Burns, who was the first-team coach and head of youth at Celtic, died on Thursday at the age of 51 after losing his battle with cancer.

Strachan told the Evening Times: "Tommy was simply one of the best friends anyone could ever hope to have."

He added: "His bravery throughout his illness was an inspiration, and right to the end he was checking everyone else was okay, never giving a thought for himself or his situation.

"The fact that he has now gone will take a long time to sink in, and my thoughts are with Rosemary and his family."

Celtic chairman John Reid has confirmed the club will look at making a lasting tribute to Burns, who also served as the Scotland assistant manager under Berti Vogts and Walter Smith.

Burns had been both a player and manager with Celtic before returning to the club as coach in 2000.

Reid told Sky News: "In his own playing life and as a manager he never compromised his own philosophy and his own style of football, which he really believed was the Celtic style.

"That in a sense is the best legacy that we can give him. Of course we will look at what might be done in memory of Tommy.

"But what he would really have wanted is the continuing and sustained commitment to Celtic Football Club, even through the difficult periods, to the support of that type of open, fast, flowing, attacking football.

"That is what he believed in and I know that is what the present management of the club believe in."

Reid added: "The great players, the great members of the family, are those who develop those around them.

"And Tommy spent the latter part of his life passing on his own philosophy and his own skills to others at Celtic Park and of course for his country too with Scotland.

"He'll be greatly missed.

"I got to know Tommy in recent years. I had the great fortune to know him a little more than perhaps the ordinary fan, and yet the ordinary fan felt he knew Tommy Burns because Tommy engaged with them, he connected with them, and by heavens the Celtic fans will feel a great sense of loss today."