David Moyes has emerged as the early favourite to become the next Scotland manager after Steve Clarke resigned following the national team's exit from the 2026 World Cup. Clarke stepped down moments after Scotland's elimination was confirmed on Friday night, despite having signed a four-year contract extension just last month.
Clarke's tenure ends after World Cup disappointment
Clarke's decision came as a surprise given he was set to lead Scotland at Euro 2028, which they co-host with England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. After seven years and 81 games, Clarke is Scotland's longest-serving and arguably greatest manager, having qualified the team for three of the last four major tournaments. However, performances at those finals were dismal, with Scotland winning just one of nine matches and failing to progress past the group stage.
In an open letter to supporters, Clarke said: '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. 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.'
Moyes leads the betting
David Moyes, currently in his second spell at Everton, is the bookies' favourite at 4/1. The 63-year-old has rebuilt his reputation after difficult stints at Manchester United and Sunderland, notably winning the UEFA Conference League with West Ham in 2023. With star players like Andy Robertson and John McGinn now over 30, the next manager faces a tough rebuilding job.
Also heavily fancied is Ange Postecoglou at 5/1. The 60-year-old Australian won the Europa League with Tottenham last season and is currently out of work after a brief 39-day spell at Nottingham Forest. He has extensive experience in Scottish football, winning five trophies with Celtic, and led Australia to the 2015 Asian Cup title.
Other contenders in the running
Millwall boss Alex Neil is priced at 6/1, while Clarke's assistant Steven Naismith is at 8/1. Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, who won the Scottish Premiership in 2021, is at 12/1. Other names include Scott Brown (10/1) and Steve Cooper (12/1).
Scotland's World Cup campaign included a narrow win against Haiti followed by defeats to Morocco and Brazil. They had a chance to advance as one of the best third-placed teams, but results elsewhere went against them.
