The Best Bargain Transfers of All Time: Part Two

Posted by Rob Shepherd on Tuesday, April 4, 2017

In the second of our series we continue our look at the best football transfer, not just the best but the cheapest! World class stars that were snapped up on a free transfer or future world stars that only cost pennies. If they are good (and cheap), they’ll be on our list.

For today’s edition, we are going to concentrate on just one player, Gordon Strachan. This legend is as Scottish as Irn-Bru (Scotland’s other National drink), haggis and bagpipes. Strachan had a playing career until he was 40, let’s have a look at his distinguished career.

Gordon Strachan, 1977, Aberdeen – £50,000

Growing up in the 80’s, Strachan was one of my favourite players. To me, he was one of the most exciting players I had seen. He was small (5ft 6”) but was as fast as a greyhound and wasn’t afraid to take players on. Despite his diminutive stature, he was a colossal figure on the pitch!

Strachan’s story could have been different when at 15 he was playing football at school, a pen that he had in his pocket while playing became lodged into his eye. Doctors said that the pen was within “a thousandth of an inch” of permanently costing him the vision in his eye.

Strachan, who would become a Manchester United legend later in his life actually turned down an approach from United at 14, declaring that he had a better chance of becoming a first team regular at Dundee who he then went on to be signed by.

In 1975, an 18-year old Strachan played in a friendly with Arsenal and a young Strachan totally outplayed Alan Ball (as a point of reference, Arsenal paid £220,000 for Ball in 1971). Strachan’s stock was rising. In this year, he would feature in 17 out of 36 league games.

Aberdeen manager, Billy McNeil signed Strachan for £50,000 plus Jim Shirra in 1977. This season was a disappointment for Gordon as he struggled to replicate his earlier form, he wasn’t even picked in the 1978 Scottish Cup Final.

When manager McNeil left to join Celtic in 1978 a young Alex Ferguson took charge, this would be the managerial change that would lead to unprecedented success for the club and for Strachan personally. In the 1979-80 season, Aberdeen managed to close a 10-point gap and claim the league title. Strachan also won the SFWA Footballer of the Year.

Whilst the next year was a disappointing one, with Aberdeen finishing 2nd in the league, Strachan was still receiving praise for his performances. Liverpool manager, Bob Paisley declared Strachan would become the world’s first £2 million player. Aberdeen did manage to win the Scottish Cup, destroying Rangers in extra time 4-1. Strachan was in inspired form, scoring one goal and assisting another.

The next season would see success on an unprecedented scale at Aberdeen. Strachan showed what former club Dundee was missing when he scored four in a 5-1 win in the League Cup. Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win over Rangers but it was in Europe that he would create worldwide headlines.

Aberdeen beat the mighty Real Madrid after extra time to claim the Cup Winners’ Cup. To show this was no fluke, the next year Aberdeen claimed the league title and the 1983 European Super Cup final.

1984, Manchester United – £500,000

Despite Bob Paisley’s claims that Strachan would be sold for £2 million, Manchester United managed to snap Strachan up for just £500,000 in 1984. The transfer was protracted as Strachan had already agreed to join German club FC Köln, United had to pay Köln £75,000 to release Strachan from this commitment.

This pre-contract agreement with Cologne was against manager Alex Ferguson’s wishes and this was the start of a feud with Ferguson that would continue for nearly 40 years.

Strachan started his United career well, opening his account with four goals in seven games. Although United would finish in a disappointing fourth place, they did win the FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Everton. His diversional run allowed Norman Whiteside to find space to hit the winner in extra-time.

The 1985-86 season saw Strachan struggle with injury. The bad news for the Manchester club is that Strachan’s injury also coincided with an injury to United’s captain, Marvel, Bryan Robson. So, despite winning their first ten league games, United could only finish fourth place. This form saw manager, Ron Atkinson given his marching orders. Who was to be Ron’s replacement? Strachan’s old manager at Aberdeen, Alex Fergusson.

When Strachan heard about Ferguson’s appointment he pretended to cry and famously said “I never thought he’d follow me this far south!”. Ferguson, never one to be shy about his feelings declared that Strachan’s form was suffering because he was no longer the star man.

For the next three years Manchester United would finish 11th, 2nd and then 11th again in the league.

1989, Leeds United – £200,000

One manager who never lost faith in Strachan was former boss Ron Atkinson. He was manager of Sheffield Wednesday and bid £200,000 to take Strachan to Wednesday. This offer was accepted but Strachan instead was convinced by Leeds United manager, Howard Wilkinson to drop down a division and join him at Leeds.

Strachan achieved cult status at Leeds and in his first season at Leeds they claimed the second division title.

In the 1990-91 season, many ‘experts’ forecasted a season of struggle for the Yorkshire team. This was to prove unfounded with Leeds finishing a very credible fourth place. They also reached the quarter-finals of the league cup.

Strachan was in great form and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year, becoming the very first person to win the ultimate player award both north and south of the border.

With Strachan’s feud with Ferguson in mind, Strachan got the ultimate one over on his former boss when he helped Leeds United do the unthinkable and win the last ever Division One title, pipping the Manchester club to the title by four points. This win was largely due to Leeds new boy, Eric Cantona and 35-year-old Strachan’s form. Strachan received an OBE in recognition to his contributions to football.

Leeds could not reproduce the same form the next season and ended up in 17th. Home form was great and Leeds only lost once at Elland Road (Nottingham Forest thrashed them 4-1). Away from Elland Road it was a different story, which almost led to them being relegated. In the end, they finished two points above the drop zone.

1995, Coventry City & Management – Free Transfer

Time catches up with all of us in the end and Strachan teamed up with former manager Ron Atkinson at Coventry City as assistant manager. A deal was struck that would see Strachan learn the trade from Atkinson with a view to replace him in the future. This happened in 1996 when the board asked Atkinson to step aside in December.

Strachan would go on to have managerial spells with Southampton, Celtic, Middlesbrough and the Scottish national team.

He will perhaps always be known for being a flying winger with frightening pace and possessing the bravery of a lion. In a career spanning 635 games, he scored 138 goals.