Clarke predicting a very bright 2021 ahead for Scotland
Steve Clarke has looked back on his first year as Scotland boss and predicted a bright 2021 for the country, one that he hopes will include a return to a major tournament.
The national coach was in the process of quitting his post as Kilmarnock boss to take on the job when he picked up his Scottish Football Writers’ Manager of the Year Award on May 19 last year.
And, while not able to say much, he pleased the dinner crowd when saying he wanted to be back in position in May, 2020, celebrating some good news for Scotland.
For a variety of reasons, that has not happened, with the coronavirus lockdown leaving Clarke, like so many others, reflecting both on what has gone before and what is to come.
“At the time, I was just so tired,” said the 56-year-old.
“It was a terrific end to the 201819 season for Kilmarnock, and to finish third in the manner we did was a moment I will never forget.
“However, it was also draining. I had no real time to draw breath on such a tense climax before I was offered the privileged opportunity to manage the country.
“I think there was 48 hours between addressing the fans at full-time against Rangers – after finishing with the highest points tally in Kilmarnock’s history – to saying goodbye to Billy Bowie and the players, hello to Ian Maxwell and then having less than a week to put together a squad for the qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium.
“I can look back now and enjoy the moment, and the recognition from the Scottish Football Writers Association and PFA Scotland for the success we had as a team – the players, coaches and staff at Kilmarnock.
“I also said I wanted to be back up on the stage in a year’s time because it would have meant qualification for Euro 2020. But a lot has changed in those 12 months.
“Covid-19 has changed life for us all, and our immediate thoughts must be with those who have lost loved ones, or who have taken ill.
“We also need to truly appreciate the efforts of our NHS in keeping us safe, and the other key workers are who helping us to get through these difficult times.”
The testing times have done nothing to diminish Clarke’s commitment to his job and, specifically, to his pledge to do everything he possibly can to lead the country to the rescheduled European Championships next year.
While Scotland’s chance of qualifying by the traditional route has come and gone, the Nations League play-offs – now likely to be played early in 2021 – offer a very real chance of getting in via the back door.
“I remain confident that we can qualify for Euro 2020 when football returns, and just hope that by then it will be safe for the supporters to help us,” said Clarke.
“That, though, is out of our hands.
“We learned a lot as a team in the past year, even in the defeats against Belgium and Russia.
“The results against Russia were the biggest disappointments because I felt we gave ourselves a platform in both games to get positive results but missed the opportunity to at least put some pressure on them in regards to automatic qualification.
“By the end of the qualifiers, I think we had a better balance of playing to our attacking strengths and being more stable defensively.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done – and a year is a very long time in international football – but the players are clearer on how I like to set-up, and I am clearer on how to play to our strengths. “Who knows what lies ahead. “But the experiences of the past year will help us, and the events of recent months will give us all a new appreciation of the things we took for granted.”