The party is over for Scotland.
Manager Steve Clarke resigned from his role on Saturday, June 27 after the European country was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the group stage. Clarke, who took the reins in 2019, wrote a three-page letter announcing his departure from the team and published it on X. The Scottish FA also shared the news.
"When I was first approached by the Scottish FA about the position of Head Coach, I was advised by many people to leave well alone as the job had become a poisoned chalice," Clarke said. "In my head I was just the wee boy from Saltcoats who had done well in his chosen profession and their country wanted me to be their leader, at least in a football sense. I couldn't find a reason to turn the approach down. My job remit was simple: qualify for a major tournament."
And qualify for a major tournament he did. Scotland reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998. But before that, Clarke took Scotland to the European Championship in 2020, a moment he said "was the stuff of dreams" and returned to the tournament in 2024.
“While we are all disappointed to have exited the World Cup at the group stage, we must not lose sight of the undeniable progress made during Steve’s seven years in charge," Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive, said in a statement. “From starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament.
Manager Steve Clarke resigned from his role on Saturday, June 27 after the European country was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the group stage. Clarke, who took the reins in 2019, wrote a three-page letter announcing his departure from the team and published it on X. The Scottish FA also shared the news.
"When I was first approached by the Scottish FA about the position of Head Coach, I was advised by many people to leave well alone as the job had become a poisoned chalice," Clarke said. "In my head I was just the wee boy from Saltcoats who had done well in his chosen profession and their country wanted me to be their leader, at least in a football sense. I couldn't find a reason to turn the approach down. My job remit was simple: qualify for a major tournament."
And qualify for a major tournament he did. Scotland reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998. But before that, Clarke took Scotland to the European Championship in 2020, a moment he said "was the stuff of dreams" and returned to the tournament in 2024.
“While we are all disappointed to have exited the World Cup at the group stage, we must not lose sight of the undeniable progress made during Steve’s seven years in charge," Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive, said in a statement. “From starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament.
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