Steve Clarke announced his resignation as Scotland manager Saturday, ending his seven-year tenure after the team's failure to progress from the World Cup group stage. The decision followed Scotland's 3-0 defeat to Brazil.

Clarke, 62, informed the Scottish FA (SFA) hierarchy of his decision on Saturday. He had signed a new four-year contract just a month prior, which would have extended his commitment through Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.

In an interview released by the SFA, Clarke explained that he had always intended to step down if the team did not reach the knockout rounds of a major competition. "I always had in my head that, if we didn’t come out of the group, which is something that we’ve tried to do across three tournaments now, I always had in my head that if that didn’t happen then it was probably the right time to step away," Clarke stated. He added that if Scotland had secured an additional point to advance, he would have likely continued.

Clarke described the decision as "easy in some respects" because he had achieved his personal goals as head coach, including qualifying for a major tournament with his country. He highlighted his participation in the Euros, particularly the "great" second appearance in Germany, and fulfilling his "lifelong ambition" to manage Scotland at a World Cup. "I’ve done that, so not a bad time to step aside," he said.

Following the confirmation of their elimination after Croatia's win over Ghana, Clarke convened a team meeting at 7:15 p.m. to inform his players. He described it as an "emotional moment" to share the news with players who had been with him since the beginning of his tenure.

Despite the team's performance, Clarke expressed pride in his World Cup experience, calling it "brilliant." He recalled the moment of walking out for the Haiti game with thousands of Scotland fans present as a "best moment." He acknowledged the difficult matches against Morocco and Brazil, noting that both are strong teams capable of progressing deep into tournaments. Clarke believes Scotland competed well in those matches, showing character and playing "good stuff," though he admitted a lack of "quality in the final third of the pitch," a challenge he noted has persisted throughout his time as manager.

Clarke feels he succeeded in changing the team's mentality and instilling belief in their ability to compete at the highest level. He predicted that the "core group" of players would be remembered in "Scottish folklore" and could still make it to Euro 2028.

It is understood that Clarke has waived any compensation from his recently signed contract. The SFA has begun the process of finding a successor. SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell stated that the search would be broad, with "nothing off the table" in their effort to find the "right coach."