Plymouth Argyle legend Paul Sturrock features in Icons of Football TV series

Paul Sturrock is the subject of the second episode of the Icons of Football TV series, which will be aired on BBC Scotland on Friday (10.30pm) but can already be watched on BBC iPlayer.

Sturrock, 66, had a hugely successful playing career in Scotland for Dundee United before moving into coaching and later management.

He went on to have two spells as Plymouth Argyle boss, leading them to one league title and to the brink of another one before leaving for Southampton in the Premier League in March 2004.

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Sturrock talks about his career in the 30-minute episode of Icons of Football, as well as living with Parkinson’s disease.

Graham Coughlan, who played for Sturrock in promotion-winning sides at Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, is one of the contributors to the show.

A Press release from BBC Scotland says: “This new series tells the remarkable stories of how some of Scottish football’s biggest stars made their names on and off the pitch.

“Known affectionately as ‘Luggy’, Paul Sturrock spent his entire club career at one club, Dundee United, and under one manager – the legendary Jim McLean.

“Famous for his free-flowing skills and for wearing his socks at his ankles, Sturrock was in many ways the opposite of his stern manager and mentor.

“Paul reflects on his relationship with Jim, a man he thinks was a tactical genius but who was also renowned for his lack of smiles and for rarely praising his players. And he tells how it shaped him as a player, and later as a manager.

“Sturrock speaks on what it felt like to win the league with Dundee United, and the highs and lows he and his team-mates experienced playing against some of the biggest names in Europe – including shocking the Spanish giants Barcelona.

“After Paul finished playing, he moved into coaching and management, becoming known as a manager who excelled at winning league promotions for his clubs. And then came the news that changed his life forever.

“Paul opens up on how he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and how he faces it head on, with the same attitude he faced down defenders on the pitch.”

“Contributors include Hazel Irvine, Gary Lineker, Lorraine Kelly, Paul Hegarty, Willie Miller, Graham Coughlan, Graham Hunter, Callum Davidson.