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Strachan confirmed as Scotland boss

Gordon Strachan moves into international management for the first time © PA Photos

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Gordon Strachan has been confirmed as the new manager of Scotland.

Craig Levein was axed in November 2012 and Strachan rapidly emerged as one of the leading candidates.

The SFA did not rush into the appointment, but reports on Monday suggested Strachan had been offered the role and his appointment was confirmed the following day.

Former Celtic, Southampton and Coventry City boss Strachan has signed a deal with the SFA which runs until the European Championship in 2016.

''I am very, very proud in myself and my family are proud I've become Scotland manager," he said at a press conference in Glasgow. "It's a great day for me to do this and it's been 40 years in the making.

"There'll be rough times but I know there'll be good times too."

Strachan, 55, has 50 Scotland caps to his name and is charged with the task of reviving the nation's fortunes on the international stage. They currently sit bottom of their World Cup qualifying group. His first game in charge will be a friendly with Estonia at Pittodrie in February.

"Every club you go to there's always challenges but this is the first time the challenges are in front of a nation," he said. "If you can be successful you can make a nation happy and make a nation proud and that is the priority for me to be able to do that with help from other people."

The job is Strachan's first since he left Middlesbrough in 2010 after a largely unsuccessful year in charge on Teesside, but he believes he is ready to return to the dugout.

"You're always interested as long as someone asks you. But I think that time is right now because I've had that European experience,'' he said. "I've had to deal with players and I've also had a couple of years where I can look at national football.

"The time is right for me to be able to take a job like this. I have the experience, I like working with people, I like dealing with people and I like trying to make people better."

Scotland have earned just two points from their first four Group A matches. Their next competitive fixture sees Wales come to Hampden Park on March 22.

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