Craig Brown Cause of Death Explained: How did Scotland’s Head Coach Craig Brown die?
Craig Brown Cause of Death:- Craig Brown, the former Scotland Football team manager who led the men’s team to the World Cup finals in 1998, has died at the age of 82. Brown died peacefully after a short illness in University Hospital, Ayr, surrounded by close family members. He was the longest-serving Scotland manager, having been in charge for nine years from 1993 to 2002.
He was also a successful club manager, most notably at Aberdeen, where he won two Scottish Second Division titles and reached the Scottish Cup final in 2017. He was widely respected and admired in the Scottish football scene and beyond, and tributes have poured in from former players, colleagues and fans.
The legendary career of Craig Brown
Brown was born in Glasgow in 1940 and started his playing career as a defender at Rangers. He moved to Dundee in 1962, where he won the Scottish League title in his first season. He also played for Falkirk and Motherwell before retiring due to injury in 1971. He then became a teacher and a part-time coach, working with various clubs and national youth teams.
He got his first managerial job at Clyde in 1977, where he spent nine years and won two promotions to the top flight. He then joined the Scotland set-up as an assistant to Andy Roxburgh, and later took charge of the under-21 team. He led them to three European Championship finals, reaching the semi-finals in 1992.
He was appointed as the Scotland senior manager in 1993, following Roxburgh’s departure. He inherited a talented squad that included players like Ally McCoist, Gary McAllister, John Collins and Colin Hendry. He guided them to qualification for Euro 1996 in England, where they narrowly missed out on reaching the knockout stage after losing to the hosts and drawing with the Netherlands.
He repeated the feat two years later, taking Scotland to their last World Cup appearance to date in France 1998. They faced a tough group that included Brazil, Norway and Morocco, and again fell short of advancing after losing to the eventual champions and drawing with Norway.
A true Scotland legend.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 26, 2023
Our thoughts are with Craig’s loved ones at this sad time. pic.twitter.com/qti23CLzqZ
Brown remained in charge until 2002, when he resigned after failing to qualify for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He left with a record of 32 wins, 26 draws and 23 losses from 81 games, making him the most successful Scotland manager in terms of win percentage (39.5%).
He returned to club management in 2004, taking over at Preston North End in the English Championship. He spent two seasons there before moving to Motherwell in 2009. He led them to a third-place finish in the Scottish Premier League in 2010-11, securing a spot in the Europa League.
He left Motherwell in 2010 to join Aberdeen as their manager, replacing Mark McGhee. He helped them avoid relegation in his first season and improved their league position in his second. He also took them to the Scottish Cup final in 2017, where they lost to Celtic.
He stepped down as Aberdeen manager in 2013 and became a non-executive director at the club. He also served as an ambassador for Aberdeen and Scottish football, attending various events and functions. He was awarded a CBE for his services to football in 1999 and was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Craig Brown’s Death Reason
Craig Brown’s death has been met with an outpouring of grief and condolences from across the footballing world. Many former players who worked under him have paid tribute to his leadership, personality and humour.
Ally McCoist, who scored nine goals for Scotland under Brown, said: “He was a wonderful man, a wonderful coach and a wonderful friend. I loved him dearly. He was always there for me when I needed him.”
Gary McAllister, who captained Scotland at Euro 96 and World Cup 98, said: “He was a fantastic manager who got the best out of us as players. He was also a great man who cared about us as people. He was always positive, always upbeat and always had a smile on his face.”
Colin Hendry, who played alongside Brown at Dundee and under him at Scotland, said: “He was like a father figure to me. He gave me my first cap for Scotland and made me captain at the World Cup. He was an inspiration to me and many others.”
Other former players who have expressed their sadness include John Collins, Paul Lambert, Darren Fletcher, James McFadden and Scott Brown.
Brown’s former colleagues have also praised his achievements and character. Gordon Strachan, who succeeded him as Scotland manager in 2013, said: “He was a legend of Scottish football and a great mentor to me. He was always supportive, always helpful and always had a story to tell.”
Alex McLeish, who played under Brown at Aberdeen and Scotland, and later managed both teams, said: “He was a brilliant manager and a brilliant person. He had a wealth of knowledge and experience that he shared generously. He was also a lot of fun to be around.”
Craig Levein, who was Brown’s assistant at Scotland and later became the manager himself, said: “He was a fantastic boss and a fantastic friend. He taught me so much about the game and about life. He was always positive, always optimistic and always had a joke to crack.”
Other former colleagues who have paid tribute include Walter Smith, Archie Knox, Tommy Burns, Craig Burley and Andy Roxburgh.
Brown’s family have thanked the hospital staff who cared for him and the fans who sent messages of support and sympathy. They have also asked for privacy as they grieve.
A lasting legacy
Brown will be remembered as one of the greatest managers in Scottish football history. He led Scotland to their last two major tournaments and gave the nation some memorable moments on the big stage. He also had a successful club career, winning trophies and developing players at various levels.
He will also be remembered as a gentleman, a leader and a friend by those who knew him. He had a warm personality, a sharp wit and a passion for the game. He was respected and admired by his peers, his players and his fans.
He leaves behind a lasting legacy that will inspire future generations of Scottish footballers and managers. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.
