Steve Clarke appointed Scotland national team coach

The Scottish FA has announced the appointment of Steve Clarke as Scotland National Team Head Coach.

Steve joins from Kilmarnock on a three-year contract until the end of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign and was appointed after an extensive recruitment process undertaken by the Scottish FA Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, and endorsed by the board.

He has enjoyed incredible success at Kilmarnock, achieving their highest-ever points tally in the SPFL Premiership with a fifth-place finish last season. He has surpassed those achievements this season, with Kilmarnock finishing third – the club’s highest league position since 1966 – with a new benchmark of 67 points.

Steve’s achievements have been recognised with the awarding of the PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year Awards.

The former St Mirren and Chelsea defender earned six Scotland caps between 1987 and 1994 and has a decorated coaching career spanning 20 years. He has assisted Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United, Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola at West Ham United and Sir Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.

In his first outright managerial role, he led West Bromwich Albion to eighth place in the Premier League, achieving a record points total and highest-ever finish for the club, before joining Reading and then assisting Roberto Di Matteo at Aston Villa.

Steve Clarke, Scotland National Team Head Coach:

“It is an honour to be appointed Scotland National Team 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.

“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:

“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.”