Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland's head coach, a decision he described as "easy" following the team's elimination from the World Cup.
Clarke informed his players of his departure at 19:00 local time on Saturday, immediately after Scotland's exit was confirmed. He conveyed to his squad that it was an "emotional moment" to step away after their shared journey, highlighting that seven or eight players had been with him from the beginning.
Despite criticism of Scotland's performance in the group stage, Clarke maintained he had a "brilliant" World Cup experience. He recalled the moment of walking out for the Haiti game with thousands of Scotland fans and his family in attendance as a highlight. He acknowledged that the subsequent matches against Morocco and Brazil were difficult, but asserted that his team competed effectively against both opponents, who are capable of advancing deep into the tournament.
"We showed a lot of character and we played some good stuff," Clarke said. "We didn't find the quality in the final third of the pitch, but I could maybe say that across the whole seven years we've always been chasing and trying to find that quality in the final third of the pitch - and I hope my successor manages to do that."
Assessing his tenure, Clarke expressed he was "100% proud" of his efforts to "change the mentality round the group" and instill a belief in their ability to compete at the highest level. He predicted that the team would become "part of Scottish folklore" and that their matches would be remembered for generations. Clarke also dismissed suggestions that the current core group of players is finished, noting their potential to participate in Euro 2028.