Alex McLeish may now be pitted against Martin O’Neill in the English Premier League but the managers of Birmingham City and Aston Villa have a history of city rivalry. As managers of Rangers and Celtic, McLeish and O’Neill did battle in numerous Old Firm derbies and McLeish revealed there are plenty he would like to forget.

Speaking to STV’s The Football Years, which is broadcast on Thursday January 14, McLeish recalled the first time he sent out a Rangers team to face the Northern Irishman’s Celtic side, in February 2002. Having recently taken over at Ibrox, McLeish realised his team had little chance of winning the league, putting extra pressure on his side for cup competitions.

“I had a good start to my career against Celtic & Martin in that particular period,” McLeish revealed.

“With the semi final of the league cup we triumphed in a 2-1 extra time thriller.

“Again that was important for me to get a victory over our nearest rivals as quickly as I could as Rangers boss and thankfully it happened in the very first encounter.”

Rangers went on to win the League Cup that season and added the Scottish Cup to the trophy cabinet but Celtic won the SPL by 18 points. Rangers’ form under McLeish was much improved after the disastrous reign of Paul Le Guen and though the manager won a domestic treble in the following season he also picked up an unwanted record.

“We then went on that unbeaten run period but then, dare I say it, Martin O’Neill’s Celtic beat us 7 on the trot which was horrendous for any Rangers manager in history,” McLeish recalled.

”At that time they definitely had the Indian sign over us but we had a great start & I prefer to remember just the good memories!”