SCOTTISH football has lost one of its legendary figures after Craig Brown passed away at the age of 82.
Brown led Scotland to Euro ’96 in England and the 1998 World Cup in France, still the last time the national team graced the global showpiece.
The brother of former Celtic director of football Jock, Brown started in the youth ranks at Rangers prior to stints with Falkirk and Dundee – with whom he won the Scottish top flight.
As a manager, he inherited the Scotland job from Andy Roxburgh after moving up to his assistant following great work with Scotland’s youth squads, including leading the Under-16 team to a Hampden World Cup final against Saudi Arabia.
Brown also had successful stints with Preston North End, Motherwell and Aberdeen – and continued working in the game until the end with his boardroom role at Pittodrie.
Brown’s passing comes just over 25 years on from the moment he led Scotland stars out in the opening game of the World Cup in France 1998.
As mentioned, Brown’s last job, before retiring from management was at Aberdeen between 2010 and 2013, and after stepping away from the dugout and his directorial role, he remained as a club ambassador.
Paying an emotional tribute, the man who hired him as Dons manager Stewart Milne, paid tribute to his friend.
The former chairman said: “Craig was a very special individual. He always had time for people and if there was any way in which he could help them inevitably he was there with an abundance of support and guidance.
“I very much enjoyed working with him, first as a manager, then as a board member, and in recent years as an ambassador for the club. One thing is for certain, AFC could not have had a better ambassador than Craig.
“During our time working together Craig become a close friend. He always had a story or two to tell, and I often became the butt of some of these stories, but he always meant it in a friendly way, I think!
“Craig was a successful manager of Scotland, and a number of top clubs and he will be remembered in a very positive light by thousands. He will be sadly missed by many, and I feel grateful that he played such an important part in my life.”
Brown had joined Aberdeen after a year in charge of Motherwell.
Upon his appointment at Fir Park in December 2009, he hadn’t managed since leaving Preston North End more than five years earlier.
Brown, along with assistant Archie Knox, helped establish Well in the top six – just one of several impressive achiements.
Motherwell said: “Craig Brown guided Motherwell back to the European stage.
Brown and Knox would take Motherwell on a true European adventure that summer, beating Breiðablik of Iceland, Aalesund of Norway and would face Odense of Denmark in the playoff round.
“Many moments were created for ‘Well fans, including Tom Hateley last minute free-kick in Denmark, that will live long in the memory of every supporter.
“Having guided Motherwell to Hampden and the semi-finals of the League Cup, Brown departed the club in December 2010, bolstering an impressive 46.86% win record in his time at Fir Park.
“An icon and influential figure of Scottish football, Brown will forever be remembered for his astonishing achievements within the game and likeable character on and off the pitch. He will be missed by everyone.
“The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Motherwell Football Club are with Craig’s family and close friends at this very sad time.”
Three years ago, Brown told the Scottish Sun how he was given only a 30 per cent chance of survival following an aneurysm.
The Hampden legend, 80, needed life-saving surgery after rupturing the body’s main blood vessel.
Brown said: “It was a big, life-threatening operation. The blood is spreading throughout your body.
“They say only about three out of ten survive it. The two ambulance guys said to me ‘in the last three years we have had over 20 of these and only three have made it alive to the hospital’.
“That was just over six months ago and I’m feeling very good now.”
Old friend and colleague Jocky Scott hailed Brown as one of the most influential coaches of his generation.
The ex-Scotland manager not only led the nation to the World Cup in France back in 1998 but also had a massive impact on Scottish football OFF the pitch.
Scott and Brown’s relationship went back almost sixty years from the first day they met at Dens Park.
For years Brown coordinated the SFA’s highly-rated coaching courses and Scott, who was put through his badges by Brown in the 1980s, believes his old Dundee team-mate’s influence will live on in our game for decades to come.
He said: “Craig was someone always there if you needed advice and he had a huge influence on a whole generation of managers and coaches.
“He was involved in the coaching badges for so long and has been so influential in Scottish football.
“So many of the managers we have now have been taught by Craig or have turned to him for advice.
“He was always there for people and always picked up the phone.
“If you had an issue you needed to discuss with someone, he was your man.
“And if you wanted information on a player, he was the man you’d call because he’d be able to tell you everything you needed to know.”
Ex-St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson thanked the ex-Scotland boss for helping him fulfil his boyhood dreams.
Davidson was handed his first cap by Brown in 1998 and starred in the 1-0 play-off win over England at Wembley in 1999.
“Craig gave me debut for Scotland and as a manager he was fantastic for my career.
“As a person he was even better. He was a mentor and a friend.
“He gave me so much belief and confidence, he was wonderful that way.
The highlight of Davidson’s time at Scotland was the 1-0 Wembley win over the English, even if that wasn’t enough to secure qualification for Euro 2000.
And looking back, the 46-year-old believes Brown’s record will stand out among international bosses in an era where the sport changed immeasurably.
He said: “In the Scotland set-up Craig created a proper team environment, everyone was made to feel very welcome.
“Obviously he got results, taking Scotland to Euro ‘96, the 1998 World Cup and then in 1999 missing out in the play-off for the Euros after beating England at Wembley.
“I was very lucky to play a part in that play-off game and it was incredible to be involved in it, even though we fell a bit short in the end.
“It was tough to take and although Craig was such a nice man, he did have that little switch that flicked when he wasn’t happy!”
Those sentiments were echoed by Cove Rangers boss Paul Hartley, who first encountered the popular national boss at Euro 1996 when as a Hamilton Accies kid he was invited to be a team hamper boy.
That started a long friendship between the pair, with Hartley later playing under Brown at Aberdeen.
They remained in touch throughout the years and the Cove Rangers boss believes Scottish football has lost a national treasure.
Hartley said: “Craig will be remembered as one of the greats. There is no doubt about it.
“He was a brilliant man, so popular and he did so much for so many people.
“I knew Craig for nearly 30 years and he had a huge influence on my career and that of so many others.
“His record as Scotland boss speaks for itself. He got results, he got us to major finals and he pulled the nation together.
“I will forever be thankful to him for bringing me along to Euro ‘96 as one of the hamper boys.
“It was a priceless education. It changed my career.”
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