Craig Brown obituary – Former Scotland boss was an innovator whose enthusiasm never waned

In 1962, Craig Brown shared a league-winning dressing room with Alan Gilzean. Last month, he shared the stage with Kyogo Furuhashi at the PFA Scotland Awards.

Brown’s remarkable life linked entire eras of Scottish football. And its relevance remained throughout.

As a player, coach, teacher, assistant manager, manager and club director, he brought intelligence, innovation, enthusiasm, decency and an often underestimated will to succeed. He has achieved great things. And was trusted by the greats.

The call that Brown regarded as ‘perhaps my greatest honour’ came while he was working as a lecturer at Craigie College in Ayr, in addition to serving as Clyde’s part-time manager.

Alex Ferguson was on the line. “Broon, how about the vacation of a lifetime?” were his opening words.

Brown’s achievements in guiding Scotland to Euro ’96 and the 1998 World Cup in France were only truly recognized after two decades of underperformance that followed

Brown talks to Sir Alex Ferguson during the Euro 2004 play-off match between Scotland and the Netherlands – he was part of Fergie’s staff for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico

After the death of Jock Stein, Ferguson took Scotland to the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico. He wanted Brown to join Walter Smith and Archie Knox on his coaching staff. An answer was quick. Brown packed his bags.

It would be another 15 years after he stepped down as Scotland manager in 2001 before all of his achievements with the national side could be unpacked, laid out and examined. But even then it felt too close for proper appreciation.

The extent of Brown’s work only became apparent as the country waited two decades for another Grand Final appearance.

Without a doubt, he is a figure of great significance in the story of the Scottish game.

Brown was blessed with some very good players, but not the depth of shimmering quality that some of his predecessors got. He made his teams cohesive. He often found solutions.

In 70 games in charge, more than any other Scotland manager, he created collective memories.

Brown’s list of participation in major tournaments is extraordinary. After his time in Mexico, he reached a World Cup and a European Championship as an assistant to Andy Roxburgh, while also managing Scotland’s youth teams.

In 1989 he coached the under-16s to the final of the World Championship. Three years later he took the Under-21 to the semi-finals of the European Championship.

Appointed manager of Scotland in December 1993, he reached Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup.

Brown relaxes with Paul Lambert and Darren Jackson in a cafe during the 1998 World Cup

Brown gives instructions during the 1-1 draw with Norway in Bordeaux in the 1998 tournament

Failure to make it to the next two tournaments clouded immediate opinions and led to Brown’s departure. Context came with subsequent woes under Berti Vogts.

Those in the Tartan Army who had grown a little weary of Brown soon pined for his time. Seven managers, some better than others, would come and go before Steve Clarke ended a 23-year exile from the game’s biggest stages.

In that intervening period, memories of 1998 took on a special power. Scotland faced compatriot Brazil in the opening game, which was watched on television by almost a third of the world’s population.

Bruin’s biggest problem? How to stop Ronaldo. He called Bobby Robson, who had coached the incomparable striker at PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona.

“You can’t stop him,” was the less than reassuring advice. “He’s unstoppable.”

Brown therefore decided to cut off his supply line. A meticulous game plan included the surprise selection of Darren Jackson to try and put the brakes on Roberto Carlos. It almost paid off.

Brown passes instructions to Barry Ferguson during the Euro 2000 qualifier, lost 2–1 on aggregate to England

While a 2-1 defeat – sealed by Tom Boyd’s unfortunate own goal – added another glorious bust to Scotland’s rich history of such things, the pride was indisputably preserved for the watching billion.

As a player, Brown had been a schoolboy international left half. Good enough to sign for Rangers. He never made a first-team appearance at Ibrox, but noted how manager Scot Symon proceeded.

“If he subconsciously influenced my career, it would have been to reaffirm that there is no wrong in being courteous and that kindness should never be mistaken for gentleness,” Brown once said.

A move to Dundee brought more involvement and a league medal as part of Bob Shankly’s legendary 1961-62 side.

But his playing career was curtailed. At the age of 27, after a stint with Falkirk, he was forced to retire following a fifth operation on his knee.

By this time, Brown had already earned an SFA coaching qualification. He became assistant manager to Willie McLean at Motherwell and spent three years at Fir Park before succeeding Billy McNeill – longtime Scottish Schoolboys teammate – as Clyde’s manager in 1977.

Brown’s time as Scotland boss came to an end in October 2001 after they failed to reach the World Cup in Japan and South Korea

Brown’s nine years at Shawfield delivered the old Second Division championship and a transformation of club finances – thanks in large part to his expert eye for a player. Steve Archibald, Pat Nevin, Ian Ferguson and Gerry McCabe were among those sold for a profit.

Off the field, Brown was also involved in landing Clyde BOC – British Oxygen Company – as one of the first shirt sponsors in Scottish football. He knew the direction of travel within the game. It would remain a force.

Scotland was the center of his working life, but there was much more to it. Appointed at 61, two years at Preston North End brought more transfer winnings and the introduction of successor Billy Davies.

Then came an eventful year at Motherwell, with Knox as assistant. Brown took them to Europe and witnessed an incredible 6-6 draw with Hibs. “I coached the offense, Archie coached the defense,” he joked.

The departure to Aberdeen caused resentment. Returning to Fir Park with his new club in April 2011, he faced Motherwell chairman John Boyle on the touchline in a flashpoint that made headlines as well as SFA penalties for both.

After the national team, Brown went to manager Preston, Motherwell and Aberdeen

Brown announced his intention to retire in 2013 and become a non-executive director on the Aberdeen board after Derek McInnes took control of team affairs.

His time on the front lines of coaching was over at the age of 72 – 36 years after he took charge of Clyde – but his age didn’t put him off the scene.

For those writing and speaking about the game, Brown was always helpful in seeking comment or insight.

He loved knowing what was going on. He could be insanely funny with stories not intended for publication. He was rightly regarded as something akin to a national treasure.

Brown attended the PFA Scotland dinner last month in the company of Knox to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award on Ferguson’s behalf. His face was scarred and his voice weakened, but the same spirit was there.

While sitting in a side room with reporters, he gently poked fun at Knox as his old friend was being interviewed. The conversation then turned to Scotland’s prospects in Oslo and how to deal with Erling Haaland.

You almost had the feeling that he would want to do it all again. But he did more than enough in his own time. Sport in this country has lost one of its best servants.