Ask any football fan within these islands (and beyond for that matter) who they consider to be the best Scottish manager of all time, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the shortlist will contain the usual suspects. Unquestionably, and understandably, said list will feature Matt Busby, Bill Shankly, Jock Stein and, more recently, Alex Ferguson.
Stein would certainly be without peer in the eyes of many – particularly those of Celtic fans, given devotees of the beautiful game have been known to apply a degree of bias in their thinking – but then even Big Jock wasn’t always above the occasional criticism.
On one such occasion, in fact, Stein was subjected to plenty of vitriol. His crime was having the temerity to suggest that the then annual clash between Scotland and England, assumed a level of importance in the eyes of many Scottish fans that far outweighed its actual status.
For this, Stein was lambasted by the press and the Tartan Army, and for others (probably the majority, in truth) his views were simply swept aside. The consensus back then was that little, if anything, could rank alongside the glory of putting the Auld Enemy to the sword, especially on their own soil.
Well, roll forward three decades or thereabouts, and we find that times have changed. Indeed, Stein’s comments would strike a chord right now.
We know this because, with less than a week to go until the great rivals go head to head once again, nobody seems to be talking about it. This does not necessarily reflect the level of interest in the fixture as a general rule (witness the game only last season, which generated much hype and turned out to be an enthralling match), so much as a recognition that a clash of far greater importance must be played out beforehand.
In this case, Friday night’s game against the Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park – a European Championship qualifier – far outweighs the potential bragging rights that goes with any victory over England.
The bottom line, after all, is that the game against England is a friendly. Even for those of whom that particular contest still resonates deeply, are questioning the wisdom of playing it so close to a match of great important to Scotland’s chances of reaching France in 2016.
Of course, Scotland’s lengthy absence from any major tournament (currently 16 years) has further heightened the sense of apprehension, perhaps even desperation, surrounding the game against Martin O’Neill’s men. And the feeling persists that the ninety minutes will be a defining period as far as Scotland’s hopes of qualification are concerned.
Victory would increase the sense of growing optimism that has attached itself to Gordon Strachan’s reign as manager thus far. However, on the flip side, defeat would see the Scots fall six points behind Ireland. Even at this relatively early juncture of the campaign, this would surely render a finish among the top two automatic qualifying places an uphill challenge at best. Especially with Germany almost certain to awake from their current slumber and motor through the gears during their remaining fixtures.
And so, were Stein alive today, he would possibly be rubbing his chin sagely in a Roy Hodgson kind of way, murmuring I told you so at us all.
This was all summed up rather succinctly the other day by Strachan’s assistant Mark McGhee, who mused that a 6-0 win against England would effectively count for nothing should Scotland have failed to overcome the Republic of Ireland four days beforehand.
Possibly an exaggeration, but like Stein himself he had a point, and this time few if any disagreed.