Strachan appointed Scotland coach

Gordon Strachan has been appointed Scotland manager, describing it as the culmination of a personal project "40 years in the making".

The former Celtic, Southampton, Coventry and Middlesbrough boss replaces Craig Levein, who was sacked in November, as the Scottish Football Association confirmed his appointment at Hampden.

In a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News he said: "I am very very proud in myself and my family are proud I've become Scotland manager. It's a great day for me to do this and it's been 40 years in the making.

"There'll be rough times but I know there'll be good times too."

Strachan, whose contract runs up until Euro 2016, stated his desire to make Scotland a proud footballing country once more.

He said: "Every club you go to there's always challenges but this is the first time the challenges are in front of a nation.

"If you can be successful you can make a nation happy and make a nation proud and that is the priority for me to be able to do that with help from other people."

Strachan, who has been out of a manager's job since leaving Middlesbrough in 2010, claimed it was the perfect time to step into the role.

"You're always interested as long as someone asks you But I think that time is right now because I've had that European experience," he added.

"I've had to deal with players and I've also had a couple of years where I can look at national football.

"The time is right for me to be able to take a job like this. I have the experience, I like working with people, I like dealing with people and I like trying to make people better."