Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland national team manager following the side's group-stage exit at the World Cup. The 62-year-old described the decision as straightforward after informing his players on Saturday evening.
Clarke ended his seven-year tenure after Scotland failed to advance from the group stage. He had signed a new four-year contract just one month earlier that was set to run through Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.
The coach told players at their hotel in Charlotte that he had always planned to leave if the team did not reach the knockout rounds. "If we didn’t come out of the group... it was probably the right time to step away," he said in an interview released by the Scottish Football Association.
Clarke said he had achieved his main goals, including taking Scotland to the Euros and the World Cup. Scotland lost to Morocco and Brazil after opening against Haiti.
He expressed pride in the team's character despite the results and noted the emotional moment when sharing the news with players, including captain Andy Robertson.
