Strachan takes over at Middlesbrough

Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was named on Monday as the new manager of English Championship side Middlesbrough taking over from Gareth Southgate who was sacked last week.

The 52-year-old Scot, a former player at Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds United, has been linked with various jobs since he stood down at Celtic Park at the end of last season.

“Gordon Strachan will be unveiled as Boro’s new manager at a press conference at the Riverside at 2.30pm this afternoon,” the club announced on its website.

The move will see Strachan return to English football having opened his managerial career at Coventry before moving on to Southampton, who he led to the FA Cup final in 2003.

He became Celtic’s manager in 2005 and led the Glasgow giants to three consecutive Premier League titles before being pipped by arch-rivals Rangers last year after which he stepped down.

Southgate’s dismissal came as a shock to those outside the club, with Boro chairman Steve Gibson renowned for giving his managers time to get things right.

The former England defender could not prevent the club sliding out of the Premier League last season, and Gibson revealed it was his fear that Boro would not bounce back at the first attempt which led him to sack Southgate.

Gibson last week told Middlesbrough’s website: “When I sat down and considered our start to the season, I felt that the league table was actually more favourable than some of our performances.

“Then I looked at the important games against the teams immediately around us, and took those results into account.

“In general the results and the performances have not been to the level I would have hoped for.”

The team were led on a temporary basis by Colin Cooper at the weekend and drew 2-2 at Preston. They are now three points behind Championship leaders and north-east rivals Newcastle.