Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland head coach after the national team’s elimination from the World Cup was officially confirmed on Saturday evening.
The Scottish FA announced Clarke’s departure shortly after Croatia’s victory over Ghana ended Scotland’s slim hopes of progressing as one of the tournament’s best third-placed sides. The 62-year-old is understood to have informed his players of his decision while the squad remained at their training base in Charlotte.
Clarke’s exit comes just a month after signing a new four-year contract, having guided Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998. However, the campaign ended in disappointment despite an opening 1-0 victory over Haiti.
Successive defeats to Morocco and Brazil left Scotland relying on results elsewhere, but Ghana’s loss confirmed their exit before the knockout stages.
During his seven years in charge, Clarke transformed Scotland’s fortunes by leading the national side to three consecutive major tournaments, becoming the first men’s manager to achieve the feat. Despite those achievements, Scotland were unable to end their long wait for a place in the knockout rounds of a major competition.
His resignation brings an end to one of the most successful managerial spells in the modern era, with the Scottish FA now beginning the search for a successor ahead of the nation’s next qualification campaign.
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