Steve Clarke steps down as Scotland head coach after seven years

Steve Clarke resigned as head coach of Scotland’s men’s national football team on 27 June 2026, walking away from the job just one month after extending his contract through 2030. The timing is, to put it mildly, striking.

His departure came immediately after Scotland were knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the group stage. Croatia’s win over Ghana confirmed the elimination, ending what had been a genuinely remarkable era for Scottish football under Clarke’s leadership.

The most successful manager in Scotland’s history

Clarke took over on 20 May 2019 and oversaw 81 matches, posting a win rate of 44.44%. Under Clarke, Scotland qualified for three consecutive major tournaments: Euro 2021, Euro 2024, and the 2026 World Cup.

Before Clarke, Scotland hadn’t appeared at a World Cup since 1998. That’s a 28-year drought. Clarke ended that drought, and then some.

In his resignation statement, Clarke said he felt “pride and satisfaction” in what he’d accomplished, particularly in reconnecting the team with its supporters.

The Scottish FA acknowledged the departure as the conclusion of a successful seven-year chapter.

The contract extension that aged poorly

Clarke signed a four-year contract extension just 30 days before resigning. The extension was meant to signal stability, a vote of confidence from the Scottish FA heading into the World Cup, suggesting a long-term vision extending well beyond the tournament.

Then Scotland got bounced in the group stage, and Clarke walked.

What Clarke built, and what comes next

Clarke’s first major achievement was getting Scotland to Euro 2021, their first tournament appearance in over two decades. Qualifying for Euro 2024 showed it wasn’t a fluke. And then came the World Cup qualification. Three major tournaments in a row, after decades of nothing.

Still, there’s a case to be made that Clarke had taken the squad as far as he could. Group-stage exits at three consecutive tournaments suggest a ceiling, a team good enough to qualify but not quite good enough to make a deep run.

Clarke leaves having managed 81 matches, qualified for three major tournaments, and ended a 28-year World Cup drought. The 30-day contract extension will be a footnote, not the headline, when people look back on this era.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.