Scottish football entered the doldrums in the early-mid 2000s during Bertie Vogts' miserable reign. Riding high as Celtic manager, Martin O'Neill was asked to comment on Scotland's malaise.
O'Neill gave his assessment on the psychological make-up of the type of man disposed to seek out the vacant Scottish manager's position.
Anybody who is thinking of applying for the Scotland job in the next 8 or 9 years should go get themselves checked out by about 15 psychiatrists.
A couple of members of the Scottish football press corps have dredged up the quote following yesterday's result. Both the Scottish Daily Mail and Ewan Murray in the Guardian have referenced the quote.
We're not sure about Gordon Strachan's psychiatric history but he did wait almost nine years before taking on the Scotland job, becoming manager in January 2013.
The tragedy for Ireland is that the Scots didn't let Craig Levein have another go at qualifying. Defending against a 4-6-0 would have been a more agreeable experience.
Alas, Strachan took on the job and Scottish football re-discovered its vigour and enthusiasm in time to meet us in a competitive context. And Levein returned to a job which looks like more his speed: Director of Football with Hearts.
