McLeish

[Boca]

Resigned from Scotland

[Kahnee]

Really not understanding this one - I mean, Birmingham

[John am Rhein]

Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice

[Benitez]

Really not understanding this one - I mean, Birmingham

 

 

yeah, but it's not like he's leaving anyone good!

 

Before the Scotland job, he wasn't actually that sought or respected was he.

[Stevie H]

probably quadrupled his salary.

[Cobs]

yeah, but it's not like he's leaving anyone good!

aye - definitely a step up

[Boca]

probably quadrupled his salary.

 

 

Exactly. The international game is always going to play second fiddle to the Premier League simply because the money is so much better, even at middle of the road teams like Birmingham.

[owenthomas]

oh aye, when someone like Steve Bruce is being transferred for 3 million and picking up a reported 40grand a week you know the only place to ply your managerial trade is in the Premier League..

[fyds]

Steve Bruce's Dad in his days on the Met.

[charlie clown]

I am expecting him to reporoduce his Rangers mangerial form rather than his Scotland form. Birmingham for the drop.

[Hassony]

I am expecting him to reporoduce his Rangers mangerial form rather than his Scotland form. Birmingham for the drop.

 

 

Didn't he have a better record at rangers than MON had at celtic?

 

and his record for scotland was not that great in the end was it, played 7, win 4 (one was to the faroe Island), lose 3

[libero]

He actually did a good job at Rangers until the rug was pulled from under him due to financial restraints he was forced to cut the wage bill and sell a few players.

In his last season Rangers were the first team ever from Scotland to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

 

fydsipedia

His work at Hibs was noticed, and he was linked with several moves to England, before he was appointed as Rangers manager in December 2001[4] after outgoing Rangers manager Dick Advocaat recommended McLeish to chairman David Murray.[5]

 

McLeish was an instant success at Rangers, winning both the Scottish Cup[6] and Scottish League Cup[7] in his first season, but the big prize of the league title was essentially lost before his arrival. His second season saw him go one better when he won the domestic treble, with the help of top players such as Ronald de Boer and Barry Ferguson.[8]

 

Rangers' worsening financial state saw many of his top players leave in the summer of 2003. Celtic won the league comfortably in season 2003/2004, and Rangers failed to win any trophies.[9] McLeish was consequently put under pressure from fans after his poor signings and a record run of seven consecutive derby losses to Celtic.[10]

 

The high profile Bosman signings of Jean-Alain Boumsong and Dado Pršo in the close season of 2004-05 gave Rangers renewed hope of regaining the title from Celtic's grasp.[11] McLeish's team won the 2005 league title on a dramatic last day, an outcome that had looked highly unlikely after Rangers fell five points behind leaders Celtic with just four games remaining. [12]

 

After this unexpected success, McLeish and his Rangers team headed into the 2005/06 SPL campaign as favourites to retain the championship. McLeish made a number of signings, despite having little money to spend. These included Julien Rodriguez and Ian Murray. After a reasonable start to the season, including a win over Celtic,[13] Rangers suffered a series of poor results between September and November. This period included a club record of 10 games without a win. However the tenth match of this run, a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League, took Rangers into the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time.[14]

 

Despite the poor domestic form, McLeish guided Rangers to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they were defeated on the away goals rule by Villarreal.[15] They became the first Scottish team to progress this far in the European Cup since 1993, and the first Scottish team to progress through a European group stage.[14] In December, chairman David Murray publicly announced his support for McLeish.[16] Rangers then went on a good run of results in December and January.

 

This run of good results came to a sudden halt when they were defeated 3-0 by Hibernian in the Scottish Cup,[17] prompting protests outside Ibrox against both of McLeish and David Murray.[18] On 9 February 2006, the increasing supporters unrest and protests caused Rangers chairman David Murray to announce that Alex McLeish had had his contract teminated with notice at the end of the season.[19]

 

It was later announced that he would be succeeded by former Olympique Lyonnais manager Paul Le Guen. Rangers beat Hearts 2-0 at Ibrox Stadium, in his final match as manager.[20]

 

Was gutted he left the Scotland job but I can understand his reasons.