Craig Brown played for Dundee and Falkirk; he went on to manage Clyde, Scotland youth teams, the men's senior team, Preston North End, Motherwell and Aberdeen; Brown remains the last manager to lead the men's side to a World Cup, while no one has taken charge of the team more than Brown
A look back at the special career of Craig Brown in his own words, after the former Scotland, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Clyde and Preston boss died aged 82
Former Scotland manager Craig Brown has died aged 82.
Born in Glasgow in 1940, Brown started his senior playing career at Rangers but had his time in Govan cut short after he picked up a serious knee injury.
He moved to Dundee - managed by Bob Shankly at the time - and despite having had surgery on his knee, returned to win the Scottish league title in 1962 before a move to Falkirk where he made his last appearance as a player five years later.
The dugout was Brown's next destination, and after a spell as assistant to Willie McLean at Motherwell, he became a manager in his own right in 1977 as he took charge of Clyde, where he went on to win two Second Division titles.
SEASON 1981/1982.CLYDE.Clyde celebrate the 2nd division championship.
Clyde won two Second Division titles under Brown
Brown also enjoyed spells at Motherwell, Aberdeen and Preston North End, but it is his time with the Scottish national sides that he is best remembered for.
He led the U16s to the World Cup final in 1989, while no one has taken charge of the senior men's side more often than Brown.
He guided the country to Euro 1996 and the World Cup two years later - with that appearance in 1998 the last time the team qualified for the World Cup.
Brown's journey in his own words...
Brown and Billy McNeill - positioned diagonally opposite - enjoyed special memories together on and off the field
"As a young player, a schoolboy, as a youth player, I think I was a good player. I was never going to be Jim Baxter or Billy Bremner, but if I hadn't had the injury, I would have been less bad. I was playing with the Scottish U18 team with Billy McNeill and we were training at Celtic Park.
"I had one or two offers and eventually I signed for Rangers. They didn't have a qualified physio and I got an injury. I wasn't treated at all, I limped about. Then Bob Shankly got me on loan to Dundee and I did quite well. I went on a six-month loan and when my loan period was up, they bought me.
"Dundee had a very good team, it was hard to get into that team, they won the Championship. It was Liney, Hamilton and Cox, Seith, Ure and Wishart, Smith, Penman, Cousin, Gilzean and Robertson. If anyone got hurt, then Brown would get a game."
Ferguson and 'the holiday of a lifetime'
Sir Alex Ferguson (left) is all smiles as he chats with former Aberdeen manager Craig Brown during the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round draw.
Sir Alex Ferguson (left) took Brown to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico
With no guarantee football would earn him a living, Brown balanced playing and then managing alongside teaching. That was until a fateful moment in 1986.
"I got a very interesting phone call one day when I was a lecturer at Craigie College of Education which said I had to phone a Mr Ferguson. It was an Aberdeen number. I phoned Alec, it wasn't Sir Alex back then, and he said, 'Brown, how would you like the holiday of a lifetime?' I asked, 'where are we going?'. He said, 'Mexico'."
'Managing your country is the ultimate job'
1992/1993.SCOTLAND TRAINING.Scotland assistant manager Craig Brown
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Brown held various roles with the Scotland youth and senior teams
That stint at the 1986 World Cup set Brown on the way to a 15-year association with the Scotland national team. He was put in charge of youth sides and was assistant to Andy Roxburgh as Scotland qualified for Italia 90 and Euro 92.
"When Andy stepped down, not for one minute did I think I would get the job. Graeme Souness and Gordon Strachan were mentioned, guys like that.
"They had far better pedigree than I had but because of my relative success with international youth teams, I think that helped me get the job.
"To manage your country is the ultimate job in management. If you manage your country successfully and qualify for tournaments, that's even better."
'As proud as you can be'
Brown took charge of Scotland as they faced Brazil at the 1998 World Cup
Under Brown, Scotland reached Euro 1996 in England and were a single goal away from progressing out of the group stage. Then came the 1998 World Cup in France. Again, Scotland fell short of progressing in the tournament, but the memories stayed with Brown long after the final whistle.
"Standing to the anthem in the Parc des Princes, to hear 'Flower of Scotland' being played over there and the fans singing, that is as proud as you can be.