Former Scotland manager ALEX MCLEISH on
A keen film fan, Alex Mcleish is tickled by the idea that were Hollywood ever to tackle Scott Mctominay’s career, his own part in the tale has scope to be spun into a quest of Indiana Jones proportions.
It was three years ago this month that the then Scotland boss battled his way through the “Beast From The East” to ensure the Manchester United midfielder committed himself to the land of his father’s birth.
Mctominay will go to the Euros in the summer as one of the country’s key players – and is fast becoming one of the English Premier League’s hottest talents.
His extra-time goal against West Ham got United into the FA Cup quarter-finals, and he has come a long way since the storms of 2018.
“It is a good story to look back on, even if it does all sound a bit mad now,” admits Mcleish.
“The Beast was pretty fierce, and on the night I went to see Scott, we were talking snow storms plus planes and trains getting cancelled left, right and centre.
“At the time, though, there were rumours of Gareth Southgate and England being poised to pounce, and I did fear he was going to go with them.
There were two trains left. One that would have taken me home, and the other on to Manchester
“My thinking then was : ‘Southgate is going to phone him in the next 24 hours, and if I don’t get there, we will lose him’.
“This was at a time, too, when we really were craving a wee upgrade in quality.
“So in spite all the bad weather, I battered on. But it wasn’t easy as the trains kept getting stopped or delayed.
“By the time I got to York, it must have been two in the morning.
“There were two trains left. One that would have taken me home, and the other on to Manchester.
“You have that parrot on your left shoulder, saying: ‘Just quit and go home to your bed’, while the one on the right is telling you: ‘No, you have come this far, you can’t stop.
“So I listened to the second one, travelled on to Manchester, and must have got in about 4am.
“Listen, I could have made a phone call to Scott. But I wanted to see him face-to-face, to show our commitment to him.
“Jose Mourinho had made a public invitation to us by saying: ‘I think Alex Mcleish has to give me a call’.
“And having seen him in action for myself by then, I believed he could be a player for us.
“So that was what the trip was all about, and having survived my battle with the elements, I went in to see Jose the next day.
“He was in good form and, after a bit of lunch, we got Scott into his office.
“I said: ‘OK, $64,000 question, big man – will you be willing to play for Scotland?’.
“He replied straight away: ‘I never