-again Strachan on the right flank – supported by full-backStuart Kennedy – and record signingPeter Weir on the left-flank, Aberdeen mounted a genuine title challenge in1981–82, but had to settle for second place to Celtic.[27] They did though lift theScottish Cup with a4–1 extra-time victory over Rangers, with Strachan contributing one assist and one goal.[28]
The1982–83 campaign was the greatest in thehistory of the club, and Strachan made his mark early on with four goals in a 5–1 victory at former club Dundee in the League Cup.[29] Despite only finishing third in the league (albeit only one point behind champions andNew Firm rivals Dundee United) and exiting the League Cup in the quarter-finals, Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup and theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup. The club's European success came with a2–1 after-extra-time victory over Spanish giantsReal Madrid atUllevi inGothenburg. The Scottish Cup came with a1–0 win over Rangers.[30] The "Dons" continued their success by delivering the league title and Scottish Cup in1983–84, with Strachan setting upMark McGhee for the winning goal in thecup final win over Celtic.[31] This completed a unique treble, as they defeatedHamburger SV in the1983 European Super Cup.
In August 1984, Manchester United spent £500,000 to take Strachan toOld Trafford.[32] However, because Strachan had previously signed a pre-contract agreement withBundesliga side1. FC Köln, United paid £75,000 compensation to resolve the row – teammateMark McGhee had also signed a contract withHamburger SV on the understanding that Strachan would also be playing in Germany.[33] Strachan opened the1984–85 campaign with four goals in seven matches,[34] though the "Red Devils" could only manage a fourth-place finish in theFirst Division. He featured atWembley Stadium in the1985 FA Cup Final, as United ran out 1–0 winners overEverton; his lung-bursting run off-the-ball helpedNorman Whiteside to find the space for his extra-time winner.[35]
After winning their opening ten league matches of the1985–86 season, United had to cope without Strachan, who was sidelined for much of the season with injury.[36] They proved unable to cope with their injuries – another key player facing extended time in the treatment room wasBryan Robson – and limped to another fourth-place finish.[36] Atkinson was replaced byAlex Ferguson in November 1986, and Strachan mocked sobbing as he told his teammates, "I never thought he'd follow me this far south!"[37] After his arrival, Ferguson speculated that no longer being the star player had negatively affected Strachan's form.[38] United finished a disappointing 11th in1986–87, before rising to second place in1987–88. Strachan's form was again patchy in1988–89, as United slipped back down to 11th.[39]
In March 1989,Sheffield Wednesday managerRon Atkinson had a bid of £200,000 accepted by Manchester United, and he offered Strachan a contract paying more money than anyone in the club's history.[40] However likely a move to Sheffield seemed,Leeds United managerHoward Wilkinson matched the offer and convinced Strachan to drop down into theSecond Division.[41] He quickly became a popular figure atElland Road, earning comparisons to former favouritesBobby Collins andJohnny Giles.[42] Signing a two-year contract, he was awarded with the captain's armband.[43] He formed an unlikely midfield partnership withVinnie Jones and led the club to the Second Division title in1989–90.[44]
With Leeds now in the First Division, Wilkinson secured a midfield quartet of Strachan,Gary McAllister,David Batty andGary Speed.[45] They achieved a commendable fourth-place finish in1990–91, and also reached the semi-finals of theLeague Cup.[45] Strachan was votedFWA Footballer of the Year for his performances during the campaign, becoming the first player to win the award both in Scotland and in England.[45]
Strachan signed a new two-year contract, before captaining Leeds to the league title in1991–92.[46] In so doing, he denied former boss Alex Ferguson and Leeds'fierce rivals Manchester United the title.[47] However, Strachan (now nearing age 35) was beginning to feel the effects of hissciatica and missed a number of matches due to his bad back.[48] Following the club's success, Strachan was appointed anOBE for his services to sport.[49]
However, Leeds were unable to build on their success, and finished the1992–93 season in 17th place in what was newly re-branded as thePremier League.[50] Strachan continued to impress though, and was given the club's Player of the Year award.[50] He scored a hat-trick againstBlackburn Rovers on 10 April 1993.[51] This was his second hat-trick for Leeds, the first having come in September 1989 when he found the net three times in a 4–0 win over promotion rivalsSwindon Town in the Second Division atElland Road.[52]
Strachan managed 37 starts in1993–94, and Leeds rose to fifth.[50] He was rarely selected in the1994–95 season, which would prove to be the end of his spell at Elland Road, where he had spent six years.[53]
In March 1995, Strachan moved toCoventry City to work as assistant manager under new manager Ron Atkinson, the man who had brought him south of the border to Manchester United 11 years earlier. It was also agreed he would replace Atkinson as manager in summer 1997.[54] Strachan coached the team and led training sessions while learning the finer points of management from Atkinson.[55] He also took to the field atHighfield Road, playing 26 Premier League matches for the Sky Blues over the next two years before finally retiring in his 40th year. Atkinson signed Aberdeen midfielderEoin Jess in 1996 purely on the basis of Strachan's recommendation.[56] However, Brazilian strikierIsaías left the club after falling-out with Strachan.[57]
Coventry signedGary McAllister for £3 million on wages of £20,000 per week; the deal was done by McAllister's former teammate and friend Strachan, while Atkinson was largely opposed to the deal.[58] The club struggled at the start of the1996–97 campaign, and the club's board of directors asked Atkinson to step aside in November 1996, some months earlier than first agreed, and Strachan was appointed manager.[59]
Strachan won his first cap forScotland on 16 May 1980, in aBritish Home Championship defeat toNorthern Ireland atWindsor Park.[60] Strachan helped Scotland qualify for the1982 FIFA World Cup and scored a crucial goal inqualifying by scoring the only goal againstSweden at theRåsunda Stadium in Stockholm.[61] He did not feature in the1982 British Home Championship, asJock Stein wanted to rest him for theWorld Cup, held in Spain.[62] The Scots cruised to a 5–2 victory overNew Zealand atLa Rosaleda Stadium,Málaga; Strachan was named Man of the Match.[63] Scotland then lost 4–1 to a world-classBrazil side at theEstadio Benito Villamarín,Seville.[64] In the third match, a 2–2 draw with theSoviet Union back in Málaga saw Scotland exit the tournament on goal difference.[64]
Scotland alsoqualified for the1986 FIFA World Cup. However, shortly after the draw withWales atNinian Park on 10 September 1985, Jock Stein died of a heart attack, and his assistant Alex Ferguson took charge for the World Cup campaign.[65] To complete their qualification, they had to beatAustralia in aplay-off. Strachan played in the first leg atHampden Park, but did not travel toMelbourne for the second leg.[66] The Scots faced a tough draw in Mexico and lost their opening match 1–0 at theEstadio Neza 86 in theMexico City suburb ofNezahualcóyotl to the unseeded – but highly fancied –Denmark.[67] Strachan then scored in a 2–1 defeat toWest Germany at theEstadio Corregidora inQueretaro; his goal celebration was memorable, as he tried to climb the advertising hoardings, but was thwarted by his short stature and so merely rested his leg on the hoarding before he was joined by his teammates.[68] In the third and final group match back in Nezahualcóyotl, Scotland drew 0–0 withUruguay despite their opponents going down to ten men after less than a minute of play whenJosé Batista attempted to take Strachan out of the game.[68]
Strachan fell out of the first team picture underAndy Roxburgh, and was omitted from thesquad for the1990 World Cup.[69] Nevertheless, he enjoyed a national team revival between 1990 and 1992, and captained his country inqualification forUEFA Euro 1992.[70] However, he did not travel to Sweden as a member of the squad, as he announced his retirement due to long-term back troubles.[71] He won 50 full caps, and scored five international goals.
When Ron Atkinson became Coventry City's director of football in November 1996, Strachan was promoted to a player manager position. He appointedAlex Miller as his assistant.[72] After an upturn in results, Strachan was namedManager of the Month in December.[73] However, 1 win in 12 matches in the New Year left the "Sky Blues" in the relegation zone. Late wins over Liverpool,Chelsea andTottenham Hotspur saved their season though, and relegation was avoided by a one-point margin. Strachan played in the win over Chelsea atHighfield Road at age 40, in what was at the time a record age for an outfield player in the Premier League.[citation needed]
Strachan signed Swedish goalkeeperMagnus Hedman and defenderRoland Nilsson, Dutch midfielderGeorge Boateng, and Romanian strikerViorel Moldovan – all of whom would win international caps.[74] Coventry rose to 11th place in1997–98, and also reached the quarter-finals of the1997–98 FA Cup.[74] After Miller left the club, Strachan replaced him withGarry Pendrey, who would go on to spend many years as his assistant at various clubs.[75] Strachan was again named Manager of the Month in February 1998.[citation needed]
The club finished 15th in1998–99 and 14th in1999–2000, as Strachan spent £6 million on Irish strikerRobbie Keane and £5 million on MoroccansMustapha Hadji andYoussef Chippo, while sellingDion Dublin to Midlands rivalsAston Villa.[76] Coventry were relegated at the end of the2000–01 season, making Strachan unpopular with fans.[77] New signingCraig Bellamy proved disappointing, while Robbie Keane was sold and Gary McAllister departed for Liverpool.[78] Strachan attempted to launch a promotion campaign by signing strikerLee Hughes, but in the face of increasing supporter unrest, he was dismissed after five matches of the2001–02First Division campaign.[79] His replacement, Roland Nilsson, took the club to an 11th-place finish.[citation needed]
Strachan returned to management within weeks, taking the manager's job at Premier LeagueSouthampton, who had sacked managerStuart Gray after a terrible start to their first season at the newSt Mary's Stadium. Most pundits had already written off their survival chances by the time of Strachan's appointment in October 2001, but he turned round their fortunes and they finished 11th in the Premier League. The Saints progressed further in2002–03 when they finished eighth and reached theFA Cup Final, where they lost 1–0 toArsenal. As Arsenal had already qualified for the2003–04 UEFA Champions League, Southampton won a place in theUEFA Cup.[80]
In February 2004, Strachan announced his resignation as Southampton manager after his decision not to stay on at the club in the summer was leaked to the press.[81] He wanted to take a break from football, but was forced to resign earlier than initially intended due to the speculation surrounding his and the club's future following the leak.[82]
After a 16-month break, Strachan returned to management on 1 June 2005, when he succeededMartin O'Neill as manager of Celtic in theScottish Premier League (SPL). For2005–06, his stated aim was to regain the SPL title from rivals Rangers. He had an embarrassing start to his campaign as Celtic manager, losing 5–0 to Slovakian championsArtmedia Bratislava on 27 July 2005 and three days later, drawing 4–4 withMotherwell in his first SPL match in charge of theGlasgow club. The loss against Artmedia meant Celtic suffered an early exit from European competition, despite winning the return match 4–0. After this disastrous start, Celtic started to improve under Strachan. A low-point was the shock defeat in the third round of the Scottish Cup to First DivisionClyde on 8 January 2006. However, the following month his team made history when they defeatedDunfermline Athletic 8–1, a record victory margin for the SPL at the time. Strachan's first season was ultimately successful as he coached Celtic to victory in the League Cup and, on 5 April 2006, his side clinched the SPL title in record time and with six matches remaining. Reflecting this achievement, Strachan was voted Manager of the Year by theScottish Football Writers' Association eight days later.[83]
The following year, Strachan restructured the team and made a series of signings, bringing in players such as Hibernian'sDerek Riordan; Chelsea'sJiří Jarošík;Kenny Miller andLee Naylor fromWolverhampton Wanderers;Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink fromPSV;Thomas Gravesen fromReal Madrid; andPaul Hartley andSteven Pressley fromHearts. Celtic flourished and by mid-January 2007 held a 17-point lead in the SPL table. UEFA Champions League football again returned to Celtic Park, the team having automatically qualified for the group stages and drawn alongsideBenfica,Copenhagen and Manchester United. Home victories against all three Group F members saw the team progress to the round of 16 of the Champions League for the first time since the competition was re-formatted in 1993. Celtic lost their round of 16 tie against eventual winnersMilan in extra time, missing out on a place in the quarter-finals. On 22 April 2007, Strachan guided Celtic to their 41st league championship, and second in succession. A 2–1 victory againstKilmarnock[84] left Celtic 13 points clear of Rangers with four matches remaining. Later that day, Strachan was recognised as the inauguralPFA Scotland Manager of the Year for 2007. Celtic went on to win theScottish Cup, beating Dunfermline Athletic.[citation needed]
In the2007–08 season, Strachan led Celtic into the round of 16 of theUEFA Champions League again after defeating Milan, Benfica andShakhtar Donetsk. By April, there was significant criticism from the press and the fans after a 1–0 loss to Aberdeen in theScottish Cup quarter-final and a 1–0 loss to ten-manMotherwell in theSPL. However, after defeating Rangers twice at home, on 22 May 2008 Strachan became only the third ever Celtic manager to guide the club to three consecutive Scottish league titles.[citation needed]
In the2008–09 season, after winning the League Cup after extra time against Rangers, but failing to lead Celtic to another league title, he resigned as manager on 25 May 2009.[85][86]
Strachan signed a four-year contract with EnglishChampionship teamMiddlesbrough on 26 October 2009, succeedingGareth Southgate.[87][88] He had been linked with the Middlesbrough manager's job 15 years earlier, when still a Leeds United player.[89] His first match in charge was on 31 October, a 1–0 defeat toPlymouth Argyle, withAdam Johnson missing a penalty.[90] On 5 December, Middlesbrough won their first match under Strachan, 5–1 away toQueens Park Rangers.[91] After a poor run of results, including a 3–0 loss at home toBlackpool and a 1–0 loss at home toCardiff City, Strachan earned his first home win after his team beatScunthorpe United 3–0.[92]
After a poor start to the2010–11 season meant Middlesbrough were in 20th place,[93] Strachan left the club by mutual consent on 18 October.[94] He voluntarily ended his contract and left without compensation.[93]
Strachan was appointed manager of the Scotland national team on 15 January 2013, succeedingCraig Levein.[95] His first match in charge was atPittodrie Stadium in a friendly match againstEstonia on 6 February. The game ended 1–0 to Scotland, withCharlie Mulgrew getting his first international goal. Scotland suffered defeats to Wales andSerbia in Strachan's first two competitive matches, which ended the Scots' slim chances of qualification for the2014 World Cup.[96] After this, Scotland had an upturn in form, winning both matches againstCroatia[96] and away againstMacedonia. Scotland finished fourth in qualifying Group A.
InEuro 2016 qualifying, Scotland appeared to have a better chance of qualification as the finals tournament was expanded from 16 teams to 24, but were drawn in a tough group withGermany,Poland and theRepublic of Ireland.[96] After losing their opening match in Germany, Scotland recorded home wins againstGeorgia, Ireland andGibraltar, and away draws against Poland and Ireland.[96] In their following match, Scotland produced an "insipid" performance, as they lost 1–0 in Georgia.[96] A home defeat by Germany left Scotland four points behind third-placed Ireland, with two matches to play.[96] In the penultimate matches of the group, Scotland needed to beat Poland, or hope that Ireland would lose to Germany.[96] Scotland came from behind to lead 2–1 in their match, but Ireland had scored the only goal of their match, leaving the Scots needing a win to stay alive.[96] A late scrambled goal byRobert Lewandowski gave Poland a draw that eliminated Scotland from contention.[96] Strachan bemoaned what he perceived to be bad luck.[96] After a win against Gibraltar in the last qualifier, Strachan agreed to a new contract with theScottish Football Association.[97] After failing to qualify for the2018 FIFA World Cup, Strachan resigned from his position on 12 October 2017.[98]
Typically playing a traditional4–4–2 formation,[99][100] and very occasionally 4–5–1,[101] Strachan is known for his rigorous management style.[102][better source needed] He also places great emphasis on player health and fitness, forbidding his players to drink alcohol excessively or regularly, and often giving dietary advice to his players, attributing his own longevity as a player to a strict and somewhat unusual diet involvingseaweed.[103][104] Players such as Scotland internationalGary Caldwell have attributed their success at Celtic to lifestyle changes enforced by Strachan.[105]
Renowned for hisdeadpan humour in media interviews, quotes attributed to Strachan have become part of popular football culture.[106]
Despite playing for Alex Ferguson at two clubs, the pair had an ongoing public feud during Strachan's managerial career. In his 1999 autobiography, the former Manchester United manager said, "I decided this man could not be trusted an inch – I would not want to expose my back to him in a hurry." In his own 2006 autobiography, in response to Ferguson's comments, Strachan said he was "surprised and disappointed".[107] The rivalry dates from Strachan's time playing under Ferguson, first at Aberdeen and later Manchester United.[108] In August 2006, after his Celtic team was drawn to play Ferguson's Manchester United in the Champions League, Strachan said that there was no longer any enmity between the two managers.[109]
Strachan has analysed football matches for the media, including alongsideAdrian Chiles onBBC Sport'sMatch of the Day 2.[110] He has worked as a regular pundit forITV's coverage of theFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. During the2014 World Cup, he worked as a pundit for ITV.[111] In April 2019, Strachan apologised for remarks he made duringThe Debate onSky Sports.[112] Following the release of convicted sex offenderAdam Johnson from prison, Strachan had appeared to suggest that abusing Johnson for that offence was comparable with racial abuse.[112]
For the2006 World Cup, Strachan was appointed as the official FIFA Ambassador for Scotland, joining 50 others in fundraising forSOS Children's Villages, the official charity of the tournament.[113]
Strachan and his two sons started their own football school in the Coventry area in August 2009.[114]
In July 2019, Strachan was appointed to a technical director position withDundee.[115]
Strachan married Lesley Scott in 1977;George Mackie was his best man.[116] Together, they had three children:Craig andGavin Strachan, also footballers,[114] and Gemma Strachan.[117] Strachan's grandson,Luke, is also a footballer and came through the youth setup withDundee whilst Gordon was technical director at the club.[118]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dundee[120] | 1973–74 | Scottish First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| 1974–75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | |||
| 1975–76 | Scottish Premier Division | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 | 6 | ||
| 1976–77 | Scottish First Division | 36 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 42 | 8 | |||
| 1977–78 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 14 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 69 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 89 | 15 | |||
| Aberdeen | 1977–78 | Scottish Premier Division | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 | 1 | |
| 1978–79 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3[c] | 1 | – | 46 | 6 | |||
| 1979–80 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 2[d] | 0 | – | 51 | 15 | |||
| 1980–81 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 4[e] | 0 | – | 30 | 9 | |||
| 1981–82 | 30 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6[d] | 3 | – | 50 | 20 | |||
| 1982–83 | 32 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10[c] | 1 | – | 52 | 20 | |||
| 1983–84 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7[c] | 3 | 2[f] | 0 | 47 | 18 | ||
| Total | 183 | 54 | 29 | 7 | 46 | 20 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 292 | 89 | ||
| Manchester United | 1984–85 | First Division | 41 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6[d] | 2 | – | 56 | 19 | |
| 1985–86 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 4[g] | 0 | 38 | 5 | |||
| 1986–87 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 38 | 4 | ||||
| 1987–88 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 44 | 9 | ||||
| 1988–89 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |||
| Total | 160 | 33 | 23 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 206 | 38 | ||
| Leeds United | 1988–89 | Second Division | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 3 | ||
| 1989–90 | 46 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 17 | ||||
| 1990–91 | First Division | 34 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 47 | 9 | |||
| 1991–92 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 5 | ||||
| 1992–93 | Premier League | 31 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5[h] | 1 | 1[i] | 0 | 44 | 6 | |
| 1993–94 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | ||||
| 1994–95 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 197 | 37 | 14 | 2 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 236 | 44 | ||
| Coventry City | 1994–95 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 1995–96 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| 1996–97 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 635 | 137 | 76 | 12 | 95 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 856 | 186 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 1980 | 7 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1982 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1983 | 9 | 1 | |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1986 | 6 | 2 | |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 5 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 September 1980 | Råsunda Stadium,Stockholm, Sweden | 6 |  Sweden | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 12 June 1983 | Empire Stadium,Vancouver, Canada | 22 |  Canada | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 26 March 1986 | Hampden Park,Glasgow, Scotland | 34 |  Romania | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 8 June 1986 | Estadio La Corregidora,Queretaro, Mexico | 36 |  West Germany | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1986 FIFA World Cup |
| 5 | 1 May 1991 | Stadio Olimpico,Serravalle, San Marino | 46 |  San Marino | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Coventry City | 5 November 1996 | 10 September 2001 | 215 | 70 | 56 | 89 | 032.56 |
| Southampton | 22 October 2001 | 13 February 2004 | 110 | 39 | 32 | 39 | 035.45 |
| Celtic | 1 June 2005 | 25 May 2009 | 182 | 122 | 28 | 32 | 067.03 |
| Middlesbrough | 26 October 2009 | 18 October 2010 | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 028.26 |
| Scotland | 15 January 2013 | 12 October 2017 | 40 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 047.50 |
| Total | 593 | 263 | 138 | 192 | 044.35 | ||
Aberdeen
Manchester United
Leeds United
Scotland
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Individual
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