McLeish the right man for job, says Smith

Walter Smith resisted the temptation of a possible return to the Scotland hot seat but believes the SFA opted for the right manager in Alex McLeish.

Smith was boss of the national team between 2004 and 2007 then returned to Rangers for a second spell before retiring in 2011.

The former Everton boss was linked with the post after the departure of Gordon Strachan in October. However, ultimately, McLeish was named Scotland manager for the second time last month and is preparing for the friendly against Costa Rica at Hampden on Friday night before a second challenge match in Hungary on Tuesday.

Smith, 70, was speaking at Ibrox where he was helping publicise a Rangers legends match on Saturday.

He said: “I never got to the stage where, despite what you might have read that the SFA offered me the job, they only asked if I would be prepared to come out of retirement and that is effectively where it was.

“I suppose there is always a little bit of a pull to come back again but in the end I felt I had been out for too long a period and happy enough to get my golf handicap down – which I am failing to do.

“Alex McLeish is a tried and tested manager. If anything, he is one that they should have gone for in the first place.

“His record as Scotland team manager was good.

“I didn’t see any reason why they shouldn’t have attempted to get him in the first place. He is back there now and gets another opportunity.

“He will obviously take a few games to get himself back into the run of things again.

“But the European Championship this time offers a good opportunity for a national team manager. There are a couple of ways you can get yourself into the qualifying position so hopefully the good run that Scotland finished when Gordon Strachan was there can continue.”

Walter Smith: felt he had been out of the game for too long.