Gordon Strachan had a dilemma over Alex McLeish

McLeish, a team-mate of Strachan's at Aberdeen, will end his tenure at Ibrox when Rangers face Hearts on Sunday.

And Strachan said: "I still think his was the best treble in recent history that I can remember.

"It was achieved without the aid of big money and it was done against a top Celtic side."

Rangers manager Walter Smith won the treble in 1993 and his successor, Dick Advocaat, completed the clean sweep in 1999 in his debut season in Scotland.

Strachan's predecessor, Martin O'Neill, captured all three domestic trophies in 2001, but the current Celtic boss believes McLeish's feat two years later eclipses them all.

To act with the dignity he has is an example to all managers Gordon Strachan

Now McLeish departs Rangers having had a disappointing domestic season, with no silverware and having surrendered their title to Celtic.

But Strachan said: "I think Alex should walk away and say 'what a job I've done'.

"The managers before him got a lot of money and the managers after him, I imagine, will get a lot of money, so what he's done is truly fantastic.

"On the other side of it, to act with the dignity he has is an example to all managers.

"I think he wants to speak to me about my contacts in Australia, so I can see him having a wee rest.

"But there's no doubt it, he can have a rest without the fear of not getting a job, that's for sure.

"He will definitely get a good job when he comes back."

Strachan and McLeish still remain friends, despite the intense rivalry between the two Glasgow clubs.

"I'm glad to see the back of him right enough," joked the Celtic boss.

"I was caught between him doing well and obviously Rangers not doing better than us so it was a problem for me.

"So now I can just concentrate on us."