Gord more successful than Craig? Stat’s just nonsense
Braveheart: Strachan must reach a finals to be compared with man who led us to Euros and France
GORDON STRACHAN is now officially a more successful Scotland boss than Craig Brown.
But national team legend Colin Hendry says the stats mean nothing as the manager has yet to lead the country to a major tournament finals.
Strachan has moved into fifth place based on wins and draws divided by games played but Hendry reckons Brown might just be the best of all time given he led Scotland to two major tournament finals and so close to a third.
However, he hopes Strachan can take the next step and qualify for the 2018 World Cup so he can lose the title as the last man to skipper the country on the big stage.
Hendry, who played for Strachan at Coventry, said: “It may be statistically accurate to say Gordon is ahead of Craig but it just shows statistics don’t paint an accurate picture.
“Craig took us to two major tournament finals back to back and was close to making it three when we lost out to England in the Euro 2000 play-offs.
“There’s a good argument to say he has been the best Scotland manager ever, so Gordon has some work to do to emulate his achievements but I hope he can.
“Don’t get me wrong, Craig had his critics because we played in a way some people didn’t like.
“We were set up so we were hard to beat but also with the ability to create and take chances. If we went ahead in a game we were going to make sure that the opposition didn’t get back into it.
“Keeping clean sheets was our platform but you have to go and win games to qualify for tournaments and that’s how we got to Euro 96 and World Cup 98.
“There’s no doubt Craig’s achievements were not given the credit they deserved at the time but if you look at it now his record is looking better and better.
“Back then we had guys competing at the highest level – players at the top of the English Premier League – and some who had won it.
“We don’t have that now. How many play every week in the Premier League? I couldn’t even tell you who our highest-ranked player is – maybe Andy Robertson at Liverpool but he’s not a regular.”
Hendry is still fiercely passionate about his country and feels Strachan can deliver by beating Slovakia on Thursday and then Slovenia on Sunday.
He said: “It’s black and white for us. We need to win the two games to take second place then see who we get in the play-off.
“I’m pleased for Gordon. Although I didn’t have a great time at Coventry I had total respect for him and always got on well with him.
“I’m glad for him that we have a chance going into these final two games. It’s up to Gordon to send out a team to beat Slovakia, that’s 50 per cent of the job done and we get ready for Slovenia.
“If we do win these two matches and go on to succeed in the play-off it would be very special.
“I never thought I would be the last Scotland captain to lead out the country at a major tournament finals.
“It’s frightening that it’s 20 years since we’ve done it. Will it change? Let’s hope so.”