NEIL McCANN has worked with some of the biggest names in football management during his trophy-laden career with Hearts, Rangers, Southampton and Scotland.

McCann has benefited from playing under the likes of Jim Jefferies, Dick Advocaat, Harry Redknapp and Gordon Strachan, among many others, in the last 17 years.

And the winger, who this week applied for the post of Falkirk manager jointly along with team-mate Jackie McNamara, believes he will benefit from that education when he moves into coaching.

The former Gers star, the proud winner of two Trebles during his five years at Ibrox, has just completed his A Licence with the SFA and hopes to step into the dug-out at some stage in the future.

With Hughes joining his first love Hibs, the team he supported as a boy growing up in Leith and later played for, as manager yesterday, that dream may be realised sooner rather than later.

Scottish football's managerial merry-go-round just keeps on spinning and a string of potential candidates have been linked with the Bairns post - including John Hartson, Steven Pressley and Alex Rae.

However, McCann feels both he and McNamara, the Celtic full-back who was a one-time rival on the other side of the Old Firm divide, have a great deal to offer the Westfield club.

He said: "I have learned from all the managers I have worked under. Most of them, in fact pretty much all of them, have gone on to win things.

"Harry Redknapp, Gordon Strachan, Dick Advocaat and Alex McLeish have all done well on that side of the game.

"When Dick came in at Rangers it was very different to anything I had experienced before. He had a far more continental approach to the game, but it certainly worked and was enjoyable. You pick different things up and learn from every manager you work under.

"Jim Jefferies, too, was fantastic to work with. He is, of course, a Scottish Cup winner. It was a pleasure to play for him.

"You take wee bits and bobs from each manager you play for and hope that will make you a success when the time comes for you yourself to move into management.

"There is no doubt that Gordon Strachan will pop up somewhere soon and land a top job in management. He was an excellent coach.

"You don't win what Gordon has won with Celtic and have the respect in the game that he has had and struggle to get a job. I am sure he will be handed a very high-profile position soon."

Furthermore, McCann, who played for Falkirk in their plucky 1-0 defeat at Rangers in the Homecoming Scottish Cup final at Hampden last month, feels Hughes is as good as any of the big-name managers he played for.

Of the former Hoops centre- half, he added: "Yogi perhaps hasn't won any trophies.

"Obviously, he has won the First Division title. But he hasn't got any of Scottish football's big prizes yet. Having said that, he has won a hell of a lot of people over with the job that he has done with Falkirk.

"What he has done for Falkirk, to lead them to SPL safety for the fourth season running, the Co-op Cup semi-final, the Homecoming Scottish Cup final and into Europe, has been fantastic."

Despite his desire to take over as Falkirk manager with McNamara, the 34-year-old is keen to play on as well and believes he can combine the two roles if he is given the nod by club directors.

The 26-times capped player was one of the standout performers in Hughes' side as they outplayed the newly-crowned Scottish champions only to lose the game to an outrageous Nacho Novo strike early in the second half.

McCann said: "The football we played in the cup final was fantastic. I still feel good enough and fit enough to play on in the SPL. Obviously, that is dependent on avoiding injuries. My hunger to do well and succeed is as great as it ever was."