Scotland's next manager should play Celtic's Kieran Tierney at left back, insists Lisbon Lion Jim Craig

  • Kieran Tierney was moved to right back by ex-Scotland boss Gordon Strachan
  • He was moved to accommodate Liverpool's left back Andrew Robertson
  • After impressing initially, Tierney appeared lett at ease vs Slovakia and Slovenia 

Lisbon Lion Jim Craig believes the next Scotland manager should play Kieran Tierney in his natural left back position.

The 20-year-old Celtic star was moved to right back by recently departed national team boss Gordon Strachan to accommodate Liverpool's left back Andrew Robertson.

After impressing initially, Tierney appeared less at ease in the World Cup qualifying double-header against Slovakia and Slovenia earlier in the month, which ended in failure to reach the 2018 finals in Russia.

Kieran Tierney had been moved to right back by former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan

Kieran Tierney had been moved to right back by former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan

Craig, 74, who played right-back in the Celtic side which won the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967, was speaking at Hampden Park where he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.


He said: 'I never think you play as comfortably on both sides.

'Tommy Gemmell wasn't half the player at right-back as he was at left-back and Danny McGrain wasn't either.

'You are more comfortable playing in the one you have been picked in.

'I think the best player in the position should be picked so I would play him (Tierney).'

Fellow Lisbon Lion and inductee John Clark, 76, concurred with Craig.

He said: 'Tierney is the best left-back. If he has competition from another player then it is good for him, it is good for the player trying to get in as well, pushing each other.

'I think he has more strength and aggression about him than Robertson.

'Robertson is a good touch player but I think young Tierney is aggressive as well.

Jim Craig believes the next Scotland boss should play Tierney in his natural left back position

Jim Craig believes the next Scotland boss should play Tierney in his natural left back position

'He can get forward and hits in decent balls, but on the right side you have to turn in on to your left foot and things are closed down.'

Craig and Clark's former Celtic team-mate, Willie Wallace, was also honoured along with the Lisbon Lions as a collective at the Hall of Fame dinner at the national stadium.

Queen's Park, Scotland's oldest club celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, former Nottingham Forest captain John McGovern, ex-Morton player and boss Allan McGraw, and broadcaster and writer Archie Macpherson, were also among the inductees.

It has been a busy year for Craig as he has been one of the focal points of Celtic's 50th anniversary of their European Cup final win over Inter Milan in Lisbon.

He said: 'This is my 28th function of the year. I've been to Las Vegas, Portugal, Ireland and all over Scotland. It's been quite remarkable.'