Steve Clarke insists he is more concerned with leading Scotland to a World Cup finals than surpassing the number of internationals managed by Andy Roxburgh and the late Jock Stein.
Clarke moves to 62 games in charge of the national team when Scotland host Portugal in the Nations League at Hampden tonight; one more than the number of games racked up by the legendary Stein between 1978 and 1985 and his successor Roxburgh between 1986 and 1993.
Clarke is under contract until the next World Cup finals. Despite calls for a change at the helm after one win in 15 internationals, the 61-year-old hopes to match or surpass the 71 games racked up by longest serving manager Craig Brown by leading the team to a World Cup after back-to-back qualifications for the European Championships.
Unaware of the significance of tonight’s game, Clarke said: ‘Proud, obviously, to be mentioned in the same breath as people like Mr Stein and Mr Roxburgh, who still sends me the occasional email just to keep in touch. No, listen, it’s really good.
Clarke will take charge of his 62nd Scotland match, putting him clear of Stein and Roxburgh
Clarke assesses his players alongside performance director Graeme Jones at Lesser Hampden
‘It shows you that the players have been fantastic for us over the last five and a half years of my reign as head coach. I’d like to add a few more to the number, if I could.
‘I don’t need any extra motivation. I want to see out my contract. I want to go to the World Cup.
‘I believe this squad of players are good enough to go to the World Cup in the Americas in 2026. That’s all I’m focused on.’
On a night of potential records — some positive, some less so — defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo and co would see the national team lose five games in a row for the first time ever. Nine competitive games without a win, stretching back 13 months, would represent another unwelcome landmark.
Currently bottom of their Nations League group without a point, Clarke cites the quality of opposition in the elite tier and, after better displays against Portugal and Croatia, expressed belief in his ability to extract the best from an injury-hit squad.
‘The squad could be stronger,’ he acknowledged. ‘Everyone knows that. All these things are there to be seen.
‘I don’t speak about it too much because I feel it’s disrespectful to the boys that are in the squad. We have to concentrate on what we have, who we have here. We have to go out against Portugal.
Clarke keeps watch as Connor Barron settles into the squad following his late call-up
‘We know we have to be very good at everything we do in the game. Hopefully we can get the result that might just change the whole mood about the place.
‘The crowd have got a part to play. The crowd also have to believe in their team and their players. I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t believe in this group of players.
‘We’ve got players (Andrew Robertson and Craig Gordon) that are inside the top ten cap appearances for the country.
‘After 20 years in the international wilderness, this group of players have been to two major tournaments. They’ve got promotion to this top level of the Nations League. So I don’t understand why people would be doubting about this group of players.
‘It’s a tough moment. There’s no doubt about it. But we believe in ourselves.’
Rangers midfielder Connor Barron is a late addition to the squad after the withdrawal of Celtic winger James Forrest.
