Next Scotland Manager Odds: Ange Favourite To Replace Clarke After World Cup Woe
Steve Clarke's seven-year reign as Scotland manager came to an end moments after Ghana's defeat to Croatia confirmed Scotland's elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
The 62-year-old stepped down immediately, and the search for his replacement is already underway.
The best betting sites have also been busy formulating odds and putting together a market for who will take over.
Clarke had guided Scotland to three major tournaments - Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and the World Cup - but a third consecutive group-stage exit proved the final chapter.
The Scots beat Haiti 1-0 in their opener, but were beaten by the same score by Morocco before a 3-0 loss to Brazil in Miami sealed their fate.
In a farewell letter to the Tartan Army, Clarke spoke of pride and the reconnection between the national team and its supporters as the defining achievements of his tenure.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell confirmed the search for a replacement begins immediately, adding: "Nothing is off the table. We need to cast the net as wide as we can."
With Nations League fixtures against Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland scheduled for a four-game window starting September 26, the SFA are working to a tight timeline.
Ange And The Tartan Army
Postecoglou is the clear market leader at 3/1, and it is easy to see why.
The Australian spent two years at Celtic between 2021 and 2023, delivering back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles and five trophies in total while playing an attacking brand of football that captured the imagination at Parkhead.
He has been out of work since leaving Nottingham Forest in October 2025 and also carries international management experience, having taken Australia to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
His availability, standing in the game and existing connection with Scottish football make him the obvious frontrunner, though whether he would be drawn to managing a nation he has no direct personal ties to remains the key question.
Next Scotland Manager Odds
Manager | Odds | Betting Site |
Ange Postecoglou | 3/1 | |
David Moyes | 6/1 | |
Alex Neil | 7/1 | |
John McGlynn | 7/1 | |
Steven Naismith | 8/1 | |
Darren Fletcher | 9/1 | |
Roberto Martinez | 10/1 | |
Neil McCann | 14/1 | |
Steve Cooper | 14/1 | |
Martin O'Neill | 16/1 |
* Odds correct at 9am, July 1, 2026
Moyes An Experienced Native Option
Everton boss David Moyes (6/1) has spoken warmly about the Scotland job before and is the only outright Scot currently managing at the top level of English football.
The 63-year-old was a Scotland youth international captain and his CV spans Preston, Everton, Manchester United and West Ham - as comprehensive a record as any British manager of his generation.
He returned to Goodison Park in January 2025 and has expressed his contentment at the club's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, which may make him difficult to prise away.
He has also never managed internationally, which is the one notable gap on an otherwise formidable record.
Neil Linked Once More
Alex Neil has been linked with the Scotland post every time it has come up in recent years, and this occasion is no different.
The Millwall manager brings a wealth of Football League experience from spells at Norwich, Preston, Sunderland and Stoke, and he is Scottish-born.
At this stage, there is a school of thought that he may prefer to focus on getting his current club into the Premier League before stepping into international management.
His name will run throughout this process regardless, and he is priced at 7/1 to get the job.
McGlynn A Dark Horse With Deep Scottish Roots
With John McGlynn priced at 7/1, it seems there is genuine interest in a manager who has built a strong reputation in Scottish football over many years.
The 64-year-old Falkirk boss previously managed Raith Rovers and Hearts, and guided his current club to back-to-back promotions to return to the SPL.
He would represent a distinctly Scottish appointment and one that would carry credibility within the domestic game.
However, his relatively modest profile at club level may give the SFA pause when weighing up the candidates.
Naismith And Fletcher Younger Options
Former Scotland internationals Steven Naismith (8/1) and Darren Fletcher (9/1) offer more youthful progressive options.
Naismith has been Clarke's assistant since August 2025, knows the current squad inside out and would provide immediate continuity, although his only senior club management role at Hearts ended poorly, and his association with a disappointing World Cup campaign may count against him.
Fletcher, on the other hand, is a different proposition. The former Scotland captain, who won 80 caps, is currently head coach of Manchester United Under-18s and briefly served as caretaker of the first team in January 2026, giving him a flavour of top-level management pressure.
Either candidate would likely be popular with fans, but their lack of experience would be a worry.
Other Names In The Running
Roberto Martinez (10/1) is confirmed to be leaving Portugal after the World Cup, brings a strong international pedigree, and has a personal connection to Scotland, having met his wife while playing for Motherwell in the 1990s.
Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann (14/1) is the leading domestic club candidate, while Steve Cooper, available after leaving Brondby in May, is the same price and brings Premier League experience from his spells at Nottingham Forest and Leicester.
Martin O'Neill (16/1) rounds out the market with a genuine international management pedigree from his time in charge of the Republic of Ireland and holds strong connections to Scottish football from his time with Celtic.
Whoever the SFA appoint will walk into an automatic Euro 2028 berth as co-hosts, with the Nations League this autumn their first real test and the 2030 World Cup the next major objective.
Let us know who you think should be the next Scotland manager in the comments below.
