By Callum McFadden.
Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland manager following elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
He leaves with his legacy secure, but the time is right for Scotland to move on
His resignation as Scotland manager brings to an end one of the most significant spells in the history of the national team.
There is no debate over the scale of his achievements. When Clarke took over in 2019, Scotland had become a nation accustomed to watching major tournaments from home. By the time he walked away, he had guided the team to Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup, with World Cup qualification ending a 28-year absence from football’s biggest stage.
That alone guarantees Clarke a place among Scotland’s most successful managers.
However, international football is judged on what happens once you get there.
Despite reaching three major tournaments, Scotland won just one match and failed to progress beyond the group stage on every occasion. The breakthrough that supporters craved never arrived. Qualification became the expectation under Clarke, but taking the next step remained elusive.
The World Cup campaign reflected much of Clarke’s tenure. Scotland started with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Haiti, only to suffer defeats against Morocco and Brazil that left them third in Group C and ultimately eliminated. There was pride in seeing Scotland back on the world stage, but there was also a sense of what might have been.
Clarke deserves enormous credit for changing the perception of the national team. Hampden became a difficult place for opponents to visit, players bought into a clear identity, and supporters were once again able to follow Scotland to major tournaments instead of wondering what could have been.
His impact should not be underestimated.
At the same time, football is cyclical. Every manager reaches a point where a fresh voice becomes necessary. After seven years in charge, it felt as though Scotland had reached the limit of what this group could achieve under Clarke.
That is not a criticism of his work. It is simply the reality of international football.
His successor inherits a squad that expects to qualify for major tournaments rather than simply dream about them. That shift in mentality is one of Clarke’s greatest achievements and perhaps his most enduring legacy.
In time, Steve Clarke will be remembered fondly as the man who restored Scotland to both the European and world stage. He gave supporters memories that had seemed impossible only a few years earlier and re-established belief in the national team.
For now, though, this feels like the correct moment for change.
Scotland should thank Steve Clarke for everything he achieved. Then they must look forward and find the manager capable of taking the next step that ultimately proved beyond this era.
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