The hunt for the man to replace Craig Levein has brought the SFA to the same conclusion which the Tartan Army arrived at three months ago.

The former Coventry, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough boss has been looking for his next big challenge since resigning from his position at the Riverside Stadium in 2010.

Strachan was immediately installed as favourite – both by the bookies and Scotland fans – when Levein's bitterly disappointing reign came crashing to an end after back-to-back defeats in Wales and Belgium in October effectively ended our World Cup qualifying hopes.

The 55-year-old from Edinburgh won 50 caps for his country, including appearances at two World Cup Finals, and will bring with him all the passion and tactical awareness the national team desperately needs.

It is the second time Strachan has been strongly linked with the job. He was the only real challenger when Walter Smith succeeded Bertie Vogts in 2004.

The SFA have been criticised for dragging their heels and making this appointment with our next World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March.

But they first sounded out Strachan several weeks ago. He is understood to have wanted time to consider and to discuss at length his plans to restore the nation's pride.

Strachan's first game in charge will the friendly against Estonia on February 6.

Ironically, that match will be played at Aberdeen where he first rose to prominence as a player in the Seventies.

Four decades on, the venue will mark the beginning of this latest chapter in a colourful career.