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Steve Clarke unveiled as new Scotland manager

Steve Clarke unveiled as new Scotland manager
© Reuters
Clarke led Kilmarnock to third place in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season.

Steve Clarke has been appointed as the new Scotland manager.

The 55-year-old, who guided Kilmarnock to a third-placed finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season, replaces Alex McLeish, who stepped down from the role in April.

The Scottish Football Association said in a statement it was "delighted" to announce Clarke's appointment.

"Steve joins from Kilmarnock on a three-year contract until the end of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign and was appointed after an extensive recruitment process undertaken by the Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell and endorsed by the board," the statement added.

Clarke won both the PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers' Association Manager of the Year Awards for steering Kilmarnock to their highest-placed finish since 1966.

The former West Brom manager has also had spells as coach under Ruud Gullit, Jose Mourinho, Gianfranco Zola and Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool respectively.

Steve Clarke's managerial record

"It is an honour to be appointed Scotland national head coach and I will undertake those responsibilities with pride and commitment," Clarke said.

"I firmly believe we have a talented group of players who can achieve success on the international stage. I look forward to working with them and helping them to fulfil those ambitions."

Clarke spent 11 years at Chelsea as a defender during his playing career, having started out at St Mirren, and retired after making over 400 appearances for the London club in 1998.

The former right-back, who made six appearances for Scotland between 1987 and 1994, became assistant boss at Newcastle under Gullit, who had been his manager at Stamford Bridge.

"I appreciate the Scotland supporters have waited a long time for the national team to qualify for a major tournament," Clarke added.

"Now we have a Women's World Cup to look forward to in France this summer and it's my motivation to emulate the success of Shelley Kerr and her squad by leading us to Euro 2020.

"I believe we can qualify and look forward to that journey with the players and the fans, starting against Cyprus and Belgium next month."

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Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke pictured on May 5, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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