The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Clarke takes reins as Scotland boss
Hampden: New national boss wants to emulate achievements of women’ s side
Steve Clarke has set his sights on leading Scotland to the finals of next year’s European Championship after being appointed head coach of the national team.
The SFA have appointed the Kilmarnock boss, who guided his team to a third place finish in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday in his final game in charge, on a three-year deal.
The former St Mirren and Chelsea defender succeeds Alex McLeish in charge of the national team and his first games in charge will next month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium.
Clarke said: “It is an honour to be appointed Scotland national team head Coach and I will undertake those responsibilities with pride and commitment.
“I 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 believe that we can qualify and look forward to that journey with the players and the fans, starting against Cyprus and Belgium next month.”
Clarke takes charge of a Scottish team which has fallen on hard times following decades of poor campaigns but with the women’s national team enjoying an unprecedented level of success the new Scotland boss hopes to emulate his women’s team counterpart Shelley Kerr, pictured, by leading the men back to the summer finals of a major tournament.
He said: “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.”
Clarke’s deal takes him up to the end of the World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign and SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell believes Clarke’s remarkable tenure at Kilmarnock makes him the perfect man to lift the country’s fortunes following a horrendous start to the campaign.
Maxwell said: “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 national team and his experience over the past two decades will be integral to rejuvenating our 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.”