Image source, SNS

As we bring this page to a close, here is a summary of the sad news Craig Brown has died at the age of 82.

He was the last man to take Scotland to a World Cup finals.

The national team's longest-serving manager, he was in charge for 71 games from 1993 to 2001, qualifying for Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup.

He was also on the staff for the 1986 and 1990 finals.

Brown managed Preston North End and Motherwell before ending his career at Aberdeen in 2013 and moving into a board position at Pittodrie.

• Read more about Craig Brown here

• 'Brown was charmer who never got due appreciation'
• Brazil, Bond and big duvets - Brown's France 98 tales
• Listen: Craig Brown on Sacked in the Morning

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

BBC Scotland journalist Kheredine Idessane has tweeted to say:

"I’ve been working in the media since the mid 1990s. In all that time, I’ve never met a nicer person to deal with, or a more helpful person, or someone more generous with their time than Craig Brown.

"Rest in peace, Craig.

"And thank you."

Not surprisingly the death of Craig Brown will dominate Scotland's airwaves today.

Veteran BBC Broadcaster Chick Young tells Radio Scotland's Drivetime: "You'll search long and hard to find a man or woman who wasn't an admirer or a friend of Craig Brown.

"No-one has a bad word for him.

"He had an impish sense of humour, I knew him very well from the days he was manager of Clyde," says Chick.

He goes on to say Craig "would want people to remember him with a smile".

"You can't help but become endeared with him."

Former player and manager Martin O'Neill tweets: "Very sad to hear that Craig Brown has passed away.

"I saw him at a function in Scotland recently and he was wonderful company.

"Football has lost a great man today.

"My thoughts are with his family."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was only supposed to be a coffee, a quickish chat for an upcoming feature about a Scotland qualifier, but Craig Brown never did quickish chats. Once you had him, it was hard to let go of him.

The stories flowed. His recollections of training with Billy McNeill as kids at Celtic; his frustrations of signing for Rangers at 17 but never playing; his cameos in Dundee's famous championship-winning season of 1961-62 and the injuries that destroyed his time as a footballer; the yarns about his great coaching influence; Motherwell's Willie McLean - brother of Jim; Jock Stein, Bill Shankly and his brother Bob, Alex Ferguson and onwards.

By the time we were done, there was a parking ticket on both our cars. Two hours paid for, we were in there for three and a half.

Wee Broon had time for everybody. He was a relentlessly positive man even when surrounded by wholesale negativity.

Read more from BBC Scotland's chief sports writer here.

Image source, Getty Images

The tributes to Craig Brown continue to pour in on twitter from people from all walks of life.

Comedian Fred MacAulay says: "Trying, with difficulty, to find the right words about Craig Brown.

"A man who was respected by all who met him.

"Our paths crossed many times over the years and I admired him greatly.

"A year since I last saw him and he was his usual genial self. Condolences to his family."

Former England player Chris Sutton responds to today's news by saying: "Very sad news to hear of Craig Brown’s passing.

"Thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Meanwhile former Welsh star John Hartson says: "Terribly sad news to hear the passing of former Scotland national manager. Craig Brown also managed many other clubs. I was with Craig 6 weeks at Peterhead FC.

"Thoughts are with the Brown family. RIP Legend."

Image source, SNS

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Craig Brown's biggest challenge as Scotland manager was who to pick to face Brazil in the World Cup opener at France 98.

However, Brown has revealed that sorting out a flight headache over his Scotland squad during a trip to the USA before the tournament proved more taxing.

Read more about Brown’s biggest challenge in his managerial career.

The Scottish Green Party has joined the warm tributes to Craig Brown.

Green MSP Gillian Mackay, the party's sports spokesperson, said: “Craig Brown’s career was forged in Falkirk, fantastic in France, and he will be remembered fondly across the footballing world as a player, manager and mentor.

“He dared us to dream the impossible, and his legacy lives on even today.

"Our thoughts go to all his family and friends at this sad time, and we hope they can draw some solace from the memories he helped make.”

If you're just joining us here's a brief summary of the sad news that Craig Brown has died at the age of 82.

• Brown was the last man to take Scotland to a World Cup finals
• He was the national team's longest-serving manager, in charge for 71 games from 1993 to 2001
• Brown qualified for Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup
• He was also on the staff for the 1986 and 1990 finals
• Brown managed Clyde, Preston North End and Motherwell
• He ended his career at Aberdeen in 2013 and moved into a board position at Pittodrie

You can read more about Craig Brown's career here.

The political tributes to Craig Brown keep coming on social media, with Douglas Ross saying: "So sorry to hear of the passing of former Scotland manager Craig Brown."

The Scottish Tory leader adds: "He was a superb national team boss - the last to lead the men's team to a World Cup finals - and regarded as one of football's real gentlemen.

"My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."

Preston North End have taken to Twitter: "As a club, we're deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former manager Craig Brown.

"Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time."

Image source, Twitter/Paul Dickov

Former Scotland player Paul Dickov tweets: "Devastated to hear the news of the passing of the great man Craig Brown.

"Gave me my debut at every level of International football from U16s to being a full international & forever grateful to him.

"An unbelievable football man & an even more exceptional person. RIP gaffer."

Teams across Scotland are paying tribute to Craig Brown.

"Everyone at #CelticFC, external is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Scotland Manager, Craig Brown," tweets Celtic Football Club.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time."

Rangers say the are" saddened to hear of the death of former player and Scotland manager, Craig Brown, at the age of 82.

"Best known for his time in charge of the @ScotlandNT, external from 1993 to 2001, Brown’s playing career began at Ibrox.

"The thoughts of everyone at Rangers are with his family at this difficult time."

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has paid tribute to one of his predecessors.

"Craig led the way in bringing sustained qualification to the men’s national team, first as assistant to Andy Roxburgh and then in his own right,” Clarke said.

“He was a student of the game and I am proud to say that I followed in his footsteps by taking a Scotland team back to a major tournament.

“The thoughts of the players and my backroom staff go to Craig’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

In 1999, Brown oversaw a famous win which rather typifies Scotland.

Scotland’s first triumph at Wembley in 18 years was bittersweet, given the 2-1 aggregate defeat prevented them qualifying for Euro 2000.

Paul Scholes' double gave England a 2-0 first-leg victory at Hampden, but Don Hutchison's 39th-minute header four days later sealed his spot in Tartan Army folklore.

Had it not have been for David Seaman’s point-blank save from Christian Dailly, Brown’s Scotland could have forced extra time - and they'd have fancied themselves to win the tie, given England failed to muster a single shot on target inside 90 minutes.

Brown’s opposite number, Kevin Keegan, later said his side had been “the luckiest team in the world”.

Ach, what could have been...

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Craig Brown was appointed Scotland boss in 1993 following a brief interim spell. He replaced Andy Roxburgh, the man he had assisted for seven years.

Brown’s Scotland qualified for the 1996 European Championships, and beat Switzerland at Villa Park after drawing with the Netherlands in the opening game.

The Scots lost 2-0 to England at Wembley, though, and were denied progression to the knockout phase by Patrick Kluivert's consolation goal for the Dutch against the tournament hosts.

While Steve Clarke emulated Brown's feat in guiding Scotland to a major tournament finals, Brown remains the last man to take Scotland to a World Cup, doing so in 1998.

Three years ago, Brown sat down with BBC Sport Scotland to relive his journey. Have a read of it here… you won’t be disappointed.