Steve Clarke writes a heartfelt letter to fans as he steps down as Scotland manager after the World Cup exit.
Steve Clarke has decided to step down as Scotland’s manager after the team was knocked out of the 2026 World Cup, following Croatia’s win over Ghana.
Scotland faced a challenging tournament. They began with a 1-0 win over Haiti, but then lost to Morocco and Brazil. Finishing third in their group, they had to wait a few days to learn their fate. When Group L’s matches ended, it was clear Scotland was out.
Right after the final whistle in Philadelphia, it was announced that Clarke had resigned. In a heartfelt message to the fans, he said, “The hardest part of saying goodbye is to my players, who made all the memories from 2019 until now possible. They deserve all the praise and it’s been a true honour to be their Gaffer. Thanks for having me, and good luck to whoever takes over.”
Clarke took charge seven years ago, leading Scotland to their first World Cup in 28 years and playing in two European Championships. Because of this success, he had just received a four-year contract extension a month ago. But things didn’t go as hoped this time in North America.
Some fans were unhappy with his interview after the Brazil loss and with some of the choices he made during the tournament, which contributed to Scotland’s exit.
Scottish FA CEO Ian Maxwell said, “While it’s disappointing to leave the World Cup at the group stage, we can’t forget the progress made under Steve’s seven years. From being a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he delivered on bringing Scotland back to major tournaments. We thank Steve for his amazing work and know fans will remember the proud moments once the disappointment fades.”