ALEX McLeish, the Scotland manager, last night warned that Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool great who takes charge at Rangers today, must be given money and time to rebuild the Ibrox first team before he can deliver success.
McLeish enjoyed five unforgettable years at the Govan club after succeeding Dick Advocaat back in 2001 – he won a domestic treble in 2003 and celebrated a dramatic Scottish title victory on the final day in 2005.
But the 59-year-old was able to get the better of Martin O’Neill’s formidable side at that time because he inherited multi-million pound signings like Ronald de Boer, Stefan Klos, Arthur Numan and Giovanni van Bronckhorst .
Gerrard, who is just 37 and has never managed before, takes over a side that once again finished trophyless in the 2017/18 campaign, crashed to heavy and humiliating defeats to their city rivals Celtic and failed to finish second in the Ladbrokes Premiership ahead of Aberdeen.
“They were different days,” said McLeish in Lima, Peru, where the national team are preparing for the second end-of-season friendly against Mexico in the Azteca Stadium in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“While there are some similarities in the sense that Steven will have to try and get more out of the players who are already there, I also believe he has to build a whole new team. That’s something I never had to do. Just appointing a big name still not enough though, because you need the players to mount a challenge.”
McLeish, who handed no fewer than seven players their international debuts in the 2-0 defeat to Russia 2018 finalists Peru in the National Stadium on Tuesday evening, admitted he has been buoyed by the appointment of Gerrard and predicted the presence of the England great will be hugely positive for Scottish football.
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“Our league has been maligned over the past few season, but I definitely think there has been an improvement this season,” he said. “Look at Hibs and Aberdeen. Hearts too with the young guys they’ve brought into the team.
“Celtic were exceptional once again and Rangers, there are no doubts, will come stronger next season. I think there is excitement building around the Scottish game once again.
“The feelgood factor is there is again. We are growing all the time and the young players involved are developing all the time. They are benefitting from getting first team football and in turn that is benefitting the national team. I think we’re in a good place.
“I am excited by the whole Gerrard appointment and his arrival in Scottish football, I think it’s great for our game. If Gerrard gets the money then, of course, he will attempt to get close to Celtic.
“It’s still not a level playing field for the rest of the chasing pack, but Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen are improving all the time. We have some brilliant managers working in the top-flight and Gerrard and Gary McAllister will only enhance that and our standing.
“It’s exciting times because they will generate a lot of interest and if they in turn generate great Scottish young players then we have won a watch.”
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