Scotland boss Clarke by those who know him best
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- Steve Clarke guided Scotland to their first men's World Cup since 1998 by beating Denmark, capping a tenure that has also delivered qualification for Euro 2020 and Euro 2024
- Clarke was appointed in 2019 after predecessor Alex McLeish was sacked following a 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan, charged with ending a major finals drought that had haunted the national side
- Former Chelsea teammate Pat Nevin says Clarke carried the same quiet authority as a player: "When he said something everyone shut up and listened"
- Scott McTominay said he "was nearly in tears" after Clarke's pre-Denmark team-talk, with Ryan Christie adding "a lot of boys jumped off their seats and were ready to go to war"
- Clarke has retained a core of six players — Andy Robertson, John McGinn, McTominay, Kenny McLean, John Souttar, and Scott McKenna — from his first 2019 squad through to the current World Cup group
- Before management, Clarke served as a coach under Jose Mourinho, Kenny Dalglish, and Ruud Gullit, and made 421 appearances for Chelsea, winning an FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1990s
- Scotland have never won a match at a major finals, having lost all three group games across their two previous appearances, leaving Clarke chasing an unprecedented feat at the World Cup
Why it matters: Clarke has already secured his legacy and a four-year contract extension signed on the eve of the tournament, delivering Scotland's first World Cup appearance since 1998. His next target is unprecedented: Scotland have never won a match at a major finals, losing all three group games at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 combined.
