Steve Clarke spotted for first time since Euro 2024 exit

SCOTLAND boss Steve Clarke has made his first public appearance since his return from Germany.

He – and his SFA colleagues – have kept a low-profile since the nation’s Euro 2024 campaign came to an early end with defeat to Hungary.

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After a 5-1 hammering from the hosts on the opening night and a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, Scotland left the tournament with one of the poorest records of all 24 entrants – if not THE worst.

And the long wait for a place in the knock-out stage went on for Scotland supporters.

As the team disappointed on the field, the fans didn’t and the Tartan Army won a whole host of plaudits for their following and support across the short campaign.

Cologne tourism chiefs even want to give them a collective award for their ‘exuberant and peaceful’ performance in the pubs and bars around the city.

But while their parties made plenty the noise in the city squares, fans haven’t heard any answers or reaction from the boss since he and the players packed up from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and headed home.

Sunsport exclusively revealed that Hampden officials would wait until after a summer break before a full debrief and review of the tournament failures with Steve Clarke – but the manager still DOES have the backing in the corridors of power.

He will lead the team into the Nations League campaign – which kicks off against Poland at Hampden in six weeks’ time – if he wants to.

And as those fixtures begin to creep onto the horizon just one month into the new season, the national team leader has broken cover.

He was spotted in the crowd at old club Kilmarnock for the Ayrshire side’s clash with Cercle Burgge.

The Belgians visited Rugby Park in the Europa League qualifier – but were unimpressed with the current plastic pitch laid at the end of Clarke’s time in charge.

And BBC cameras broadcasting the game picked out the former boss and Chelsea player in the main stand taking in the European action and performance.

There were a few squad options on display too.

On the pitch was Robby McCrorie who Clarke called into the Scotland squad last year, defender Stuart Findlay – capped under Clarke in 2019 – and squad hopefuls David Watson and Daniel Armstrong.

The sides went in goalless at the break despite an end-to-end first half before the Belgians went ahead early in the second half.

But Rugby Park erupted when Kyle Vassell‘s effort on goal was knocked over the line by last season’s football writers’ young player of the year David Watson.

It kick-started celebrations in the home end and Killie will be backed by an expanded crowd in Brugge for the second leg – after requests for more tickets were granted by the Belgian side in the ground they share with Club Brugge.

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