Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland's head soccer coach, just weeks after signing a contract extension that would have kept him in the role through the 2030 World Cup. The decision came Saturday following Scotland's elimination from the current World Cup.
Clarke, 62, led Scotland for seven years, a period that saw the team qualify for its first World Cup since 1998, as well as the 2020 and 2024 European Championships. Despite the recent contract extension, the team's performance in the group stage led to his departure.
In a letter to fans, Clarke expressed his gratitude to the players, stating, "The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now." He added, "They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honor to be called their gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor."
The Scottish FA acknowledged the team's progress under Clarke. "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," said Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell. "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."
Scotland's World Cup campaign included a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opener, followed by 1-0 and 3-0 losses to Morocco and Brazil, respectively. These results were not enough to advance from Group C. The Scottish fanbase, known as the Tartan Army, was a popular presence during the tournament. Scotland will now begin the search for a new head coach.