FORMER Coventry City and Southampton manager signed a contract on October 26 2009 taking him to the end of the 2012/13 season, five months after ending a hugely successful spell at Celtic.

Strachan won six trophies in four years at Parkhead and became only the third Celtic manager in their history to lead them to three successive Scottish Premier League titles.

He was named the inaugural SPL Manager of the Year award in his first season with Celtic and went on to win the honour in three of his four seasons at the club. 

He had earlier guided Coventry to Premier League survival but was sacked at the start of the 2001-02 season after they had finally been relegated.

Within weeks he took over at Southampton, who were struggling at the foot of the Premier League. Under his guidance the Saints' form was transformed dramatically and they finally finished in 11th place.

The progress continued the following season when they finished eighth, reached the FA Cup final and qualified for the UEFA Cup.  

He resigned in February 2004, wishing to spend more time with his family, and he also developed his career as a pundit on BBC's Match of the Day 2, where his famously deadpan humour proved popular with viewers. 

However, he returned to management with Celtic, succeeding Martin O'Neill in June 2005. 

A skilful and aggressive midfielder, Strachan enjoyed a top class playing career with Dundee Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry, making 635 appearances and scoring 138 goals.

He won 50 Scotland caps, scoring five goals, and appeared in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals.

He began his managerial career while still a player at Coventry.

On his appointment, Strachan said he has turned down other offers but was attracted by the way things are done at Middlesbrough and the fact that managers are given time to do build a team without interference.

"It's a special job," he said. "I don't have to be here, I don't need to be here, I want to be here."

His first game brought a 1-0 defeat against Plymouth Argyle at the Riverside in a game which saw the visitors keep a clean sheet for the first time that season, Adam Johnson miss a penalty and Emanuel Pogatetz fracture a cheek bone.