In his time at Ipswich he won caps for Scotland as well as featuring in a successful team in the top flight of English football.
As a manager he took the Tractor Boys from mid table Nationwide League mediocrity into the Premiership and on into Europe.
One area where his skills have been less than exemplary however is in the role of pundit.
Alone amongst players and backroom staff he was the only one (with the exception of the now departed Manel) to tip Spain to go all the way in the European 2004 Championships.
Failure to despatch host nation Portugal from the competition at the weekend has consigned the Spaniards to an early flight home and the continuation of a reputation as nearly men who never fulfilled their promise.
The Derby boss though cagey when asked to make his predictions admitted a soft spot for the England side to do well but confirmed that Spain was the side that he really expected to go all the way!