SFA want ‘fantastic’ Clarke to stay and lead Scotland to next World Cup

SFA President Mike Mulraney is keen for Steve Clarke to remain as the national team manager beyond the Euros and help guide the country to the World Cup.

Clarke left Kilmarnock to take on the role as Scotland boss in 2019 as has since led the side to back-to-back European Championships after a 23-year wait for a major tournament.

And the governing body are now looking beyond Germany this summer and put plans in place for a return to the biggest stage of all.

By the time the next World Cup comes it will be 28-years since Scotland appeared at football’s premier event and Mulraney believes Clarke is the right man to qualify for USA, Mexico and Canada in two years time.

The manager has another two years left on his contract but the SFA would be open to extending that even further after the success he has brought.

Speaking on Thursday as Scotland prepare for the opening game on Euro 2024 next week, Mulraney said: “He’s been absolutely fantastic, when we brought Steve in he had the aspiration of what we wanted to achieve and he’s done that and then some.

“He is a huge asset to the nation, a huge asset to the Scottish Football Association and a huge asset to the players and the fans and that is reflected not only on the park, with the joy and success that we’ve been achieving but off the park as well with the economic impact it makes for us.

“A couple of years is a good timeframe for any football manager, and after we get through with the Euros we, of course, anticipate Steve leading us into the next campaign, and thereafter is absolutely on the cards.

“If Steve wants to stay (longer than that) then we can see an avenue where that is the case. There are conversations every time we meet each other and we talk about, not only that, but Steve’s interested in how we can make the game better in Scotland.

“He is so interested in improving everything, from the fans’ experience, young players and his national team to how we treat his players, he is interested in everything and we talk about all of that.”