World Cup 2026: Who will be Scotland's next head coach?
Steve Clarke's departure after the 2026 World Cup and the key questions in the search for his successor — from tactics to possible candidates.
Steve Clarke's signature farewell to the Tartan Army had just arrived when talk immediately began of who would be next in charge of Scotland. In fact, fans, journalists and pundits have been talking about it ever since the World Cup loss to Brazil and their third successive underachieving showing at major tournaments.
Now the Scottish FA — who just weeks ago handed Clarke a new four-year contract — have turned their attention to finding a replacement before the UEFA Nations League kicks off in Slovenia on 26 September. It is clear that the new coach has a different mandate than Clarke had when he was appointed in May 2019: back then the main objective was to get the country back to a major tournament; that has been done over and over again. Now, the next challenge is to make it a regular practice to enter the knockout phase of the finals.
Clarke has been instrumental in building a strong bond within the team — a "club-like" spirit that has been praised — and that needs to be maintained. But there is something else to attend to: the composition of a squad that is one of the oldest at the World Cup. Development and reinvigoration must be undertaken while not sacrificing collective unity.
Tactical matters: Clarke is pragmatic at heart. Even though he set up a more active formation in the win against Haiti, many didn't feel the game really opened up. This is where the question comes in — should the next manager have a stronger activist ethos? Many fans wanted a coach who would bring a more aggressive style, after Scotland exited consecutive Euros and now the World Cup without really impressing.
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1200/cpsprodpb/f81d/live/b732bc60-72a2-11f1-9f7e-4981f35ceb3b.jpg" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>Pat Nevin, a former Scotland winger who is close to Clarke, paid tribute: "This has been a special, special group. And he's got the best out of them," confirming Clarke's impact on the team. But he also cautions that much of the current core won't last long and it's not obvious who the next generation of players will be, so it's a big challenge for whoever takes over.
Should the new coach be Scottish? Scotland's previous experiment with a foreign manager — Berti Vogts replacing Craig Brown in 2002 — was unsuccessful, so since then, all Scotland managers have been Scots. However, of the 48 teams that have played in the World Cup, 27 have been led by a non-native manager, and there is a tendency for the Scottish FA to open its eyes to foreign candidates. Success in qualifying also made it easier to attract more big names because of the increased funding.
James McFadden, former talisman of the national team, gave advice: "I don't think there's a lot of options there to go down that route. I think it just has to be the best manager that can somehow either continue the progression or raise it." For him, getting the best candidate who can continue or even lift the momentum is important.
Who were the first mentioned candidates? Some of those named in public and around the conversation are:
- Derek McInnes: Often tipped as a future Scotland boss, but unlikely at the moment as he has just agreed terms with Rangers.
- David Moyes: There is support for his name, but he is unlikely to leave Everton at this stage.
- Scot Gemmill: Long-time Under-21 head coach and well-known Scottish FA; has the advantage of transitioning young players but lacks senior managerial experience and has not overachieved in the Under-21s.
- Steven Naismith: Part of Clarke's coaching set-up; can be a temporary option but has a limited managerial resume.
- John McGlynn: Falkirk manager who displayed attractive, attacking football; at age 64, would probably accept a big offer if given.
- Darren Fletcher: Former Scotland captain and current Under-18s coach at Manchester United; with name and respect but limited experience.
- Ange Postecoglou: His name has come up in speculation due to his style which won him praise at Celtic, but his mixed record at Tottenham and Nottingham Forest makes the odds seem unlikely.
Scotland's new head coach will face a huge task: maintain the culture Clarke has built, nurture and nurture the accumulated talent, and strive to take the country to the next level in major tournaments. The Scottish FA has a tough decision ahead, and the selection will set the direction of the team ahead of the upcoming Nations League and the battle for Euro 2028 slots.
