Steve Clarke resigns as Scotland boss after World Cup group-stage exit

Steve Clarke's tenure as Scotland manager is over. The 61-year-old has resigned after the national team's disappointing group-stage elimination from the 2026 World Cup. While the decision was somewhat expected given the results, it draws the curtain on a significant chapter in Scottish football. Clarke had achieved what many thought impossible — qualifying Scotland for consecutive major tournaments after decades of absence from the biggest stage. Yet the World Cup campaign proved a step too far. Scotland struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the group phase and never looked like advancing to the knockout rounds. His overall record deserves respect. Clarke restored belief in a nation starved of major tournament football and built a competitive squad featuring players from some of the Premier League's top clubs. But football at the highest level is unforgiving, and the inability to deliver results when it mattered most made his position untenable. The Scottish Football Association now faces the task of finding a successor who can maintain the upward trajectory while addressing the tactical shortcomings exposed on the world stage. Several names from British coaching circles are already being mentioned, though no official approach has been confirmed. For those tracking international football trends, Scotland's next appointment will be pivotal. A new manager means a potential shift in formation, playing style, and squad selection — all factors that will shape how the Tartan Army performs in the upcoming Nations League campaign and beyond.