Steve Clarke has resigned as head coach of Scotland, with the Scottish Football Association announcing his departure shortly after the team's elimination from the World Cup. The announcement came following Croatia's victory over Ghana, which mathematically sealed Scotland's fate in the tournament.

Clarke, who took over the Scotland job in May 2019, had led the national team to two European Championship appearances and their first World Cup finals since 1998. Despite the qualification success, Scotland's performances in the major tournaments have been met with disappointment.

In a statement expressing his gratitude, Clarke conveyed his emotion towards his players. "The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn't have had any of the memories that we've accumulated from 2019 until now," he said. He added, "They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their Gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor."

Scotland's World Cup campaign saw them defeat Haiti 1-0 in their opening match in Boston. However, subsequent losses to Morocco (1-0) and Brazil (3-0) in Miami led to their early exit. The team had entered their final group game against Brazil with a chance to advance as one of the best third-placed teams, but defensive errors ultimately ended their hopes.

Clarke's tenure was marked by the significant achievement of ending Scotland's long drought in major tournament qualification. His leadership brought an end to a 26-year wait for World Cup participation and secured spots in back-to-back European Championships. However, the team's inability to progress beyond the group stages in these competitions has been a recurring theme.

The team's performance against Brazil highlighted the defensive frailties that plagued their campaign. Despite having opportunities to secure a more favorable outcome, mistakes at the back proved costly, preventing them from meeting their objective of advancing in the tournament.

Clarke's resignation leaves the Scottish FA with the task of appointing a new head coach to lead the team forward. The focus will now shift to identifying a successor who can build on the recent qualification successes and improve the team's performance on the international stage.

Questions remain about the future direction of the Scottish national team and how the next coach will approach squad development and tournament strategy, especially given the team's history of struggling to make a significant impact in major finals.