Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has signed a new contract, committing him to the national side through the 2030 World Cup campaign. The deal ends major uncertainty over his future, as Scotland targets their first men's World Cup appearance this century.
Clarke said: 'I am truly honoured to lead my squad into our first men’s World Cup in 28 years and I’m proud to continue as head coach. It’s very important to look ahead and plan for the future and, while my squad will be doing everything in their power to compete and make the country proud in America this summer, it also gives us certainty ahead of the tournament knowing that we can look to build on those foundations for the long term.'
Clarke took over in May 2019 after leading Kilmarnock to a third-placed finish in the William Hill Premiership. He led Scotland to back-to-back European Championships and top spot in their World Cup qualifying group after a 4-2 win over Denmark in November. There had been long-standing uncertainty over the 62-year-old's future, with Clarke rating his chances of staying on as 50-50 in March.
Clarke was keen to resolve his future before flying to the United States on Sunday. Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell said: 'During our discussions about the future we were all agreed that we cannot rest on our achievements or ever take qualification for granted. The passion and enthusiasm with which he discussed that road map emphasises that this will not simply be a continuation but a renewed purpose and focus over the next four years.'
