What has been said about West Brom's new coach Gavin Strachan?
West Brom have added Gavin Strachan to James Morrison’s coaching staff. Here's what former colleagues have had to say about the Baggies’ new arrival.
Gavin Strachan arrives at West Brom carrying glowing endorsements earned during a trophy-laden spell at Celtic.
His tactical acumen won the admiration of some of football’s biggest names and now, the son of former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has linked up with James Morrison as Albion look to build on the momentum that secured Championship survival with a strong finish to last season.
Strachan’s arrival at The Hawthorns brings to an end a six-year spell at Parkhead, where he worked under several managers, including Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill.
Having celebrated a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, Strachan also brings experience of English football, having previously served as assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United before joining Celtic in June 2020.
Upon his departure, O’Neill paid tribute to Strachan’s contribution.
“I have only really known Gavin for the past six months, but his contribution was vital to our success and of course I wish him very well for the future in his new role,” he said.
Strachan followed his father into the professional game, progressing through Coventry City’s academy where his father was first a player and later player-manager at the club.
As a player, he represented nine clubs across the English pyramid, in addition to loan spells with Dundee and Motherwell.
In 2020, Peterborough director of football Barry Fry reflected on Strachan’s development during an interview with The Athletic. Fry signed him as a player in January 2007 before later appointing him as the club’s under-18s manager in July 2011.
“I signed him as a player and he did very well,” Fry said
“I gave him the opportunity to be the under-18s manager and he did a superb job. Then he went to the under-23s and continued developing young players, which we like.
“He’s a very thoughtful guy, always wanted to do his coaching badges and always wanted to be a coach.”
Strachan later worked alongside Darren Ferguson, another coach with a famous footballing father - Sir Alex Ferguson.
Following a brief spell in charge of Ilkeston Town in 2015, he became Ferguson’s assistant at League One side Doncaster Rovers.
Although Doncaster were relegated to League Two during their first season together, they responded with promotion in 2016/17 before recording a mid-table finish the following campaign.
Ferguson resigned in the summer of 2018 before returning to Peterborough in January 2019, taking Strachan with him.
“When Ferguson came back he wanted Gavin as first-choice,” Fry added.
“He’s a top coach, a top guy, he develops players brilliantly. He makes coaching sessions very interesting and fresh, the players don’t get bored.
“Once Celtic came in, we sent him on the way. I can only see Celtic getting better, and it’s such a good opportunity for Gavin that he has to take.”
Strachan described his move to Celtic in 2020 as “an opportunity he could simply not turn down”.
Lennon, then Celtic manager, labelled him the “outstanding candidate”.
“He is a really talented, experienced, hard-working and respected coach and I know he has the right qualities to make a great contribution to the club,” Lennon said.
During his time at Celtic, Strachan worked under several high-profile managers, with his influence particularly evident in the club’s set-piece work.
Early in the 2022/23 campaign, Celtic scored four goals from first and second phases following corners in their opening three Premiership matches, prompting Postecoglou to praise Strachan’s contribution.
He said: “Gavin is in charge of that area and puts a lot of work into it.
“We want to hurt teams in different ways. If they close us down we have to find different ways to score.
“Gavin puts a lot of work into it and we now have the players to capitalise on it.”
That expertise could prove valuable for Albion next season as Morrison shapes his backroom team ahead of the new Championship campaign.
After helping deliver sustained success at Celtic, Strachan will now hope to bring those same qualities to The Hawthorns as Albion look to push towards the top end of the table.