Steve Clarke described Scotland’s 0-0 draw with England at Euro 2020 as one of the standout moments of a seven-year spell in charge, after stepping down following Scotland’s latest group-stage exit from the World Cup on Saturday.

Scotland’s campaign at this World Cup ended despite a 1-0 victory over Haiti on matchday one, as defeats against Morocco and Brazil left Clarke’s side short of the points needed to advance as one of the best third-placed teams, extending a long run of early tournament exits.

Across Clarke’s tenure, Scotland qualified for two successive European Championships and this World Cup, making Clarke statistically the most successful Scotland manager in terms of reaching major tournaments, even though every campaign under Clarke, like previous Scotland appearances, finished at the first stage.

Scotland have now played at nine World Cups without progressing beyond the group stage, the most such record for any national team, while all four Scotland appearances at the European Championship finals have also ended in the opening phase, underlining the long-standing challenge that Clarke referenced in a farewell letter.

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Clarke reflected on these achievements and frustrations in an open letter to supporters, writing: “My job remit was simple: qualify for a major tournament,” before explaining how reaching multiple finals brought pride and some relief during difficult times for Scotland and for wider society.

Clarke recalled that Euro 2020, delayed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, did not deliver the results Scotland wanted overall, yet the performance against England at Wembley, where Scotland held the eventual runners-up in a tense goalless draw, remained a treasured occasion for the squad and staff.

In the letter, Clarke said: “As I reflect on my seven years in the job, my overriding emotion is pride, closely followed by satisfaction. To be the first coach since Craig Brown, in 1998, to lead the country to the finals of a major tournament was the stuff of dreams. It gave the nation some welcome cheer from the restrictions of the pandemic. Although the tournament was, for us at least, a bit of a damp squib, there was an unforgettable night at Wembley when we more than matched the eventual beaten finalists England and held them to a 0-0 win!”

Steve Clarke Scotland World Cup memories and Tartan Army

Clarke highlighted how strict COVID-19 measures limited Scotland’s following during Euro 2020, saying the absence of the Tartan Army in large numbers was the major regret from that competition, particularly on the night at Wembley when Scotland earned the 0-0 result against England.

He then turned to Scotland’s next major finals appearance in Germany, three years later and free from COVID-19 restrictions, noting that Scotland fans travelled in greater numbers than before, with some waiting 26 years for another overseas tournament, even though Scotland again failed to reach the knockouts.

Clarke added that those tournaments still created a bond between Scotland supporters and the squad, pointing out that “Qualify, and they will come in their thousands,” and suggesting that a new generation of fans had embraced the team despite the repeated group-stage exits.

Steve Clarke Scotland World Cup elimination and future hopes

Looking back on the latest World Cup, Clarke accepted that emotions remained raw after elimination but insisted in his letter: “While emotions are raw following our [World Cup] elimination, I genuinely believe that if we continue to qualify regularly for these tournaments, we will inevitably break the glass ceiling of reaching the knockout phase.”

Clarke stressed that this World Cup still contained a historic achievement, reminding fans that Scotland’s victory over Haiti was “a World Cup finals match for only the fifth time in Scottish football history, and the first in 36 years,” a statistic he felt underlined progress despite the early exit.

Reflecting on his role, Clarke stated that “The team were responsible for giving everyone the chance to create memories that will last a lifetime, and I am proud to have played a part in that,” closing his time as Scotland head coach by focusing on shared experiences rather than results alone.