McManus offers thanks to Strachan

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus will always remember the great European nights under Gordon Strachan.

The former Coventry and Southampton boss quit the Parkhead club on Monday afternoon, 24 hours after Rangers had wrenched the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title back to Ibrox for the first time in four years.

While the search for a successor goes on, with Tony Mowbray, Owen Coyle and Mark McGhee reportedly among the front runners, McManus remembered the influence Strachan had on his career.

Among three SPL title wins, a Scottish Cup final win and two Co-Operative Insurance Cup final wins, were two memorable seasons in Europe where Celtic twice reached the last-16 of the Champions League.

Amid those campaigns were famous home wins over Manchester United and AC Milan and an exciting penalty shoot-out win over Spartak Moscow, as well as a double header against Barcelona.

Celtic failed to get through their Champions League group stages this season but McManus would not let that dampen his memories.

He told the Celtic View: “The European success has been fantastic.

“Personally, I played three years of Champions League football under the manager and he’s put a lot of us on the map during that time, and given us the chance to play at the highest level.

“We’ve all got a lot to thank him for and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing under him.

“I speak for all the boys when I wish him well for the future.”

The Scotland defender thanked Strachan for taking him out of the Parkhead reserves and turning him in to a first-team regular.

He said: “The gaffer has been a massive influence on my career and I have a lot to thank him for.

“He gave me an extended run in the first team when he arrived in 2005 and he appointed me captain a couple of years later.

“The players are all sad to see the manager go because we’ve had a lot of success under him over the last four years. It’s been an incredible time in our careers.

“He’s worked with a lot of players and has done so much for the club, but he obviously thinks it’s time to move on and we all respect that.

“It’s been a great four years at Celtic. He’s been different class and his record speaks for itself. Nobody can knock his achievements at Celtic. He’s been superb.”