Sad news this lunchtime that the legendary former Scottish national team manager Craig Brown has passed away, aged 82.
Brown’s family confirmed this afternoon that the man who led Scotland to the European Championship finals in 1996 and the World Cup in France two years later had died after a short illness at University Hospital in Ayr. Brown’s playing career, which saw him represent Rangers, Dundee and Falkirk as a wing half, was curtailed by a knee injury but he took his first managerial job at Clyde in 1977 before Sir Alex Ferguson, posed to take temporary charge of Scotland at the World Cup in 1986, invited Brown to be part of his coaching staff in Mexico City.
He became the permanent assistant to Andy Roxburgh and took on a brief of revamping Scotland’s youth sides, leading the under-16s to a world title in 1989 and the under-21s to the European semi-finals in 1992. After group stage exits at Italia ’90 and Euro ’92, Brown was appointed national team coach in December 1993. He qualified for Euro ’96 and were unfortunate not to join the hosts in the second round of the tournament, having drawn with the Netherlands and beating Switzerland. The Scots dominated the first half of their battle with England at Wembley, beaten by second half goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne, the latter of which came seconds after Gary McAllister’s spot kick had been saved by David Seaman.
The Scots qualified for the World Cup in France in 1998, memorably kicking off with no opposition in Tallinn as Estonia stayed away angered by a switch of kick-off time, and pushed holders Brazil all the way in the opening game, with future Fulham midfielder John Collins coolly converting a penalty in the Stade de France. But Brown’s side were hampered by a draw with Norway and lost their decisive final group game 3-0 to Morocco. The auld enemies were paired together in a play-off to reach Euro 2000, with England coached by former Fulham boss Kevin Keegan. Paul Scholes scored twice at Hampden Park, but a Don Hutchinson header gave Brown’s side a famous win at Wembley – but it wasn’t enough to qualify.
Brown resigned from the national job after failing to reach the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea and he remains Scotland’s longest-serving manager. He enjoyed success with Preston North End before working as an advisor to Fulham between 2005 and 2006, when he joined Billy Davies’ backroom team at Derby County. He managed Motherwell in 2009 and then took over at Aberdeen a year later, joining the Pittodrie board on his retirement from management. He was awarded a CBE for his services to football in 1999 and received an honorary degree from Abertay University in 2001.
Brown was a thoughtful pundit, an outstanding technical analyst for the Scottish FA and UEFA and exceptionally generous with his time to those who didn’t deserve it, including this correspondent. The global game, not just the Scottish one, will be poorer without his presence. Our thoughts go out to Craig’s friends and family in the aftermath of this sad news.
