Steve Clarke speaks in first interview after resigning as Scotland head coach

Steve Clarke speaks in his first interview after resigning as Scotland head coach following a group stage exit at the 2026 World Cup.

He reflected on his seven years in charge, how the team has grown within his time in charge, the pact it’s had on the fanbase, and looking ahead to the future.

On the 27th of June, Scotland’s elimination from the World Cup was confirmed following Croatia’s win against Ghana.

The result also means Scotland are the first nation in World Cup history to be eliminated from the Group Stage nine times.

Shortly after the result, Clarke, who only signed a new four-year deal only a month ago, issued a statement, confirming he was leaving his role.

Steve: “I wanted to change the mentality around the group. I wanted to make the boys believe that they could they could go to these places and get results. From there was was only a journey uphill. And football’s never it’s never smooth. It never goes straight. And it never goes in a straight line. You get your highs and your lows. But some of the highs have been amazing. And I think everybody who’s been on this journey should remember the highs more than the lows because the highs have been unbelievable. And we’ll become part of Scottish folklore as we move forward. People will be talking about some of these matches, some of these occasions right into the next century.”

Interviewer: “Steve. Chances are we would have done one of these anyway to to look back on on all things World Cup, but there’s been an unexpected change in circumstances. Firstly, how how are you feeling?”

Steve: “No, I’m good. I’m good. Obviously, when I’m going to the tournament, I know that I know the the levels that I want the team to reach. We didn’t quite get there. And I’ve had a great I’ve had a great journey. Scotland head coach, three major tournaments, worked with the the most fantastic group of players, and it just feels like the right time to step away.”

Interviewer: “It’s only a few weeks since we did one of these at the side of Lesser Hampden announcing your new contract. So, I suppose the obvious question is why now?”

Steve: “Again, just because that’s the feel. Listen, what I wanted to make sure was that when when I felt it was time to step away, it was time to step away. The contract before, signing the contract before was a a case of trying to give a little bit of comfort to the players knowing that we’re going in, knowing that we could we could continue the journey. I always had in my head that if we didn’t come out the group, which is something that we’ve tried to do across three tournaments now, I always had in my head that if that didn’t happen, then it was probably the right time to step away. Obviously, if we had a we managed to get that extra point and and got out of the group, then I’d probably have stayed on and and tried to do another tournament.”

Interviewer: “I know how much you care about not only the role, but the the core group of staff and players, some of whom you’ve worked with for a long time. It can’t have been an easy decision to make or was it in some respects?”

Steve: “Yeah, in some respects it was it was easy because I already had my head that what I wanted to achieve as a head coach. I’d also ticked all the boxes. I wanted to go to a major tournament in my country. I did that. I did that with the Euros. The first Euros was a little bit not the Euros because it was co affected. The second Euros was was great. The tournament didn’t go as we wanted, but the getting to Germany was was fantastic. And my lifelong ambition was to do a World Cup with my country. I’ve done that. So, not a bad time to step aside.”

Interviewer: “A lot of the country woke up to the news and it’ll have taken a lot of people by surprise. It’s not something any of us maybe would have designed with a blank slate, but I know it was important to you that you told your your staff and players first and foremost as a group.”

Steve: “I called the meeting for 7:00 after the game last night because we felt that would be the time it was confirmed that we were out. Sat all the players and staff down in in one room. A lot of people in the room and and obviously an emotional moment when when you tell your players that you you’re stepping away after such a such a journey together. Some of the boys been with me right from the start. I think seven or eight of them from the start right the way through. So it was very important to me that they knew first and obviously just before we went into the meeting I had to tell my captain because I knew that he’d want to say a few words back to me. So saying goodbye to my staff and my players was yeah it was emotional.”

Interviewer: “How do you reflect on the the World Cup generally now you’ve had a chance to catch your breath a little bit.”

Steve: “Brilliant. Brilliant. I said I was going to enjoy it. Coming out for the Haiti game with the Scotland fans there in the thousands and my family in the stand was was just the best moment. So that was good. The next two games were tough. We played difficult opponents. Morocco, Brazil. Both of them can go really deep in the tournament and we competed with them. No matter what other people might say, we we competed. Both games were competitive. The Brazil game, we allowed them to have the kind of game they wanted. They like to play on the counterattack. They like big spaces. We gave them that. We conceded the early goal. But we showed a lot of character and we we played some good stuff. We didn’t find the quality in the final third of the pitch, but I could maybe say that across the whole seven years, but we’ve always been chasing and trying to find that quality in the final third of the pitch. And I hope my successor manages to do that.”

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Interviewer: “In terms of what your successor takes on, I know you and the coaching staff have enjoyed watching some of the younger players over the camp and maybe bewildered sometimes by the interaction between them and some of the conversations. Have you touch on the core group that’s been with you along the way, but the squad has evolved a lot as well over the piece.”

Steve: “That’s what you have to do. You have to you have to take the core group, but you have to keep evolving round about it. There are a number of younger players in the squad now who will become the next core group. They should learn from the senior players that I’ve been lucky enough to work with. We’ve grown together through 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 caps, you know. Going into this tournament, I think we’re just about a thousand caps in the squads, which is which is good experience at international level. We need to make sure the next generation learn from this this core group and they can carry us into the future tournaments. That’s that’s that’s my hope and wish.”

Interviewer: “Well, that that core group’s taken us to three major tournaments after a spell in the wilderness. It must give you a lot of pride looking back.”

Steve: “Yeah, 100% really proud. But everybody keeps saying this this core group’s finished. They’re not finished yet. They’re definitely not finished because they can all make it for Euro 2028, home Euros. And I look forward to sitting in the stand if the Scottish FA are good enough to give me a couple of tickets for the tournament. Sitting there watching the watching the boys play without the without the stress of being their head coach and and just watching and joining and hoping that this the next time they manage to do what nobody’s ever done before for Scotland.”

Interviewer: “I’m sure we can sort you a couple of tickets. We can put in a word with the right.”

Steve: “Can I have that in writing? *laughs*”

Interviewer: “No *laughs*. Supporters have obviously had some time of it out here. They’ve made positive headlines all over the world. They always do. Never take it for granted, but it’s always heartening at the same time. I know they’ll maybe nurse some of the same frustrations that you guys have, the staff and the players, that things could have gone differently here and there, but over the piece when the dust settles, it’s maybe something they’ll look back on and and cherish, treasure.”

Steve: “I’m sure they’ll the memories that they’ve made for this trip will last with them forever. They know how to enjoy themselves and I think no matter there’s always some rumblings around the outside but the the core group of the the Tartan Army the fans they appreciate what this group of players have done for them. They appreciate the fact they’ve been able to go to Germany. They’ve been able to come here to the USA and they’ve had the best time and long may it continue. They’re they’re a fantastic group of supporters. They probably drink a little bit too much but they never go over the top in terms of behaviour. Their behaviour is always great. They make great friends across the world and great ambassadors for Scotland.”

Interviewer: “And I know the the away ones in particular have helped pull the team through and some some difficult moments over the years as well.”

Steve: “Yeah. And they’ve got one of the best away songs ever. Scotland away. It’s only got two words. Everybody sings it. It’s got a really catchy tune. When you go away home and you hear that little pocket of noise coming out the the stadium, it’s normally pretty hostile. You know you’ve got they’ve got your back and we’ll always appreciate them.”

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Interviewer: “I know you you cringe talking about yourself a little bit, but when you look back over the piece, are there things that stand out that that come to mind as particular highlights?”

Steve: “No, I think I think just the whole journey the whole journey has been been great from probably the I speak about it quite a lot in me and Andy in New York as as part of the the prep for the World Cup. We’re standing in a roof rooftop bar having a nice cold drink, soft drink obviously, looking out across the skyline of New York. And we both just looked at each other and said, “We’ve come a long way from Moscow. Moscow was the low point. That was the point where when I started to fix in my head how I wanted to move forward. I’d identified a group of players that I knew could be good for us. I wanted to change the mentality around the group. I wanted to make the boys believe that they could they could go to these places and get results. And that was the low point. From there was was only a journey uphill. And football’s never it’s never smooth. It never goes straight and it never goes in a straight line. You get your highs and your lows, but some of the highs have been amazing. And I think everybody who’s been on this journey should remember the highs more than the lows because the highs have been unbelievable. And will become part of Scottish folklore as we move forward. People will be talking about some of these matches, some of these occasions right into the next century.”

Interviewer: “Again, without giving away too many specifics, half of your speech last night was about thanking people and looking back, but you did throw down the gauntlet a bit to the group as well in terms of what you expect from them going forward.”

Steve: “Absolutely. I was still a gaffer last night until just after that meeting. So, no, no, I, for me it’s important. I think their qualification record is is probably unsurpassed in Scottish history. We know how to qualify out the group. So, all I said to the boys was don’t use the free pass to get to the the next tournament. Make sure that you you qualify as of right because that’s what we do. We do it well and it also gives you a great feeling going into the tournament that that you know you’ve qualified as of right. So like I say I look forward to sitting watching the boys playing in the next Euros and next time they’ll get it right.

Interviewer: “Well Steve on behalf of a lot of people with a lot of great memories. Thanks for all your efforts.”