Steve Clarke Resigns as Scotland Head Coach After World Cup Exit

Steve Clarke Steps Down from Coaching Role

New York [US], June 28: The Scottish Football Association announced on Friday that Steve Clarke has resigned from his position as head coach of the Scotland national team, following their official exit from the FIFA World Cup.

The 62-year-old coach concludes a seven-year tenure, during which he led Scotland to their first men's FIFA World Cup appearance in 28 years and achieved consecutive qualifications for the UEFA European Championship.

According to a statement from the Scottish FA, Clarke, recognized as the country's most successful national coach, decided to step down after Scotland's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In their return to the World Cup, Scotland finished third in Group C but did not qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams, thus ending their journey before the knockout rounds.

The team faced opponents Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil in the group stage. Just last month, Clarke had signed a new contract to remain in charge until the 2030 FIFA World Cup and was also expected to lead Scotland at UEFA Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by Britain and Ireland.

Reflecting on his departure, Clarke expressed, “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 honour to be called their Gaffer. Thanks for having me, and good luck to my successor.”