Craig Brown, the much-loved former Scotland manager who led the national team to Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup, has died at the age of 82.
“Craig died peacefully today after a short illness in University Hospital, Ayr, surrounded by close family members,” said a statement from Brown’s family.
“The family wish to express their deep appreciation of the outstanding care and attention provided by hospital staff and the countless messages of support and sympathy from friends and colleagues. At this particularly sad time the family now requests that their privacy is respected during the grieving process.”
A statement from Aberdeen, who Brown managed from 2010 to 2013, read: “Everyone at Aberdeen is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved former manager, director and club ambassador, Craig Brown. A dear friend to us all, Craig will be sorely missed and our love and condolences are with his family at this terribly sad time.”
“A true Scotland legend,” read a tweet from the official Scotland football team account. “Our thoughts are with Craig’s loved ones at this sad time.”
After a playing career with Rangers, Dundee and Falkirk was cut short by a knee injury, Glasgow-born Brown moved into management with Clyde in 1977. After 10 years there as a part-time coach, while also working as a teacher and lecturer, Brown’s career path was changed by a phone call from Alex Ferguson.
Then the Aberdeen manager, Ferguson was taking temporary charge of Scotland at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and asked Brown to join his coaching staff. “He said: ‘How do you fancy the holiday of a lifetime?’” Brown recalled in 2013. Scotland’s 1986 adventure was short-lived, but Brown stayed on as assistant to the new manager, Andy Roxburgh.
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“Craig and I had been friends since Scotland Schools team in 1957/58, with Craig as captain,” Ferguson said. “When I was given the honour of managing Scotland at the World Cup finals in Mexico there was one man I had to take, for all his attributes and knowledge. That was Craig.
“He had a great career as a manager of several clubs but his service for his country stands out. In an industry that questions a man’s capabilities, Craig never wavered in that situation, he always kept his head and his composure. Well done Broon!”
Brown was also put in charge of Scotland’s youth teams, leading the under-16 side to a world championship final in 1989 and the under-21s to the Euro semi-finals in 1992. The senior team reached the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1992 finals but again made early exits, and Brown replaced Roxburgh as manager in December 1993.
Scotland qualified for Euro 96 under Brown’s leadership and drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in their opening match, before losing 2-0 to England at Wembley. A final victory over Switzerland was not enough to reach the quarter-finals. At the World Cup two years later, Scotland ran Brazil close in the tournament opener and then drew with Norway, but a 3-0 defeat to Morocco ended their hopes of progress.
Brown’s Scotland side faced England again in a two-legged Euro 2000 qualifying playoff, winning 1-0 at Wembley but losing 2-1 on aggregate. After failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, Brown resigned in 2001 and was replaced by Berti Vogts. Brown was in charge for 70 games and remains the men’s national team’s longest-serving manager.
Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, wrote: “A towering figure of the Scottish game, Craig Brown and the Scotland team he managed gave us many good memories over the years. You would be hard-pressed to find a man who loved Scotland as passionately as he did. My thoughts with his family and friends at this sad time.”
“So sorry to hear that Craig Brown has died,” tweeted Yousaf’s predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon. “He was an outstanding manager of Scotland, and a truly lovely man.”
After more than 15 years with Scotland, Brown got back into club management with Preston. He returned to the Scottish league with Motherwell in 2009, moving on to Aberdeen the following year. Brown retired from management at the end of the 2012-2013 season, taking up a place on the Aberdeen board.
Brown, who was awarded a CBE in 1999 for services to football, was a popular media figure in later life and gave his thoughts on Steve Clarke’s resurgent side just a few weeks ago. “There’s a feelgood factor about the national team and we all want to see it continue,” Brown said.
For many members of the Tartan Army, Brown will be remembered as the Scotland team’s greatest ever manager. In typically self-effacing style, Brown referred to himself as the “luckiest man in Scottish football” – but treasured the love from fans.
“The best memories I have are of people coming up to me and saying I gave them the best holiday they ever had,” Brown once said. “Many people say that. It’s fantastic.”
