Qualified for the 2026 World Cup
Steve Clarke has firmly established his legacy in Scottish football after leading Scotland to its first World Cup in 27 years on Tuesday night. In a thrilling 4-2 victory against Norway at Hampden Park, Scotland secured the crucial points to finish atop their group, ensuring automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Following the match, Clarke reflected on the achievement.
“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, emphasizing that this is the opportunity we’ve waited for,” the Scotland manager noted. “We qualified for the Euros, reached a play-off, and then qualified for another Euros. This was our moment—a one-game final. We put everything on the line. There’s always one last step, and it’s often the hardest.” He added, “Some moments during the game went our way. We went 2-1 up against 10 men but then conceded. We thought, ‘What are we doing?’ But that’s the Scotland way.”
Clarke’s relationship with Scotland fans has fluctuated over the years, influenced by the team’s performance in various competitions. While supporters can point to disappointing outings in international tournaments, such as Scotland’s early exits from Euro 2020 and Euro 2024—scoring only three goals and failing to secure a win—it’s undeniable that the 62-year-old manager excels in navigating the national team through qualifying campaigns. This is evident in his remarkable record so far.
Steve Clarke’s Remarkable Scotland Record
When breaking down Clarke’s tenure with Scotland by competition, it is clear that he thrives in qualifying scenarios. As of this international break, Clarke has an impressive record, averaging 2.25 points per game in World Cup qualifying matches. This shouldn’t come as a shock to Scotland fans, considering he led the team to a play-off spot in his inaugural World Cup qualifying campaign, though they fell short against Ukraine. This was redeemed with the standout victory over Norway this past Tuesday, securing a place in next year’s World Cup.
His strong performance in World Cup qualifying is matched by a solid average of 1.94 points per game in European Championship qualifiers. Clarke guided Scotland to Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, clinching memorable play-off victories against Israel and Serbia to secure their first appearance at an international tournament in 22 years. While his record in the Nations League has seen a slight decline—partly due to the national team’s promotion to League A, where they won only two out of six matches against top-tier teams—his average stands at a respectable 1.65 points per game in those tournaments.
While fans may note the 0.3 points per game average Clarke has achieved in international tournaments, as illustrated in the accompanying graph, it’s clear that he significantly outperforms his recent predecessors in securing qualifications for major tournaments—an accomplishment Scotland has achieved only three times since 1998. Clarke’s average of 1.92 points per game in qualifying matches marks a marked improvement over the three managers before him and represents the best record for any Scotland manager since Craig Brown, who last took the team to a World Cup. For many members of the Tartan Army, this undoubtedly positions Clarke as a contender for Scotland’s greatest ever manager.
