In the summer of 1986, for the first and only time, Alex Ferguson took a team to a major international tournament. Ferguson had been Scotland’s assistant manager, working alongside the legendary Jock Stein. Ferguson regarded Stein as a mentor figure and was delighted to be working alongside him. When Stein died tragically at the end of a pulsating World Cup qualifier against Wales, Ferguson took up the reins, guiding Scotland through a play-off against Australia, before taking them to Mexico ’86.  Scotland went on a rollercoaster ride, bedevilled by tension, intrigue and farce, culminating in a notorious encounter with Uruguay.

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