Steve Clarke appointed new Scotland head coach

Former Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke has signed a three-year contract as Scotland national team head coach.

Clarke takes over the reins from Alex McLeish, who was sacked after the Scots’ poor start to the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

Capped six times by his country as a player, Clarke was appointed after a comprehensive selection procedure undertaken by the Scottish FA Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, and endorsed by the board.

A winner of PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year Awards, 55 year-old Clarke will be in charge of the Tartans at least until the end of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign.

He will certainly be missed at Rugby Park as the Killies have delivered unprecedented modern day results during his tenure, which had a year left run until the SFA came calling. After the Saltcoats native arrived in October 2017, Clarke’s charges leapt from second to bottom to achieve their then highest-ever points tally in the SPFL Premiership with a fifth-place finish in 2017/18. Kilmarnock finished third in 2018/19 – the club’s highest league position since 1966 – with a new all-time points landmark of 67.

Having played in defence for St. Mirren and Chelsea, Clarke initially made his name as an assistant manager to such luminaries as Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United, Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola at West Ham United and Sir Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.

As a boss in his own right, he steered West Bromwich Albion to eighth place in the Premier League, attaining a record points total and highest-ever finish for the midlanders, before joining Reading and then linking up with Roberto Di Matteo as the Italian’s assistant at Aston Villa.

Speaking after his appointment, Clarke said, “It is an honour to be appointed Scotland National Head Coach and I will undertake those responsibilities with pride and commitment.

“I firmly believe we have a talented group of players who can achieve success on the international stage. I look forward to working with them and helping them to fulfil those ambitions.

“I appreciate the Scotland supporters have waited a long time for the national team to qualify for a major tournament. Now we have a Women’s World Cup to look forward to in France this summer and it’s my motivation to emulate the success of Shelley Kerr and her squad by leading us to Euro 2020.”

Scotland have won one and lost one of their opening two Group I Euro 2020 qualifying games but Clarke is optimistic ahead of the summer fixtures.

“I believe we can qualify and look forward to that journey with the players and the fans, starting against Cyprus and Belgium next month.”

Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive commented, “Steve’s pedigree as a coach and manager of the highest regard set him apart in a high-calibre group of candidates. This season’s achievements simply reaffirm the credentials we believe will be of huge benefit to the Scotland National Team.

“I am delighted that we now have the country’s deserved Manager of the Year to lead the Scotland National Team and his experience over the past two decades will be integral to rejuvenating our UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying campaign, which resumes next month.

“It was important that we undertook the recruitment process diligently and respectfully, especially given the importance of the final games of the domestic season for Kilmarnock, Steve and his players.

“I would like to thank the Kilmarnock owner, Billy Bowie, and the club in general for their professionalism throughout the recruitment process.”