Craig Brewster

Craig James Brown Brewster (born 13 December 1966) is a Scottish former professional footballer, turned coach.

He made his name in a long playing career as a striker for numerous clubs in Scotland, particularly Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers, Dundee United and Dunfermline Athletic.

He also had a successful spell with Ionikos in Greece.

Unable to find a senior club, Brewster dropped into junior football with Dundee side Stobswell for a while, before signing for Forfar Athletic in 1985.

At this time, his regular playing position was in midfield.

His form at Forfar prompted the attention of Raith Rovers, who signed him in 1991.

At this time he converted to striker, and formed a prolific partnership with Gordon Dalziel that helped Raith to the First Division title in 1993.

In 1993, Brewster returned to Dundee United, signing for the Tannadice club for a fee of £250,000.

After a slow start in which he struggled to adapt to Premier Division football, Brewster's first season at Tannadice culminated in his greatest moment as a player, scoring the winner for United in the 1994 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers.

However, the club was relegated a year later.

Brewster helped them towards promotion back to the top flight in 1995–96, scoring four goals in one match against Dumbarton, but when his contract expired at the end of the season he decided to further his career elsewhere.

With the Bosman ruling having just come into force, Brewster was entitled to move abroad on a free transfer, and he decided to take advantage of an offer from Greek club Ionikos FC.

While other Scottish players who moved to Europe at this time mainly returned home soon afterwards, Brewster remained at Ionikos FC for five seasons.

His time in Greece included another national cup final appearance, but Ionikos FC lost the 2000 Greek Cup to AEK Athens.

In July 2001, Brewster went on trial at Hibernian, securing a return to Scotland in time for the 2001–02 season.

In his first season back in Scotland, Brewster formed a productive partnership with a young Garry O'Connor but due to budget cuts by Hibs, Brewster joined Dunfermline Athletic in 2002.

He enjoyed some of the most consistent form of his career playing alongside Stevie Crawford, who had a been a youngster at Raith during Brewster's time there.

Despite some clamour from fans and the media for Brewster to be called up to the Scotland squad, this never materialised.

Brewster left Dunfermline in November 2004 to become player/manager of Inverness.

After 18 months with Inverness, he then joined Dundee United as player/manager.

This move meant he became the most expensive 39-year-old footballer ever, costing the Terrors a reported £340,000.

In November 2004, Brewster accepted the job of player–manager with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He helped to establish the club in the Scottish Premier League after John Robertson had left to take the position at Hearts.

A run of poor results meant that Brewster left United in October 2006.

He joined Aberdeen as a player in December 2006, signing a contract until the end of the 2006–07 season.

He linked up again with Jimmy Calderwood, who had been his manager at Dunfermline.

Brewster was appointed player–manager of Dundee United in January 2006.

Brewster started his managerial career with Inverness CT in the Scottish Premier League, before a short unsuccessful spell as manager of Dundee United forced a resumption of his playing career in 2007 with Aberdeen.

He was reappointed manager of Inverness CT for a second time in August 2007, but Brewster was sacked by Inverness in January 2009.

Brewster made his debut for Aberdeen as a substitute in a goalless draw with Hibernian on 2 January 2007, and he scored his first goal for Aberdeen with a header in a Scottish Cup tie against the same opponents eight days later.

Brewster then suffered a dislocated shoulder in a draw against Inverness.

Doubts were cast over his playing future, but Brewster returned in early March and he signed a six-month extension to his Aberdeen contract in May 2007.

His contract with Aberdeen was cut short, however, when he returned to management with Inverness in August 2007.

He only played in two league games for Inverness in his second spell with that club, scoring the winning goal in a SPL match against Hearts.

After being sacked as Inverness manager in early 2009, Brewster signed a contract with Highland derby rivals Ross County until the end of the 2008–09 season.

Brewster then worked as assistant manager to Derek Adams at Ross County, but left the club in December 2010.

He was appointed coach at Crawley Town in May 2011 and twice became caretaker manager of the club in 2012.

After leaving Crawley, he has worked in various coaching roles for Whitehawk, Brighton & Hove Albion and Plymouth Argyle.

Brewster was born in Stobswell, Dundee and grew up a Dundee United supporter.

He signed for the club as a schoolboy, but was not offered professional terms by then manager Jim McLean.