Alex McLeish has spoken about the false rumours that have circulated regarding his health.
His second spell as Scotland manager ended in April 2019 following a 3-0 defeat against Kazakhstan, and social media rumours suggested that McLeish was experiencing health issues.
McLeish, who has managed Motherwell, Hibs and Rangers among others, says his son made him aware of the online speculation.
Speaking in the Scottish Daily Mail , McLeish said: "I'm aware of how the internet works. I'm not a dinosaur in that respect.
"I have kids and grandkids that are all over it. But I was never one for logging on and Googling my own name to see what the reaction was to me.
"I knew I would be getting dog's abuse – so why go looking for it?
"That's why I was unaware of connotations and rumours of me being ill and so on.
"I didn't know people were saying stuff about my health on the internet. But then, a couple of days after the qualifier in San Marino, my son Jon phoned me and asked, 'Has something happened over there?'."
Referring to an incident in which he forgot his words during a team talk, McLeish said: "I just had a blank with a word I needed to say in a speech, I walked out the room and came back in and that probably didn't look good.
"I was embarrassed at losing my thread. I couldn't believe I could do that.
"The irony is that when the reports of the incident in San Marino emerged, I was in the process of doing my annual medical tests with the League Managers' Association.
"They were more concerned with the heart and fitness tests and stuff. But I have now had absolutely everything checked.
"I was an ongoing process and I still had things to do at the time, but I have now done every test and I am absolutely fine."
McLeish has watched the progress of former Rangers youth player Billy Gilmour, who has gone on to turn in impressive performances for Chelsea's first team against Liverpool and Everton.
Gilmour was recently named in the Scotland under-21 squad, but the former national team boss believes he's ready to be involved in the senior setup.
McLeish said: "I think a lot of us have said before that if you are good enough you are old enough.
"Billy has had two man of the match awards against top teams.
"But no way am I going to interfere with Steve’s selection for Israel or tell him who to pick."
