Champion 08
Gordon Strachan has admitted that he considered quitting Celtic after clinching the SPL title at Tannadice in May 2008.
Just two months earlier Strachan looked a dead duck after back-to-back defeats from Rangers and at home to ten man Motherwell looked to have killed Celtic’s title hopes stone dead.
Eight wins on the bounce later, including two dramatic wins over Rangers, and Celtic were crowned champions against the emotional backdrop of Tommy Burns’ death.
That unbeaten run was probably the domestic highlight of Strachan’s time at Celtic although the turnaround that he brought about in his first season should never be overlooked after a disastrous start losing to Artmedia Bratislava and Rangers in his first month at the club.
As the championship came to a conclusion speculation was rife that Strachan would leave Celtic but after clinching the title he made a very short statement in the Tannadice press room before departing without taking any questions.
Few sportsmen go out at the top, Strachan decided to continue in charge of Celtic and neither club nor manager have tasted success since then.
The death of Burns, who he quickly formed a close friendship with ultimately made up Strachan’s mind to stay on at Celtic.
He admitted: “I always thought three years is about what you can go.
“It was the time when we’d just won the league and the club was in a bit of turmoil with Tommy dying.
“He was big with the club. He had a big influence on the club and how the club was led.
“No matter who was leading, he could always show a new manager, a new person, how to deal with being Celtic manager. So I just felt it was maybe the wrong time.
“If I’d said ‘Well, it’s a bit stressful here’ and I’d packed in, it doesn’t look good because there’s people dying here and you’re wanting to pack it in just because you get a wee bit of abuse now and then.
“Plus, the fact we’d won again keeps you going. I think if you’re a Celtic or Rangers man and you keep winning, that keeps you going.”
