Steve Clarke has resigned as head coach of the Scotland national team following their elimination from the FIFA World Cup group stage, the Scottish FA confirmed in a statement issued shortly after results sealed the team’s exit.

The announcement came moments after Croatia’s victory over Ghana confirmed Scotland could no longer progress to the knockout rounds. Players were reportedly informed on Saturday while still based in Charlotte, bringing an emotional end to Clarke’s tenure.

Clarke had only signed a new four-year contract a month earlier, making his departure even more unexpected.

Scotland’s World Cup campaign ended with a single win from three matches. They opened Group C with a 1–0 victory over Haiti in Boston but later suffered a 1–0 defeat to Morocco, followed by a 3–0 loss to Brazil in Miami.

That sequence left Scotland relying on a slim chance of qualification as one of the best third-placed teams, but those hopes were ultimately ended after the defeat to Brazil.

In a statement, Clarke expressed deep emotion about his departure and gratitude toward his squad.

“The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now,” he said. “They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor.”

Clarke took charge of Scotland seven years ago, during a period when the national team had not qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup. Under his leadership, Scotland reached two European Championships and successfully qualified for this World Cup.

However, despite those milestones, Scotland’s performances at major tournaments remained inconsistent, with the victory over Haiti standing as their only win across three competitions.

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell paid tribute to Clarke’s contribution, highlighting the progress made during his tenure.

“From starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament,” Maxwell said. “We thank Steve for his record-breaking contribution.”

Clarke leaves his role having restored Scotland to regular appearances on the international stage, with the search for a new head coach now set to begin as the team looks ahead to its next cycle.