Scotland's head coach Steve Clarke has stepped down following the team's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Scottish Football Association (SFA) confirmed the move on Friday, marking the end of Clarke's seven-year tenure. During his time in charge, Clarke led Scotland to their first men's World Cup in 28 years and secured back-to-back European Championship qualifications.
Scotland finished third in Group C but failed to advance to the knockout rounds as one of the top eight third-placed teams. The team lost to Brazil and Morocco and only managed a 1-0 win over Haiti. Clarke had signed a contract extension in May, committing to lead Scotland through the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2028.
In a statement, Clarke expressed gratitude to his players, calling them the reason for the team's success. "The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players," he said. "They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their Gaffer."
The SFA described Clarke as "the country's most successful national coach," highlighting his achievements in qualifying for major tournaments. However, some critics argue that Scotland's performance at the World Cup exposed deeper issues in player development and team depth.
Scotland's elimination was confirmed after Croatia's victory over Ghana, which secured Croatia's advancement and left Scotland out of the knockout stage. Clarke's resignation came shortly after the team's final group-stage match.