SFA Chief Confirms Open Search for New Scotland Head Coach

The Scottish FA’s chief executive says “nothing’s off the table” as the association begins the hunt for Steve Clarke’s successor.

Clarke’s unexpected resignation came shortly after Scotland’s exit from the World Cup, where the team failed to advance to the knockout stage despite the coach signing a new four‑year deal before the tournament.

Scotland started Group C with a 1‑0 win over Haiti but were beaten 1‑0 by Morocco and 3‑0 by Brazil, leaving them short of the points needed to qualify as one of the eight best third‑placed teams. Ultimately, they finished 11th out of the 12 third‑place teams.

“Football is a very small world,” SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said from the team’s base in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I’ve received several inquiries this morning from people interested in the role. Nothing’s off the table – we’ll cast the net as wide as possible. It’s about finding the right coach, not where they come from. There are many quality managers out there, and we must ensure we pick the best fit.”

“The succession planning starts now,” he added.

Scotland’s upcoming fixtures include Nations League matches against North Macedonia, Slovenia and Switzerland in the autumn.

“It’s a highly attractive position for the right candidate,” Maxwell said. “We have Euro 2028 on the horizon as co‑hosts, and recent successes set a solid foundation. We need a coach who can build on that and drive the team forward.”

Maxwell wants to appoint a successor “as soon as possible,” but stresses the importance of getting the right person.

“It’s difficult to set a firm timeline,” he explained. “We have games coming up in September, so the process will move quickly.”

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