Jamie Murphy has paid a touching tribute to Craig Brown following his sad passing.
The former Scotland manager sadly died this morning, aged 82.
His family confirmed in a statement that the Scottish football icon had passed peacefully having recently been in hospital through illness.
Brown started his playing career at Rangers, although injury severely impacted his progress at Ibrox. He then moved to Dundee.
However, it was as a manager that Brown made his mark on football, firstly at Clyde before going on to become Scotland's longest-ever serving manager over a nine-year period. He led the national team to Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.
He had a short spell at Preston and was then named Motherwell boss, aged 69, before finishing his career in the dugout at Aberdeen.
— Jamie Murphy (@Jamiemurphy89) June 26, 2023
It was at Fir Park that Brown came across Murphy, who was regarded as one of the most exciting emerging talents in the country at the time.
Several figures within Scottish football have come forward with their stories about Brown and their many interactions with him.
And Murphy has taken to social media to detail a special birthday gift from Brown which showed what kind of character he was.
He shared on Twitter: "Craig Brown was a great manager and an even better man. He made me feel ten feet tall as a young player, giving me the number nine shirt at Motherwell, as well as giving some great advice throughout my career.
"I remember it being my 21st birthday and asking him if I could take some of the team out to celebrate after our game.
"Of course, he said yes, try and get as many players as you can to go out. The next day he came in and handed me an envelope with £250 in it. He said: 'Go enjoy yourself'.
"He said it was from the club, but deep down I always knew it came from him! Thinking of his family and friends, RIP."
A statement from Brown's family read: “Craig died peacefully today after a short illness in University Hospital, Ayr, surrounded by close family members.
“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.”
