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Scotland\u2019s disappointing World Cup campaign has culminated in the resignation of head coach Steve Clarke after the team\u2019s elimination was confirmed.<\/p>\n
The slim hopes of progressing to the knockout stage were extinguished by results elsewhere, prompting an early end to a tournament that had been accompanied by somewhat optimistic expectations.<\/p>\n
Scotland finished ?third in Group ?C ?behind Brazil and Morocco, with just one goal scored, but were not among the top eight third-placed ?finishers ?who make up ?the final 32.<\/p>\n
In a statement last night, the Scottish Football Association stated: \u201cThe country\u2019s most ?successful national coach has called time on his seven years ?in charge following confirmation ?of Scotland\u2019s exit from the ?2026 ?FIFA World Cup,\u201d<\/p>\n
It is just 31 days since Clarke signed a four-year deal to remain in post. Ten minutes after informing the squad of his decision he issued a 1,000-word \u201cletter to the nation\u201d saying his overwhelming emotion was \u201cpride, closely followed by satisfaction\u201d and witnessing \u201cthe reconnection of our national team and fans\u201d.<\/p>\n
Clarke, 62, took over in May 2019 and led the team to qualification for\u00a0Euro\u00a02020. Failure to reach the 2022 World Cup was followed by qualification for the\u00a0Euros\u00a0in\u00a0Germany\u00a0in 2024.<\/p>\n
He won 36 matches, drawing 16 and losing 29 \u2013 a win ratio of 44.4% \u2013 and led the team for 81 games, the most of any\u00a0Scotland\u00a0manager.<\/p>\n
In his letter he said that when he was first approached by the Scottish FA about the position of head coach he \u201cwas advised by many people to leave well alone as the job had become a poisoned chalice.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI was just the wee boy from Saltcoats who had done well in his chosen profession and my country wanted me to be their leader, at least in a football sense. I couldn\u2019t find a reason to turn the approach down. My job remit was simple: qualify for a major tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I reflect on my seven years in the job my overriding emotion is pride, closely followed by satisfaction, to be the first coach since Craig Brown, in 1998, to lead the country to the finals of a major tournament was the stuff of dreams.<\/p>\n \u201cIn time I will be able to reflect on a tumultuous seven years but one element that has given me the greatest satisfaction is witnessing the reconnection of our national team and our fans.<\/p>\n \u201cThis reconnection was never more evident than during the past few weeks. From Miami to Boston and New Jersey our fans won the hearts and minds of the American public and football fans across the world.<\/p>\n \u201cLet us not forget that the players won a World Cup finals match for only the fifth time in Scottish football history, and the first for 36 years. The team were responsible for giving everyone the chance to create memories that will last a lifetime and I am proud to have played a part in that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ian Maxwell, SFA chief executive, added: \u201cWhile 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\u2019s seven years in charge.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our\u00a0World Cup qualifying\u00a0group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thank Steve for his record-breaking contribution and know that when the disappointment of World Cup elimination subsides, the Scotland supporters will be thankful for the memories of marching with\u00a0pride\u00a0at major tournaments once again.\u201d<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Steve-Clarke-embraces-Andy-Robertson.png\")