Steve Clarke had barely confirmed his resignation before the debate began in earnest. Seven years, three major tournaments and one undeniable transformation of Scottish football — and now the Scottish FA must decide who is best placed to carry that progress forward. It is, as former Scotland winger Pat Nevin put it succinctly, a monster job.

Clarke stepped down in the wake of Scotland's defeat to Brazil at the World Cup, a third successive anti-climactic exit from a major tournament without the side truly threatening their opponents. The timing adds its own peculiar pressure: the Nations League campaign opens away to Slovenia on 26 September, meaning the Scottish FA have weeks, not months, to identify and appoint a successor.

A different brief for a different era

When Clarke took the job in May 2019, the mission was simple and singular: end a 21-year absence from major tournament football. He delivered that in spades, guiding Scotland to three successive finals. The man who follows him inherits a rather more demanding remit — to actually make an impression once they get there.

Scotland exited consecutive European Championships and now a World Cup without advancing beyond the group stage. The next manager must find a way to unlock a squad capable of performing on the biggest occasions. Clarke was, at heart, a pragmatist. The collective spirit he cultivated was admirable and clearly contributed to the qualifying runs. But too often the team appeared constrained, unable to express themselves against quality opposition.

An attacking ethos would be widely welcomed among a support that has grown frustrated watching three tournament exits with precious little to cheer. Whether that is achievable with the existing player pool is another matter. As Nevin noted, Scotland arrived in the United States with one of the oldest squads at the tournament. Several of the current group are into their 30s, and identifying the next generation of key players remains an open question.

Does nationality matter?

Scotland's only significant venture into foreign management — Berti Vogts between 2002 and 2004 — is not remembered fondly. The German won just nine of his 32 games in charge and left the national side in no better shape than he found it. That experience has informed a preference for Scots in the dugout ever since.

Yet former talisman James McFadden made a pragmatic case for widening the search. He acknowledged that the obvious Scottish candidates are either unavailable or otherwise engaged. Derek McInnes — long discussed as a future Scotland manager — has just taken over at Rangers, effectively ruling him out. David Moyes would attract considerable support but is unlikely to walk away from Everton at this stage of his career.

McFadden's position is straightforward: appoint the best available manager, regardless of passport. Given that 27 of the 48 nations at the World Cup were led by non-natives, there is no shortage of precedent at international level. The Scottish FA also has financial room to manoeuvre, with the windfall from three successive qualification campaigns offering a stronger hand than they might once have held.

The job is not without its attractions

Any incoming manager would be taking charge of a squad that, while ageing in parts, still contains its core players for at least one more campaign cycle. Euro 2028 represents a realistic and significant target, particularly given that two places are reserved for the host nations should any of England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland fail to qualify through the conventional route.

The infrastructure around the squad has also improved considerably under Clarke. The club-like atmosphere he cultivated does not simply vanish with his departure; a new manager can build on those foundations rather than starting from scratch.

The difficulty lies in the calibre of appointment required. Scotland have moved from also-rans to regular qualifiers. The next step — competing meaningfully at tournaments — demands a manager with both the tactical intelligence to challenge at that level and the personality to sustain the belief Clarke fostered. Finding that combination, quickly, is the task that now confronts the Scottish FA.

Frequently asked

Who is favourite to be the next Scotland manager?
No clear frontrunner has emerged. Derek McInnes and David Moyes have been mentioned by pundits but are unavailable or unlikely to leave their current clubs. The Scottish FA are expected to cast a wide net, potentially including non-Scottish candidates.
When does Scotland's next game take place?
Scotland's Nations League campaign opens away to Slovenia on 26 September 2026, giving the Scottish FA a tight window to appoint a new head coach.
Why did Steve Clarke leave as Scotland manager?
Clarke resigned following Scotland's exit at the World Cup group stage after a defeat to Brazil. It was the third consecutive major tournament in which Scotland failed to advance beyond the group phase, and Clarke felt the time was right to step down.