Scotland’s appointment of Steve Clarke in 2019 will forever be remembered as one of the most significant decisions in the modern history of the national team, but the road to his arrival was far from straightforward.
Before Clarke accepted the role, the Scottish Football Association explored several high-profile managerial options as it searched for the right man to replace Alex McLeish.
Among the names heavily linked with the position was Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, who was widely regarded as the SFA’s preferred target during an earlier managerial search after guiding his country to unprecedented success on the international stage. Despite extensive discussions, O’Neill remained committed to Northern Ireland, forcing Scotland to look elsewhere.
Other experienced managers, including David Moyes and Derek McInnes, were also regularly mentioned throughout the process as speculation intensified over who would take charge of the national side.
Eventually, the SFA turned to Steve Clarke following his outstanding work with Kilmarnock, where he had transformed the Ayrshire club into one of Scotland’s most organised and competitive teams.
At the time, Clarke admitted he was honoured to accept the role.
«”It is an honour to become Scotland manager. I firmly believe we have a talented group of players who can achieve success on the international stage.”»
Those words proved prophetic as Clarke guided Scotland to Euro 2020, ending a 23-year wait for a major tournament. He later led the national team to Euro 2024 and eventually the 2026 FIFA World Cup, restoring belief among supporters and establishing Scotland as regular tournament qualifiers once again.
Although his tenure ultimately came to an end following Scotland’s group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup, Clarke leaves having overseen one of the country’s most disappointing results in modern football eras.
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