Gordon Strachan once reflected on his managerial career, explaining how four players were crucial during his spells in charge of Celtic, Coventry City, and Southampton. The most successful period of the legendary Scot’s time in the dugout came at Celtic Park when he guided the Bhoys to three Scottish Premiership titles.
Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney and Artur Boruc were three of the Hoops’ heroes who thrived during the Strachan era. But the former Scotland manager picked out three other players who left their mark at Parkhead among the best signings of his career.
Strachan, whose last job was a four-year reign in charge of the Tartan Army eight years ago, spoke glowingly of four of his former troops.
Paul Telfer
Paul Telfer had to be included, as the former Scottish right-back was signed by Strachan on two occasions, making Telfer his most-used player during his time in management. There was a good reason why he continuously turned to the one-cap Scotland international, as he possessed the hardworking mentality his boss required.
Strachan said (via Glasgow World):
“I’ve had some really good players over the years, but I always look back at my reliable signings fondly. Paul Telfer, who I had at three clubs with me, is a prime example.”
Strachan added:
“He set a standard at training and brought the levels up every time he came with me to a new club. He showed what it meant to be a top pro with his dedication off the pitch as well.”
Telfer followed Strachan from Coventry to Southampton on a Bosman in 2000, having previously worked together at Highfield Road. The Scottish coach knew he could rely on his fellow countryman, who appeared 216 times for Coventry before making the switch to St Mary’s.
Telfer’s versatility allowed him to play across the backline, and he was a member of the team that finished runners-up in the FA Cup in 2003, after losing 1-0 to Arsenal in the final. He left for Celtic in July 2005 for another reunion with Strachan, and he made 70 appearances for the Scottish giants, winning two Scottish Premiership titles.
Roland Nilsson
Another workhorse who Strachan admired was Roland Nilsson, who arrived at Coventry from Swedish outfit Helsingborgs IF in July 1997 for £200,000. Like Telfer, he was a determined right-back who consistently displayed top-notch fitness throughout his career.
Nilsson made 78 appearances for the Sky Blues, and the majority of his time in English football came at Sheffield Wednesday. But he reunited with Strachan after hanging up his boots aged 36, becoming one of the Scot’s assistants back at Highfield.
Strachan waxed lyrical:
“Roland Nilsson was the same and I would have taken him everywhere if I could. If he was Scottish, I probably would have given him a cap there as well! He was invaluable for me in setting standards and showing even the fitness coaches what it meant to be super fit as well.”
Nilsson’s time working alongside Strachan proved effective for his coaching ambitions, as he succeeded his mentor as Coventry manager in September 2001. He was one of Sweden’s all-time greats, earning 116 caps and playing a key role in their journey to the World Cup semi-finals at USA 94′.
Shunsuke Nakamura
Whenever Celtic won a free-kick in the noughties, trouble was ahead for the opposition as Shunsuke Nakamura would often step up to take it. The Japanese attacker was clinical in set-piece situations, scoring several stunners, including a glorious 25-yard free-kick against Manchester United on his Champions League debut.
Nakamura joined the Bhoys from Italian outfit Reggina in July 2005, and Strachan explained how his coaching staff knew they’d found something special:
“Nakamura was £1.6million and an absolute genius. He stopped playing at 44 if I’m not mistaken, and after watching one tape of him myself and the coaching team knew we had to sign him. One tape went to me, one to Jim Blyth, one went to Garry Pendrey and one to Tommy Burns.”
He added:
“It was a unanimous decision by all of us. I have signed and managed better players, I must admit, but just his skill and his bravery were absolutely incredible. He set standards in training as well. After every single game, regardless of who we were playing, he would change out of his match day kit, get into clean training kit and go and do 45 minutes of strength work on his upper and lower body.”
Nakamura was the ultimate professional but also one of the most talented players to ever arrive at Parkhead. He made 159 appearances, scoring 31 goals and providing 38 assists. Ten of those goals were direct free-kicks, something he’d likely worked hard on in training:
“It didn’t matter if we were playing Livingstone, Manchester United or AC Milan, he was the last off the training ground. Then he would come in at 8am and do weights in the gym with a fitness coach. Eventually, Aidan McGeady was in there, Shaun Maloney was in there, as was Gary Caldwell. He set a new standard in training which was phenomenal.”
Nakamura spent four years at Celtic and became a hero, renowned for his flair, creativity, and consistency in big games, such as the Old Firm Derby. He won three Scottish Premiership titles and is one of the greatest signings the club has ever made.
Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane only spent a season with Strachan but it was the Scot who made him the most expensive teenager in British football in August 1999. The Irish striker opted to join the Sky Blues from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £6m deal rather than head north to Aston Villa.
The former 146-cap Republic of Ireland international was an instant hit at Highfield, bagging 12 goals in 34 games under Strachan. He was one of Europe’s most in-demand frontmen and Italian heavyweights Inter Milan swooped for his signature the following summer, forking out £13m.
Strachan recalled his time with Keane and how he was a “natural” that didn’t need much learning:
“Robbie was a complete one-off and he had natural intelligence and an ability to take things in at the first time of asking. We worked with him on a few things at Coventry, but it became evident he didn’t need to be told things twice before they sunk in.”
Keane retired in 2018 as one of the most celebrated strikers to grace the Premier League, having thrived at Tottenham Hotspur. He also enjoyed a superb loan spell at Celtic from 2009 to 2011, scoring 16 goals in 19 games while in Scotland.
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