Steve Clarke will never be Scotland's 'Godfather' - but no one is better equipped to fill Hampden hotseat
A former national team boss has been hugely impressed by how Clarke has handled the rigours of the Scotland job
Gordon Strachan reckons there is no one better equipped to continue in the role as Scotland boss than Steve Clarke - because his old international team-mate has turned the current crop of players into Hampden heroes.
Clarke agreed to extend his stay as national team head coach earlier this week by signing a new four-year contract prior to next month’s World Cup Finals. The squad have departed for North America this afternoon where they will face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in Group C.
And one of Clarke’s predecessors to fill the role, Strachan, admits it was a no-brainer for the Scottish FA to keep him in charge, as there is no other manager out there at present who could do a better job.
The former Celtic boss once claimed that Scotland lacked a generational world class player like Wales had with Gareth Bale or Poland with Robert Lewandowski. But he now feels Clarke has some exciting talent at his disposal moving forward.
“I don’t know of anyone who would do a better job than Steve right now,” Strachan admitted. “He enjoys the job, the players like him as the manager and there’s a great group of coaching staff - so why change?
“The only reason some fans might want change is that they get fed up of hearing the same voice. But that’s not a footballing reason. Steve has made Scotland hard to beat and now has some ‘hero’ players that the newer generations love to watch.
“We could do with a few more flair players, but that’s not Steve’s fault. I’m glad he’s built on the foundation I made! As a Scotland manager, you’ve got to ensure you don’t have players in the squad that negatively affect the rest of the team.
“When I was manager, there were players who were disappointed perhaps because of a lack of minutes - but it was crucial they didn’t also bring the rest of the team down. I think Steve manages that very well.”
Clarke has a bit to go to be rated among all-time greats
Once Clarke’s latest contract runs out, he ill have been in charge for 11 years. That would ensure he shatters another record by becoming the longest-serving manager in Scotland’s history.
And while Strachan has been hugely impressed by how the former Kilmarnock boss has handled the pressures of the job, he insists Clarke has still got a bit to go before the Tartan Army rate him alongside greats such as Bill Shankly Jock Stein, Sir Alex Ferguson and Walter Smith.
“To be the Godfather of Scottish football, you have to have covered everything,” Strachan declared. “That includes the likes of Stein, Shankly, Ferguson and Smith! Steve will be judged as a very good Scotland manager - but not the Godfather!
“There’s a fantastic feeling and glow if you manage to make the nation happy. But a few bad results can make them unhappy. The job doesn’t just affect football fans - it’s everyone.
“The other challenge is keeping your best players fit. Usually, in a national team you have four or five exceptional players. If you can keep that group fit, then you’ve got a good chance at doing well. If you lose two or three, things can go south quickly.”
*Strachan was speaking on behalf of Grosvenor Casinos ahead of his World Cup Preview night with Kris Boyd in Glasgow on Saturday 6th June. Tickets are available to purchase with 50 per cent discount for a limited time HERE.