Steve Clarke has resigned as head coach of the Scotland men's national football team, a decision that was announced shortly after the team's official elimination from the World Cup.
The departure came as a surprise, with the Scottish FA only announcing a four-year contract extension for Clarke a month prior. The terms of his resignation and the specific reasons for his abrupt departure have not yet been detailed.
During his seven-year tenure, Clarke guided Scotland out of a long period without major tournament appearances. Under his leadership, the team qualified for the UEFA European Championship in 2020, their first major tournament in 23 years. However, they were unable to advance past the group stage in that tournament and did not progress beyond the group stage in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Clarke's exit was described as low-key, with no immediate interviews or public statements beyond a valedictory message suggesting the decision had been contemplated for some time. The abrupt nature of his resignation was unexpected by the players and many within the Scottish FA board.