When Clarke was appointed as head coach in May 2019, Scotland’s main objective was clear – return the country to a major men’s tournament for the first time since 1998.
This goal has now been achieved successfully. Therefore, the focus for Clarke’s successor will be to build upon these accomplishments by advancing further in future qualifying rounds, ideally reaching the knockout stages.
However, achieving this is easier in discussion than in practice. Clarke has made significant strides in motivating both the squad and the nation, creating a commendable club-like ethos that has contributed to their qualification achievements.
As Scotland prepare for future tournaments, maintaining this positive atmosphere while introducing new talent to replace the aging squad members will be crucial.
Nonetheless, further changes are needed. Clarke was known as a pragmatist, even when implementing more aggressive tactics in matches like the victory against Haiti; nevertheless, a sense of constraint persisted.
It appears that fans would welcome a successor who adopts a more attacking approach, especially given their frustrations stemming from recent exits at the Euros and the World Cup without making substantial impacts against opponents.
“Clarke has brought out the best in this remarkable group,” remarked former Scotland winger Pat Nevin, a close associate of the outgoing coach.
“Many people believe that 40 years old is too early for World Cup participation in modern football. While that may hold some truth, it’s not as straightforward as it appears.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the upcoming wave of players. Whoever takes over this position will face a significant challenge, which is truly a monster job.”
