Strachan is new Scotland manager

LONDON (AFP) – Gordon Strachan said his appointment as the new manager of Scotland had been “40 years in the making” after he was given the task of reviving the country’s football fortunes on Tuesday.

Strachan, a former Scotland midfielder, had long been the favourite to replace Craig Levein, who was sacked in November after a poor start to a World Cup qualifying campaign left Scotland’s hopes of playing at Brazil 2014 in tatters.

“I am very very proud in myself and my family are proud I’ve become Scotland manager,” Strachan, whose appointment was confirmed by the Scottish Football Association at their Hampden Park headquarters in Glasgow, told Sky Sports.

“It’s a great day for me to do this and it’s been 40 years in the making,” added Strachan, whose contract runs until Euro 2016.

“There’ll be rough times but I know there’ll be good times, too,” insisted former Celtic manager Strachan, who won 50 caps and played under Alex Ferguson at both Aberdeen and Manchester United.

Scotland have not featured at the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France and Strachan, who had four successful years as Celtic boss from 2005 to 2009, said he was determined to make fans proud of the national side again.