Craig Brown was finally given recognition for his services to Scottish Football after being named amongst the latest inductees to the Hampden Hall of Fame.
Brown, bettered only by former Motherwell boss Alex McLeish in terms of statistical records whilst with the national team, was inducted at a ceremony at the plush Hilton Hotel in Glasgow this evening.
And many would argue the award is not before time, particularly as he has his Motherwell side performing incredibly well both in the SPL and the Co-operative Insurance Cup.
Brown started his coaching career at Fir Park back in 1974 when he was the assistant to then boss Willie McLean.
He got his first managerial job as part-time manager of Clyde in 1977, where he spent ten seasons – winning the Second Division championship in 1982 – whilst also working as a primary school head teacher then a lecturer in primary education.
He returned to football full-time in 1986 when Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh appointed him as his assistant. Brown was also in charge of Scotland’s youth teams. In 1989, he coached Scotland’s Under-16s to the final of the FIFA U-16 World Championship and, three years later, coached the under-21s to the semi-finals of the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
Brown was appointed manager of Scotland in December 1993, having been caretaker manager for the games against Italy and Malta. He took Scotland to Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup, but resigned in 2001 having failed to take Scotland to Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002.
Under Brown, Scotland beat England in the last ever Euro Championship qualifier at the old Wembley in 1999, as well as successes in Germany and Holland. He took charge of Scotland for 70 international matches, more than any other Scotland manager.
He then had a spell in club management when he was appointed as manager of Preston North End in 2002 but left by mutual consent on 29 August 2004. He later had a brief spell as football consultant at Derby County under former protégé Billy Davies, helping them win promotion to the Premier League in 2006-07 and latterly Fulham.
He arrived back at Fir Park in December 2009, some 35 years after first working at Motherwell, to fill the managerial post vacated by former boss Jim Gannon. He had enjoyed an incredible 11 months, guiding Motherwell to Europe and a within a whisker of the Europa League group stages, progressing to the last four of the Co-operative Insurance Cup and has a win percentage record in excess of 50%!
A truly deserved honour for one of the masters of the craft! Craig Brown, Scotland Hall of Fame Inductee 2010!