Steve Clarke named Scotland manager: Former Kilmarnock boss replaces Alex McLeish as head coach

Clarke has signed a three-year deal after leaving Kilmarnock to take the national team job

Steve Clarke has been named Scotland manager on a three-year deal (Getty)

Steve Clarke has been named Scotland manager after Kilmarnock agreed to let the Scottish Premiership’s Manager of the season leave in order to replace Alex McLeish.

The decision was taken to sack McLeish after a poor start to the nation’s Euro 2020 qualification campaign, ending his second stint in charge of Scotland after little more than a year in charge.

In his will place will come Clarke, who leaves Kilmarnock after a year-and-a-half and fresh off the back of securing the club’s highest Premiership points tally in finishing this season in third and claiming the PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year Awards.

Having agreed a three-year deal that runs until the end of the 2022 World Cup qualification campaign, Clarke expressed his delight at taking the top job in Scotland and hopes that the men’s side can start to rival the success that the women’s side will enjoy this summer.

“It is an honour to be appointed Scotland national head coach and I will undertake those responsibilities with pride and commitment,” Clarke said in a statement. “I firmly 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.

Clarke was named SFWA Manager of the Year after leading Kilmarnock into Europe with a third-place finish (PA)

“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.

“I believe we can qualify and look forward to that journey with the players and the fans, starting against Cyprus and Belgium next month.”

Clarke inherits a Scotland side that is labouring down in fifth place of the six-team Euro 2020 qualifying Group I, having beaten San Marino after the disappointing 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan in March, and SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell believes the fact that Clarke arrives fresh off such a strong season with Kilmarnock should help get their qualification campaign back on track, adding that he was the standout candidate on the shortlist for the role.

“Steve’s pedigree as a coach and manager of the highest regard set him apart in a high-calibre group of candidates,” Maxwell said. “This season’s achievements simply reaffirm the credentials we believe will be of huge benefit to the Scotland National Team.

McLeish was sacked after Scotland’s defeat in Kazakhstan (PA)

“I am delighted that we now have the country’s deserved Manager of the Year to lead the Scotland National Team and his experience over the past two decades will be integral to rejuvenating our Uefa 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.”