IT was over before it began for Malky Mackay.
The Scottish FA Performance Director was drafted in for last night’s friendly against the Netherlands following Gordon Strachan’s departure, but if SFA chief executive Stewart Regan is to be believed, the 1-0 defeat will be his one and only contribution as a national team manager.
Mackay admitted after the game at Pittodrie that he was surprised Regan had revealed on the radio that he wasn’t in contention for the job on a permanent basis, and his experimental squad selection looks set to be his lasting legacy in the Scotland hot seat.
But can any other Scots bosses match Mackay for a short-termism?
Billy Stark – 1 game
2012
Stark stepped up as interim manager after Craig Levein’s sacking and can boast a 100 per cent win record as Scotland boss – the only man who can do so.
But he was made to work for it more than expected as two goals from Jordan Rhodes earned the Tartan Army a hard-fought 2-1 win away to part timers Luxembourg.
The hosts pressed for an equaliser late in the game after pulling one back early in the second half, but Scotland held on to give Stark a debut win before Strachan took over two months later.
Tommy Burns – 1 game
2004
Celtic legend Burns also took charge of the national team for just one game, guiding the side for a 4-1 friendly defeat against Sweden.
A Swedish side resting key men such as Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Freddie Ljungberg strolled to victory, going four goals up before James McFadden’s consolation penalty.
Burns had stepped up as caretaker after being assistant to Berti Vogts and returned to a backroom role with the national team under Walter Smith after this forgettable cameo.
Malky MacDonald – 2 games
1966/67
Another interim manager, MacDonald succeeded John Prentice (who himself had only four matches in charge) and guided the national team for two games during the triumphant 1966/67 British Home Championships.
The former Celtic man led Scotland to a 1-1 draw away to Wales in Cardiff before masterminding a 2-1 home victory against Ireland at Hampden Park thanks to goals from Bobby Murdoch and Bobby Lennox.
Bobby Brown then stepped into the dugout as Scotland famously beat reigning world champions England 3-2 to clinch the title and become unofficial world champions in the process.
Matt Busby – 2 games
1958
The Manchester United legend was in charge of the Scotland team for two games in 1958 in the wake of the Munich air disaster.
He had been appointed as Scotland manager prior to the tragedy, but Dawson Walker went on to lead the country at the 1958 World Cup in his place as Busby recovered from his injuries.
Incredibly, he then led the Scots to a win over Wales and draw against Northern Ireland in the British International Championship, handing a first cap to 18-year-old Huddersfield Town striker Denis Law in the process.
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