Qualifying for a major tournament with Scotland would be the pinnacle of new coach Steven Reid’s career.
The former Ireland international, who went to Korea/Japan under Mick McCarthy as a player in 2002, is part of Steve Clarke’s newly-assembled backroom staff and is all-in on the ambition of ending Scotland’s wait for a finals appearance.
Reid played against Cameroon and Germany in the Far East, as Ireland made it to the round of 16 before being eliminated by Spain. Being part of a Scotland side that went to a major championships would be an experience to truly savour.
Reid said: “It would be up there as the pinnacle. When you’re actually playing you don’t take things in as much as you should. You’re a little bit blaisé about it.
“I was actually on stand-by for the original Ireland squad. When the call came saying I was going to the World Cup I was actually on the way to the airport to go on holiday.
“I was going to Barbados and I was with the missus on the way to the airport when I turned the phone on and Mick called. Mark Kennedy had got injured in Niall Quinn’s testimonial up in Sunderland and I was the guy on stand-by.
“But it turned out be the pinnacle of my playing career and it was right at the beginning. I played in the Premier League and then coached there. But to help take Scotland to a tournament after so long would just be amazing. It’s a great incentive – and if we do it I’ll try and take it in a little bit more and actually enjoy it.”
The build-up to that tournament for Ireland was well-known for Roy Keane’s falling out with McCarthy, which led to him leaving the squad. However, Reid stressed the camp was a happy one and he hopes Scotland players can build a similar rapport.
He added: “It is a long time away, that trip ended up being six weeks and you are living in each other’s pockets the whole time so it does need to be a happy place. Obviously now and then there is an exception! But on the whole that was a major part of being involved with the Ireland set up at the time, the relationship between the players.
“We enjoyed a little bit of a night out as well, a beer, that was part of that squad, although times have changed now. But hopefully that can be the same here, a place where everybody looks forward to meeting up.”