Gordon Strachan: '˜I used to fight Irvine Welsh's brother'

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has spoken of growing up on the streets of north Edinburgh as he celebrates his 60th birthday.

Gordon Strachan turns 60 today

Strachan – who earned 50 caps for Scotland and played for teams including Aberdeen and Manchester United – turns 60 today.

Describing his time in Muirhouse, he said he grew up round the corner from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh.

He said: “I used to fight with his brother, regularly. Bump into him in the street, have an argument. I am sure it was his brother, at least. I remember – he [Welsh] was a tiny wee guy, but he is a big lad now, isn’t he? I left home when I was 15. And I think the drug thing was just starting when I was leaving. It just used to be a hard area – if you said something you’d get a smack in the chops but no-one was going to knife you.”

He said he also had many happy memories of the area, adding: “I thought it was brilliant. I had football pitches next to the house, a golf course and a beach – it was all there for me to enjoy myself.”

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