Steve Clarke's tenure as Scotland head coach ended abruptly just 31 days after signing a new four-year contract. The 62-year-old resigned immediately after Scotland's World Cup elimination was confirmed, writing a 1,000-word letter expressing pride and satisfaction in witnessing the reconnection between team and fans.

Clarke's final month began with optimism on May 28 when he committed to the role despite previously suggesting a 75% chance he wouldn't renew. Scotland's warm-up matches showed promise - a 4-0 victory over Bolivia and a 1-0 win against Haiti in their World Cup opener marked only their fifth tournament victory. Nineteen-year-old Findlay Curtis scored in the Curacao win while Tyler Fletcher made his debut.

However, defeats to Morocco and Brazil exposed Scotland's limitations. The 3-0 loss to Brazil in Miami left their knockout stage hopes in tatters, with Clarke's tense post-match interviews drawing criticism. His comment that 'for sure we are going home' reflected growing frustration.

When Croatia's victory over Ghana sealed Scotland's fate as one of the lowest-ranked third-place teams, Clarke immediately stepped down. He informed players just 10 minutes before the public announcement, bringing an end to a tenure that promised long-term stability but delivered another major tournament disappointment for Scottish football.