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Steve Clarke appointed Scotland head coach on three-year deal

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke celebrates after his team secured a place in Europe next season after defeating Rangers 2-1
Image: Steve Clarke led Kilmarnock to their highest league finish since 1966

Steve Clarke has been announced as Scotland's new head coach on a three-year deal, seeing him lead the side through to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The 55-year-old has been named Alex McLeish's successor after leading Kilmarnock to an impressive third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership - the Ayrshire club's highest league finish since 1966.

McLeish was sacked as head coach last month following a disappointing start to Euro 2020 qualifying, where they suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Kazakhstan.

Clarke's impressive season at Kilmarnock earned him the PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers' Association Manager of the Year Awards.

"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.

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

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Former Scotland international Kenny Miller says Steve Clarke's appointment as the new national team manager will 'excite' fans and that there will be 'an upturn in fortunes' under the former Kilmarnock boss.

"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."

The appointment gives Clarke just over a week to draw up his first squad ahead of Scotland's European Qualifiers double-header against Cyprus and Belgium in June.

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