Gavin Strachan

{{short description|Scottish footballer}} {{Use British English|date=September 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Gavin Strachan | image = | fullname = Gavin David Strachan<ref>{{Hugman|18951|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> | height = 1.78 m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gavin Strachan Midfielder, Profile & Stats {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1362/Gavin-Strachan/overview |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1978|12|23}} | birth_place = Aberdeen, Scotland | currentclub = Celtic (first team coach) | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1997–2003 | clubs1 = Coventry City | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 1999 | clubs2 = → Dundee (loan) | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2002 | clubs3 = → Motherwell (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2003 | clubs4 = Peterborough United | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2003 | clubs5 = Southend United | caps5 = 7 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2003–2007 | clubs6 = Hartlepool United | caps6 = 79 | goals6 = 7 | years7 = 2005 | clubs7 = → Stockport County (loan) | caps7 = 4 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2007 | clubs8 = → Peterborough United (loan) | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2007–2008 | clubs9 = Peterborough United | caps9 = 17 | goals9 = 3 | years10 = 2008–2009 | clubs10 = Notts County | caps10 = 25 | goals10 = 1 | years11 = 2009–2010 | clubs11 = Corby Town | caps11 = 13 | goals11 = 2 | years12 = 2010–2011 | clubs12 = Hinckley United | caps12 = 24 | goals12 = 4 | years13 = 2011 | clubs13 = St Neots Town | caps13 = 1 | goals13 = 0 | totalcaps = 195 | totalgoals = 17 | nationalyears1 = 1998 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U21 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | managerclubs1 = Ilkeston | manageryears1 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs2 = Doncaster Rovers (assistant manager) | manageryears2 = 2015–2018 | managerclubs3 = Peterborough United (assistant manager) | manageryears3 = 2018–2020 | manageryears4 = 2020– | managerclubs4 = Celtic (first team coach) }} '''Gavin David Strachan''' (born 23 December 1978) is a Scottish professional association football coach, and former player and sports journalist. He is currently a first team coach at Scottish Premiership club Celtic, and he was assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers from 2015 to 2018, then Peterborough United until 2020. He is the son of former manager and player Gordon Strachan, and the father of player Luke Strachan.

Spending most of his early years with Coventry City, Strachan has played for ten different senior clubs, and is a self-described journeyman.<ref name="blog">{{ cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gavinstrachan/2008/09/welcome_to_the_gavin_strachan.html | title = Welcome to the Gavin Strachan blog | date = 23 September 2008 | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 24 September 2008 }}</ref> He was capped eight times for the Scotland U21 national team.<ref name="international">{{ cite web| first = Gavin | last = Strachan | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gavinstrachan/2009/04/remembering_my_international_h.html | title = Remembering my international heyday | work = Gavin Strachan's blog | publisher = BBC News | date = 2 April 2009 | access-date = 30 April 2009 }}</ref>

As part of a degree in sports journalism at University of Staffordshire Strachan wrote a blog for BBC News 2008–2009.<ref name="dailyrecord.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/gavin-strachan-i-never-dreamed-id-1128257|title=Gavin Strachan: I never dreamed I'd follow my dad Gordon into the world of management|first=Gordon|last=Waddell|date=2 June 2012|website=Daily Record}}</ref>

== Playing career == Strachan was born in Aberdeen. He began his football career at Coventry City where his father, Gordon Strachan, had taken over as player-manager in 1996. He was loaned out to Dundee in 1998, making nine appearances. Back at Coventry he played in sixteen league games, eleven of them as a substitute;<ref>{{cite web | title = Gavin Strachan | url = http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=22413 | first = George | last = Herringshaw | publisher = Sporting Heroes | access-date = 30 April 2009 }}</ref> he left soon after the senior Strachan stepped down as manager in late 2001. He scored once during his spell at Coventry; scoring a penalty against Preston North End in the League Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worthington_cup/930977.stm|title=Preston 1–3 Coventry|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 September 2000|access-date=28 December 2010}}</ref>

In March 2003 Strachan joined Peterborough United, in a loan deal scheduled for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{ cite news | title = Strachan joins Posh | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/2851737.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 14 March 2003 | access-date = 3 June 2008 }}</ref> He joined Southend on a free transfer shortly afterwards however, but was released by the club six weeks later, at the end of 2002/03.<ref>{{ cite news | title = Southend release Strachan | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/3006679.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 7 May 2003 | access-date = 3 June 2008 }}</ref> He then moved to Hartlepool United on a free transfer. He enjoyed more success here and managed to play regular first team football for three seasons, appearing in seventy-eight matches and scoring seven. During this, the most successful spell of his playing career, Strachan was pencilled into the Scotland international squad, but the call for his first full international cap never came.

During the 2005–06 season, Strachan missed a large amount of the season after fracturing a foot against Blackpool. Despite the injury, he managed to complete the match. After recovering, he was loaned out to Stockport County in his third season at Hartlepool.

In the 2006–07 season, Strachan saw limited selection by new Pools boss Danny Wilson after the signings of Gary Liddle and Willie Boland. He consequently signed for Peterborough United initially on loan in January 2007, before making the move permanent just two days before the close of the January transfer window.<ref>{{ cite news | title = Posh seal permanent Strachan deal | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/6311843.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 29 January 2008 | access-date = 3 June 2008}}</ref>

Strachan signed for Notts County on 10 January 2008 after his release from Peterborough United.<ref>{{ cite news | title = Strachan completes County switch | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/7180763.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 January 2008 | access-date = 3 June 2008 }}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory against Exeter City on 10 January 2009.<ref>{{ cite web | title = Notts County vs Exeter City | url = http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10426~45329,00.html | publisher = Notts County FC & FL Interactive Ltd 1997–2008 | date = 10 January 2009 | access-date = 16 January 2009 }}</ref>

On 30 April 2009, Notts County announced that five players would be released from the club at the end of the season, Strachan being among them.<ref>{{cite news | title = Notts County let five players go | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8027370.stm | date = 30 April 2009 | access-date = 30 April 2009 | work = Sport – Football | publisher = BBC News }}</ref> He subsequently joined Corby Town F.C. on 24 July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title = Strachan move confirmed |url = http://www.corbytown.net/football/news/article.asp?showarticle=100295 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090812031116/http://www.corbytown.net/football/news/article.asp?showarticle=100295 |url-status = usurped |archive-date = 12 August 2009 |publisher = Corby Town F.C. |date = 24 July 2009 |access-date = 22 March 2010}}</ref>

In June 2010, Strachan signed a one-year deal with Hinckley United<ref>{{cite news |title = Strachan signs for Hinckley |url = http://www.hinckleyunited.com/news/Strachan-signs.html |publisher = Hinckley United Official site |date = 13 June 2010 |access-date = 13 June 2010}}</ref> Strachan joined United Counties League side St Neots Town in March 2011<ref>{{cite news |title = Strachan signs for St Neots |url = http://www.huntspost.co.uk/sport/football/juices_flowing_again_for_new_saint_strachan_1_837960 |publisher = Hunts Post |date = 22 March 2011 |access-date = 24 March 2011 |archive-date = 22 July 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722013035/http://www.huntspost.co.uk/sport/football/juices_flowing_again_for_new_saint_strachan_1_837960 |url-status = dead }}</ref> scoring on his debut in the UCL cup. St Neots were later investigated as Strachan's registration papers had been delayed.<ref>{{cite news|title = Neots Face UCL Cup expulsion|url = http://www.huntspost.co.uk/sport/football/neots_face_ucl_cup_expulsion_for_fielding_strachan_1_839272|publisher = Hunts Post|date = 23 March 2011|access-date = 24 March 2011}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Coaching career== In July 2011, Strachan returned to Peterborough United as youth team coach, replacing David Oldfield who departed to take up a similar role with West Bromwich Albion.<ref name="dailyrecord.co.uk"/> Strachan was subsequently promoted to a first team coach position with Peterborough.<ref name = "Darren ferguson"/>

In June 2015, Strachan was appointed the new manager of Ilkeston, his first managerial job, after Kevin Wilson left the club to manage National League North side Nuneaton Town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilkestonfc.co.uk/news/ilkeston-fc-set-to-appoint-gavin-strachan-as-head-coach|title=Ilkeston FC set to appoint Gavin Strachan as head coach|website=www.ilkestonfc.co.uk}}</ref>

On 16 October 2015, Strachan became assistant manager to Darren Ferguson at Doncaster Rovers.<ref name = "Darren ferguson">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13875714.Ferguson_and_Strachan_to_work_together_at_Doncaster/?ref=arc |title=Ferguson and Strachan to work together at Doncaster |work=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=16 October 2015 |access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>

On 26 January 2019, Strachan became assistant manager to Darren Ferguson at Peterborough United after the dismissal of Steve Evans and Paul Raynor.<ref>{{cite web|publisher= theposh.com | date= 26 January 2019 | access-date= 26 January 2019 | title= Ferguson Appointed As Manager Until End Of Season | url= https://www.theposh.com/news/2019/january/ferguson-appointed-as-manager-until-end-of-season/}}</ref>

On 22 June 2020 Strachan became the first team coach at Scottish Premiership club Celtic. Strachan had to manage the first team for two games due to an outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the Celtic squad in January 2021.

== International career == Strachan received eight caps for the Scotland U21 national team, though he had no appearances for the senior team.<ref name="international" /> His first call-up was in a friendly against Denmark in March 1998.<ref>{{ cite news| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-young-dane-a-class-apart-1152372.html | title = Young Dane a class apart | work = Sport – Football | publisher = The Independent | date = 25 March 1998 | access-date = 30 April 2009 | location=London | first=Simon | last=Buckland}}</ref>

== Media == In September 2008, Strachan began writing a blog for the BBC News site to help his degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at University of Staffordshire.<ref name="blog" />

==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !rowspan="2"|Division !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|Coventry City |1997–98 |Premier League |9||0||4||0||0||0||0||0||13||0 |- |1998–99 |Premier League |0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1||0 |- |1999–00 |Premier League |3||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2000–01 |Premier League |1||0||0||0||2||1||0||0||3||1 |- |2001–02 |Division One |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |2002–03 |Division One |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !15!!0!!4!!0!!4!!1!!0!!0!!23!!1 |- |Dundee (loan) |1998–99 |Scottish Premiership |6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||0 |- |Peterborough United (loan) |2002–03 |Division Two |2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||0 |- |Southend United |2002–03 |Division Three |7||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||7||0 |- |rowspan="5"|Hartlepool United |2003–04 |Division Two |36||5||3||0||2||0||1||0||42||5 |- |2004–05 |League One |30||1||2||0||2||0||4||1||38||2 |- |2005–06 |League One |9||1||0||0||1||0||0||0||10||1 |- |2006–07 |League Two |4||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !79!!7!!5!!0!!5!!0!!6!!1!!95!!8 |- |Stockport County (loan) |2005–06 |League Two |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Peterborough United |2006–07 |League Two |16||2||2||0||0||0||0||0||18||2 |- |2007–08 |League Two |3||0||0||0||1||0||2||0||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !19!!2!!2!!0!!1!!0!!2!!0!!24!!2 |- |rowspan="3"|Notts County |2007–08 |League Two |7||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||7||0 |- |2008–09 |League Two |18||1||1||0||0||0||0||0||19||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !25!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!26!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !157!!10!!12!!0!!10!!1!!8!!1!!187!!12 |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Soccerbase}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311104001/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/1294/ Profile]}} at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205233152/http://www.uptheposh.com/ UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database]}} * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gavinstrachan BBC blog]

{{Ilkeston F.C. managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strachan, Gavin}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Aberdeen Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers Category:Coventry City F.C. players Category:Dundee F.C. players Category:Motherwell F.C. players Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players Category:Peterborough United F.C. players Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:Stockport County F.C. players Category:Notts County F.C. players Category:Hinckley United F.C. players Category:Corby Town F.C. players Category:St Neots Town F.C. players Category:Premier League players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:Alumni of Staffordshire University Category:Peterborough United F.C. non-playing staff Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. non-playing staff Category:Ilkeston F.C. managers Category:Scottish football managers Category:Celtic F.C. non-playing staff