STEVE Clarke believes he has “earned the right” to continue as Scotland manager despite his side’s failure at the Euro 2024 finals this summer – but has indicated the forthcoming World Cup campaign will be his last.
Clarke spoke to the media for the first time since the national team failed to reach the knockout rounds in Germany at Hampden yesterday when he announced his squad for the Nations League games against Poland and Portugal next month.
Many Tartan Army footsoldiers called for him to be sacked after the country were beaten 1-0 by Hungary in their final Group A game in Stuttgart back in June and failed to progress to the last 16 of the competition.
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However, the former Kilmarnock manager, whose team qualified for the Euros with two games to spare after beating Cyprus, Spain, Norway and Georgia, remains determined to lead Scotland to through to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2026.
But Clarke, who has been in his position for over five years now and who turns 61 tomorrow, admitted that it will be time for somebody else to take charge following that.
“I think I've earned the right to finish my contract. I think so. I haven't had any discussions about new contracts and I'm pretty sure in my own mind that I'll be coming up to 63 and it might be time to do something else.”
Asked if he had considered standing down after Germany, he said: “No. Obviously I've always said I'd love to go to a World Cup with the country.
“I've got a group of players that are determined to go to a World Cup with their country. This will be their last chance. It'll certainly be my last chance. So there’s your motivation there.”
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Clarke remains certain that Scotland can put their Euro 2024 disappointment behind them and reach their first World Cup since France ’98 and he is now keen for them to get back to winning ways in the Nations League before qualifying gets underway next year.
“I'm always confident,” he said. “If you guys (the media) are saying that we're the 24th best team in the competition this summer, only 16 European teams go to the World Cup.
“It's going to be a big ask. But I believe we can do it. That's why I'm sitting here. If I didn’t believe we could do it I would not be sitting here.”
“We need to use the Nations League campaign. I think it's just important that we get ourselves moving again, trying to move forward, trying to be better, trying to improve. Then we will be ready for the World Cup qualifying campaign in 2025.”
