Steve Clarke unveiled as new Scotland manager

"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.

"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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