Craig Brown, the respected former manager of Scotland’s national football team, died at the age of 82 following a brief illness. Brown, the last manager to lead Scotland to the World Cup, left an indelible mark on Scottish football during his long-standing career.

A Remarkable Career in Scottish Football

Brown, who was born in Glasgow in 1940, began his managerial career in 1977 at Clyde FC, where he stayed for nearly a decade. Following this, he spent seven years as manager of Scotland’s under-21 team. His nine-year tenure as Scotland’s national team manager was probably the zenith of his career. Brown led Scotland to two big international tournaments: the European Championship in 1996 and the World Cup in 1998.

Brown’s managerial career continued beyond his time with the national team, with stops at Preston North End, Motherwell, and Aberdeen. He was a widely recognised figure in football, as indicated by his entry into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and his designation as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1999 for his services to the sport.

Tributes Pour in for Craig Brown

Following his death, the Scottish football community mourned and revered him. The Scotland national team, alongside former clubs Clyde, Motherwell, and Aberdeen, paid heartfelt tributes to their former leader. Rangers, Falkirk, Dundee FC, and Celtic also shared messages of condolences, underlining the respect Brown commanded across the football fraternity.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack praised Brown as a friend, mentor, and all-around gentleman. Stewart Milne, who hired Brown as manager in 2010, described him as a rare person who could help and guide others around him.

Scotland national team manager Steve Clarke expressed his appreciation for Brown’s legacy. Brown was credited with pioneering consistent qualification for the men’s national team, and he added, “He was a student of the game, and I am proud to say that I followed in his footsteps by taking a Scotland team back to a major tournament.”