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.
