Next Scotland manager: Four contenders to replace Steve Clarke as post-World Cup resignation confirmed

Scotland person confirmed that Steve Clarke has stepped down arsenic caput manager pursuing the nation's elimination from the radical signifier of the World Cup.

After claiming conscionable 3 points from 3 matches against Brazil, Morocco and Haiti successful Group C, Scotland coiled up successful 3rd place, leaving their qualification prospects retired of their ain hands.

Clarke's broadside were inactive successful with a changeable of making the knockout rounds connected Saturday morning, but their chances had slipped to beneath 1% earlier the last circular of radical games kicked off.

Scotland firstly needed Ghana to bushed Croatia by 3+ goals successful Group L, an eventuality that did not hap arsenic the 2018 runners-up edged past their African foes 2-1, dropping the Black Stars down to 3rd successful the process.

As Ghana had collected 4 points to Scotland's three, the latter's hopes of a last-32 spot were officially extinguished connected Saturday night, and they ended up ranking arsenic the second-worst third-placed squad supra Uruguay.

Scotland person truthful failed to marque it to the knockout rounds successful each of their erstwhile 9 World Cup Finals appearances, and Clarke announced his resignation soon aft his team's exit was confirmed.

Steve Clarke issues affectional connection arsenic Scotland exit confirmed

"The astir affectional portion of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t person had immoderate of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now," Clarke said successful a statement.

"They merit each the praise and adulation that they person and it was genuinely an honour to beryllium called their Gaffer. Thanks for having maine and bully luck to my successor."

Scottish FA executive Ian Maxwell added: "While we are each disappointed to person exited the World Cup astatine the radical stage, we indispensable not suffer show of the undeniable advancement made during Steve’s 7 years successful charge.

“From starting arsenic a cookware 4 squad successful 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, helium has much than delivered connected the remit to instrumentality Scotland backmost to a large tournament.

“We convey Steve for his record-breaking publication and cognize that erstwhile the disappointment of World Cup elimination subsides, the Scotland supporters volition beryllium thankful for the memories of marching with pridefulness astatine large tournaments erstwhile again. Finally, connected behalf of the committee of the Scottish FA I would similar to marque peculiar notation to our unthinkable supporters.

“The galore thousands who person travelled to the United States to observe the instrumentality to a World Cup - making a important fiscal committedness to bash truthful - person erstwhile again shown themselves to beryllium exceptional ambassadors for our state and our nationalist game."

Clarke - formerly Kilmarnock caput manager and adjunct manager astatine Chelsea and Liverpool - leaves his station with a grounds of 38 wins, 14 draws and 29 losses from 81 matches arsenic Scotland manager, and a fistful of notable large tourney qualifications.

Under Clarke's wing, Scotland ended a 25-year hold for different Euros quality successful 2021, a 28-year hold for a archetypal World Cup quality since 1998, and they besides roseate from League C to League A of the UEFA Nations League.

Who could regenerate Steve Clarke arsenic Scotland manager?

The Scotland FA are successful nary unreserved to name Clarke's successor, arsenic the nationalist squad person 3 months until they statesman their caller Nations League run against Slovenia successful League B connected September 26.

However, a fistful of imaginable successors person already been name-checked, including wily Everton manager David Moyes, who is astir to participate the last 12 months of his declaration with the Toffees.

Ex-Celtic brag Ange Postecoglou is besides searching for his adjacent occupation and boasts familiarity with the Scottish game, arsenic does existent adjunct manager Steven Naismith, who was formerly successful complaint of Hearts earlier rejoining the nationalist squad successful 2025.

Scotland person besides been tipped to research a woody for ex-Denmark brag Kasper Hjulmand, precocious fired from Bayer Leverkusen, and Barry Ferguson, who spent the 2nd fractional of the 2024-25 play arsenic Rangers' caretaker manager.