Doubters will only make Alex McLeish all the more determined to succeed, says Stuart McCall

AS a player, Stuart McCall played for Scotland at World Cup Finals and European Championships.

He also tasted the disappointment of missing out on a major tournament when he was part of Gordon Strachan’s coaching staff for the Euro 2016 campaign.

The 53-year-old knows what the weight of expectation from the nation feels like, and that it takes a special type of person to cope with it.

Alex McLeish has just been handed that responsibility for a second time.

A section of the Tartan Army hasn’t warmed to Big Eck’s appointment and McCall understands that viewpoint, albeit he doesn’t necessarily agree with it.

McCall does, however, feel that McLeish can guide the country to success and has the stature to cope with the inevitable bumps on the road that come with being Scotland gaffer.

He wants to see everyone get behind McLeish and the players to achieve the main objective, which is to secure qualification for Euro 2020,

McCall – capped 40 times by his country – told The Sunday Post: “I was disappointed for Gordon Strachan when he lost his job.

“I know how much the role meant to him, and he was as disappointed as any Scotsman when he didn’t lead the country to a Finals.

“The same goes for Mark McGhee.

“I had the pleasure of working with both of them, and it was great for me at that stage of my coaching and managerial career.

“I remember Gordon spoke a year or so ago about resigning from the post of national manager – or being relieved of his duties.

“Back then, guys such as Davie Moyes, Paul Lambert and Malky Mackay were big Scottish names who were available. That wasn’t the case three or four months ago.

“So I’m aware that Alex’s appointment hasn’t been met with universal approval.

But that isn’t unusual in football nowadays, whether it’s club or international football.

“The reason is that there are so many platforms for supporters to voice an opinion, and that means there will always be a few who would have preferred someone else.

“But that will not bother Alex in the slightest. If anything, it will make him all the more determined to succeed and prove the doubters wrong.

“Alex was available and the SFA decided to choose him.

“He has been in the job before, and he knows what it entails. He will be very thorough and meticulous in everything he does.

“He will have the respect of every single player in the squad, and that’s important.

“But the Scotland job is the same as every other job. It’s about getting results and winning games of football.

“It’s very simple now – there is no middle ground.

“Alex will relish it and give it everything he’s got.

“He has inherited a more-than-decent squad, and there are some very good players, and many players with plenty of potential to go all the way.

“We only need to look at Kieran Tierney and the level he has achieved for Celtic on the domestic and European stage in the past two years.

“It’s been phenomenal.

“Then you look down south, and see Andy Robertson absolutely blossoming at Liverpool, holding his own in esteemed company and being an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s plan.

“Yes, I appreciate that both Andy and Kieran are most comfortable playing at left-back. They can’t both play there, so it will be interesting to see how Alex deals with that scenario.

“One thing is for sure. He will find a way for both of them to start the games.

“Scott Brown has just decided to stand down from international football, and that is far from ideal.

“Scott is a leader and was a fine captain. But at least the decision has been made quickly and Alex knows where he stands.

“He has four friendly games to find a replacement and build a central-midfield partnership before the competitive games against Israel and Albania kick-off in September.

“The national team was improving under Gordon, and was on a good run during the 2017 calendar year. It’s up to Alex to try to build on that”

McCall and McLeish both know what it’s like to be involved in a major Finals, and were team-mates at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Indeed, both played pivotal roles in the memorable 2-1 victory against Sweden in Genoa that summer, with McCall scoring his only ever Scotland goal that night.

McCall continued: “As a Scotland supporter, I hope Alex and the players get us to the next major tournament.

“That’s all we want, isn’t it?

“He came so close back in the Euro 2008 campaign, and I remember that period well. It was heartbreaking.

“Even though I wasn’t involved, I still felt for Alex and the players such as Barry Ferguson, James McFadden and Darren Fletcher. But we need to move on and deal with the present.

“I wish Alex well.”

Adjusting to the here and now is exactly what McCall is doing.

After 21 months in charge of Bradford City, he was sacked last month by the owners.

The club was still in a position to make the League One play-offs. Last season McCall guided them to the League One play-off Final at Wembley, only to lose 1-0 to Millwall.

Cheered on by 20,000 supporters at every home game, McCall was confident this time of going one better and guiding the club back into the English Championship. But that chance was taken from him.

He is keen to get back into work and the former Rangers and Motherwell manager said: “I don’t like being out of work. I actually have a fear of being out of work.

“It’s one of the biggest negatives I can think of.

“I’ve been in football for most of my life, more than 35 years, and I love the game.

“Getting up in the morning knowing you have a job to do and responsibility to a group of footballers and thousands and thousands of supporters is what drives me on.

“I had that at Bradford City and I enjoyed my job.

“We had a magnificent fan base and I was just desperate to deliver the success they all deserved.

“The club will always hold a special place in my heart. Everyone knows that.

“Now that I’ve had a wee break, we’ll see what comes up in the future.

“I enjoyed a holiday to Gran Canaria and spent last Saturday afternoon watching Jeff Stelling on the Sky Sports afternoon show. It’s been a while since I’d done that.

“I then enjoyed Scotland beating England at rugby at night.

“So that was a good weekend.

“But football is my passion and it’s where I want to be.

“There are lots and lots of talented people out there also looking for work.

“Nobody has a divine right to work in the game.

“I’ll just wait and see what happens because I have lots to offer.

“I’ll get out and about and take in games and keep my finger on the pulse.

“It will be good to go and see games at different levels, and see the in-form players and ones with potential.

“That’s all you can do – and then you wait for the phone to ring.”