Steve Clarke addresses club interest during Scotland tenure as he delivers one word response to approach poser

Steve Clarke insists it means the World to sign a new deal as he aims for a monumental double-qualification triumph.

The Scotland boss heads into today’s opening Euro 2024 qualifier having signed a two-year contract extension. Clarke is aiming first for next summer’s showpiece Germany and says the desire to also complete unfinished business and take his country back to a World Cup Finals in 2026 helped drive his decision.

The feel-good factor is around the national team and the boss is determined things won’t turn ugly as he keeps pushing for more progression and appearances in the next two showpiece tournaments. Clarke said: “Obviously a big disappointment for me as a player was that I never got to a major tournament with Scotland. As the head coach, we managed to get to Euro 2020, which was great for everybody.

“We all felt good about ourselves and we were determined that we would go to the World Cup after that. That was our next target.

“We had a really good qualifying campaign and we put ourselves into a position when we were in a knockout stage and, unfortunately, we didn’t perform and we went out of the competition.

“I said to the boys after that one that I would still like to go with my country to a World Cup Finals and the next one I can do is 2026.

“At that stage, my contract didn’t take me to there, but what I did to say to them after we lost to Ukraine is that I want to go to the World Cup in 2026 and I can’t go without your help.

“And your help means we should qualify for Euro 2024.

“What my bosses have done is said we can see the improvement, we can see the work, here’s the contract beyond that World Cup because they know that is what I want to do.

“But I’m not so daft. Football can be short term as well. If