But did Gordon Strachan, by then 35, sit back and take things easy as he made an emotional curtain call for his country? Not a bit of it.
He performed with all of his usual passion and purpose against opponents Finland way back on March 25, 1992.
Indeed, the Leeds United player, who would win the English title with the Elland Road club shortly afterwards, helped set up his side's only goal in a 1-1 draw.
The captain for the day, in what was his last outing with Scotland at Hampden, released Dave Bowman on a run into the opposition penalty area – then watched as his team-mate cut the ball back for Paul McStay to drill home.
Tom Boyd, the new Celtic left-back who had broken into the national set-up just the year before, played in defence that day. He had no difficulty in understanding why the former Dundee, Aberdeen and Manchester United midfielder had reached a half-century of caps.
"Gordon was a fair old age at that time," he recalled. "It was an education seeing how he went about his business. His professionalism really stood out.
"At that time, he had embarked upon the fitness regime that would prolong his career at the highest level until he was 40. It was banana on his porridge at breakfast.
"He talked about football non-stop as well. He was constantly gabbing about the game at breakfast, lunch and dinner. He studied the game, thought about it all the time.
"Upon reflection, it was easy to see he'd go into management, and do so with great success, when he finished playing."
Boyd had known all about his qualities as a player for some time; he made his debut in senior football for Motherwell against the Aberdeen team Strachan was a key component of at Fir Park in 1984.
"They had all their big names playing that day," he said. "They had Willie Miller, Alex McLeish, Doug Rougvie and Gordon in their team. Talk about a baptism of fire!
"We ended up getting hammered 4-0. Gordon scored two of the goals. Bizarrely enough, I got man of the match. There was nobody else they could give it to so they gave it to the young boy. It was a token gesture.
"Gordon could win games by himself. He was capable of inflicting serious damage on rival teams. He had the ability and quality to change a match with his passing, crossing and directness.
"He was small, but he could handle himself. He was skilful. He was probably playing some of the best football of his career with Leeds when he finished up with Scotland. He was the catalyst for their title win."
So, it is fair to say Boyd approves of the appointment of Strachan – who has since gone on and managed Coventry City, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough – as Scotland boss?
"Totally!" he enthused. "He has the respect of everybody within the game for what he has achieved in his career as a player and a manager.
"He has a passion for Scotland. He speaks about the game so knowledgeably. I think he will get the best out of the players. I think you saw a difference in his first game against Estonia at Pittodrie."
Boyd is hoping to be in the crowd at Hampden tomorrow night to see Strachan return with Scotland for the first time in 21 years. Yet, the 72-times-capped Scot is realistic about what the national team, who take on Wales in a World Cup qualifier, can achieve in this campaign and in the future.
He said: "Hopefully we can gel as a team and become competitive again. Hopefully they can bring a bit of respect back to Scottish football again.
"But I think this World Cup qualifying campaign is gone. We are bottom of the table, which I don't think anyone envisaged happening, and realistically, we have little chance of doing anything.
"Celtic have restored some much-needed pride in Scottish football this season with their performances in the Champions League. It would be nice to see other clubs and the national team build on that.
"I think Gordon has what it takes to be a successful Scotland manager. But I also think he knows the good young players who are coming through and can lay the foundations for the future and leave a legacy."
