John Swinney has expressed his regret over Steve Clarke's resignation as Scotland head coach following the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The First Minister praised Clarke for leading the national team to three of the last four major tournaments and securing their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
World Cup campaign ends in disappointment
Scotland won their opening match of the tournament, their first World Cup victory since 1990, but subsequent defeats and a minus-three goal difference prevented them from advancing to the last 32. Clarke's departure was confirmed shortly after Croatia's 2-1 win over Ghana on Saturday, which mathematically ended Scotland's hopes.
Swinney's tribute
Writing on X, Swinney said: "I am sorry to hear that Steve Clarke has stood down as Head Coach @ScotlandNT. He has taken the team and the country on an exciting journey to reach the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and he has so much to be proud of. I wish him well for the future." The First Minister also reposted Clarke's open letter to supporters, calling it "a fantastic, loving message to Scotland".
Clarke's farewell letter
In a three-page letter titled "Bye-Bye Scotland", Clarke wrote: "The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn't have had any of the memories that we've accumulated from 2019 until now. They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor."
Legacy of success
Clarke took charge of Scotland in 2019 and guided them to Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, and Euro 2024, before finally ending the nation's 28-year World Cup drought by qualifying for the 2026 tournament. His tenure included historic results such as a 2-0 win over Spain in Euro 2024 qualifying.
