Strachan said: "Artur is up there with Roy Keane, Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness for strength of personality. Every time I look at him I think 'thank God you're here'.

"It was certainly worth the journey to see him, even though I will never forget what I went through to see him play. We were being driven across dodgy roads at well over 100mph and I was being thrown from side to side in the back of the car. My hip was killing me and I was in agony, but it was worth the bother."