Scotland have officially begun their search for a new head coach after Steve Clarke resigned following the team’s disappointing group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup. Reports suggest that former Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou has emerged as a strong candidate to take over, just nine months after leaving his position at the City Ground.

Postecoglou has surfaced as a surprising contender for the role. Following Clarke’s resignation, the Australian coach — who has previously managed Celtic, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest — is one of the leading names linked to the vacancy. According to talkSPORT bet, Postecoglou, who has recently been working as a UEFA Technical Observer in an analytical capacity, is currently seen as the frontrunner to become Scotland’s next manager.

However, Postecoglou is not the only name under consideration. Everton manager David Moyes is also believed to be in contention, alongside Steven Naismith and former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson. The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is reportedly evaluating all potential candidates carefully and intends to make a considered decision before the commencement of the Nations League in September.

Clarke’s exit marks the end of an era for the national team. His departure follows a 3-0 defeat to Brazil that sealed Scotland’s elimination from the World Cup. Despite earning three points and finishing third in Group C, other results in the group confirmed their exit from the tournament.

In an emotional farewell, Clarke expressed gratitude to his players for their commitment since he took charge in 2019. “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,” Clarke said. “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.”

Despite the disappointment of an early exit, Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell highlighted the significant progress achieved under Clarke’s leadership. He noted that Clarke had transformed Scotland from a pot four side into World Cup qualifiers, ending a 23-year absence from major tournaments by guiding the nation to Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

“While we are all disappointed to have exited the World Cup at the group stage, we must not lose sight of the undeniable progress made during Steve’s seven years in charge,” Maxwell said. “From starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament.”

Clarke leaves behind an impressive record of 38 victories from 81 matches — a landmark contribution that has reignited national pride in Scottish football. The next manager will face the challenge of deciding whether to continue Clarke’s pragmatic style or to embrace a more attacking approach, potentially under Postecoglou, whose teams are known for their high-tempo, forward-thinking football.

The new manager will inherit a squad well-acquainted with elite competition but will be tasked with improving Scotland’s performance in major tournaments. Despite the strides made during Clarke’s tenure, Scotland’s only victory across three tournament appearances came against Haiti, underscoring the need for further progress on the global stage.