Strachan could break the mould

Scotland’s last two performances, against Croatia and England, have encouraged the Tartan Army to contemplate a return to the big time.

Indeed, the fans are already looking out their passports for the 2016 European Championship Finals in France!

Recent improvement, coupled with the fact 24 nations will compete across the English Channel, has brought renewed optimism to the kilted hordes.

On the evidence of the win in Zagreb in June and the spirited defeat at Wembley in midweek, manager Gordon Strachan has certainly instilled organisation and honour into the ranks.

Now the SFA must make sure he remains at the helm far longer than his recent predecessors.

Since Craig Brown resigned in 2001, there have been six different national bosses, and I worked closely with them all.

What a mixed bag they proved to be.

BERTI VOGTS was an unmitigated disaster.

He was in charge for 32 games, including dismal attempts to qualify for the 2004 European Championship Finals and the World Cup Finals two years later.

The German brought chaos instead of charisma, and should have been sacked far sooner than he was.

WALTER SMITH replaced Vogts, and immediately instilled commonsense and calmness.

He also led Scotland to a rare trophy, the Kirin Cup in Japan in 2006.

Unfortunately, after a bright start to the 2008 European Championship campaign, Smith was tempted back to Rangers.

ALEX McLEISH took over and early indications were he would carry on Smith’s good work.

The 1-0 victory against France in Paris was his highlight, but he was always on the look-out for a return to club football. As soon as Birmingham City came calling, ‘Big Eck’ was off.

The rot set in again under GEORGE BURLEY.

The fact he struggled to remember the names of his players didn’t help, and fortunately his tenure didn’t last any longer than it should have.

The appointment of CRAIG LEVEIN was well received by many, myself included.

But he proved too cautious, something his players interpreted as having a lack of confidence in them.

So what could have been a marriage made in heaven ended in a messy divorce.

Right now, there is absolutely no sign of the same fate for Gordon Strachan. He remains as hungry for success as he did when I first met him as a trainee professional at Dens Park in 1971.

France may be too soon, considering how far Scotland have fallen. But with him at the helm, the World Cup Finals in Russia in 2018 are a real possibility.