SFA supremo Mike Mulraney’s revealed the some of the ‘biggest names in world football’ were in for the Scotland job in 2019.
But president Mulraney reckons they landed a SUPERSTAR in former Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke to replace Alex McLeish.
Clarke’s since become the first boss to lead the men’s national team to three tournaments — with excitement growing ahead of our first World Cup finals appearance since 1998.
Mulraney – who was vice-president six-years ago and heavily influential in Clarke’s appointment – told all in a revealing, in-depth chat for a multi episode special SunSport YouTube One-on-One.
The Alloa FC owner and successful businessman recalled the approaches they got for the Scotland position from far and wide and said: “Some of the biggest names in world football.
“But I wasn’t surprised. There’s always more candidates than jobs in football.
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“I think we got a superstar name. Having somebody who might’ve had a bit more razzmatazz about their name can bring its own problems.
“I said it during the Euros, before the last game of the Euros and after the last game in the Euros, and I’ve said it his entire time with us, Steve is an exceptional manager.
“He is the right man for the job. I’ve always said it, I’ve never deviated from that. I think Steve is an exceptional manager.
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“Different jobs need different characters and I think he’s done wonderously well. He clearly has, he’s the most successful Scotland ever manager.
“This guy’s done it, over and over again. And we’ll not know what we’ve had until he’s not there anymore.
“I’m absolutely supportive of Steve’s position — I think he does an exceptional job.
“We had two exceptional candidates at the time. In fact, there were hundreds of candidates – but there were two excellent ones.
“Steve was the right man…and we picked the right man. You know when you’re picking the right guy for the job — and you’ve got to believe in it.
“You should feel it. There’s always objectivity to the recruitment of a manager.
“If you simply go by the statistical analysis of their performance on its own, then you shouldn’t be in charge of picking the person.
“Because there’s subjectivity to that decision as well.
“You’ve got to feel it. You’ve got to work with these people. You’ve got to be able to work with the people in post.”
Alloa diehard Mulraney, meanwhile, confessed it was impossible for him to keep his emotions in check the unforgettable night Scotland qualified for this summer’s World Cup.
Sat in the VIP seats at Hampden for the sensational 4-2 win over Denmark alongside Danish FA counterpart Jesper Moller Christensen, he said: “I was sitting beside Jesper, who is my friend, who is the president of Denmark’s football, who is decorum. But it is very difficult.
“I must be honest, when the fourth goal went in I was on my feet and I lost it a little bit. We won that game, they were more than disappointed.
“They knew all they needed out of the last two games was effectively a draw. He gave me a hug at the end and wished me well.
“I’ve been with him since and we had a chat and a soda water…it shows you the spirit, we all understand each other’s pain, we all understand each other’s gain.
“You’ve got to be but even I, and you try your very hardest not to lose it, not to cheer too much. But it’s impossible when that happens.”
Mulraney smiled when he claimed the momentous moment ranked alongside an ALLOA promotion success.
On what it meant to him to see Scotland make a World Cup, he said: “From a sporting point of view, right up there.
“I don’t have a best or a second best. But it’s up there with the ones you’ll always remember.”
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