LEGENDARY Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is to be honoured before kick-off in the Qatar 2022 qualifier against Israel at Hampden tomorrow night - when he is presented with his cap for representing a Scotland XI 54 YEARS ago.
Former Queen's Park, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United striker Sir Alex played seven times for his country on an end-of-season tour of Israel, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in 1967 and scored nine goals.
However, the 79-year-old, who went on to achieve great success as a manager with Aberdeen and Manchester United, never received the cap that all footballers who play for the national team are given and the SFA will rectify that this weekend.
Steve Clarke, whose Scotland side is hoping to beat Israel and take a step closer to the World Cup finals next year, believes it is a fitting recognition and expects his predeccesor to receive a warm welcome from the sell-out crowd.
"It will be nice for the Scottish public to see Sir Alex," he said. "Obviously he had has time as a World Cup manager, in sad circumstances, when he took the team to Mexico in 1986. So it will be nice to see him.
"I have bumped into him already a couple of times this season. It is always nice to catch up with Sir Alex and hear his thoughts. It will be great for the Scottish public to give him the ovation and the acclaim he deserves.
"He is very, very supportive of the country. He is always positive about the country. I always have nice, positive conversations with Sir Alex. So it’s great that he will be there to get that cap from such a long time ago. I’m sure he will get a fantastic ovation and it is richly deserved.’
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