Steve Clarke has decided to leave his role as Scotland’s head coach following the team’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Scotland boss has ended his seven-year reign after Croatia’s win over Ghana confirmed that his team will be heading home.
In a statement released by the Scottish Football Association shortly after Scotland’s hopes of securing a best third-place finish were dashed following Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Ghana, he said: “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.
“They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their Gaffer. Thanks for having me, and good luck to my successor.”
Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive, added: “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.
“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.
“We 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 pride at major tournaments once again.”
After seven years at the helm, the 62-year-old brought an end to his spell in charge, having guided Scotland to three major tournaments, including their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. Despite signing a new four-year deal before the 2026 finals, Clarke chose to step down following a disappointing Group C.
