FORMER Saints manager Gordon Strachan will be blowing out the candles as he celebrates his 59th birthday today.

The Scotsman will be fondly remembered by fans for guiding the team to an FA Cup final against Arsenal and an eight-place finish in the 2002/2003 season.

But it all went wrong quickly afterwards as news broke that Strachan would be leaving the club at the end of the 2003/4 season.

After taking a 16-month break from football he was appointed manager of Celtic and has since taken over as Scotland manager.

To help celebrate his birthday we’ve looked through the archives and compiled a photo gallery.