Steve Clarke directly addresses Scotland flak as he tells the disgruntled 'I don't need to be loved'
The national team head coach has came under more pressure from some fans in the wake of Friday's dismal defeat to Iceland
Steve Clarke insists he is 'not bothered' about calls from disillusioned supporters that his time as Scotland manager is up and is adamant he is a guy who does not need to be loved.
The former West Brom boss is facing fresh another inquest from fans in some quarters after watching his team fall to a 3-1 friendly defeat to Iceland on Friday night, with the head coach and his players booed off the pitch at Hampden.
That loss has extended the national team's record to just four wins in their last 20 matches in all competitions, with Scotland suffering relegation to Nations League B earlier this year following a two-legged relegation play-off defeat to Greece, who they will face again in World Cup 2026 qualifying later this year.
Clarke will need to pick his players up for the trip to face Liechtenstein on Monday night, the Scots' final friendly encounter before they kick off their qualifying campaign with a tough assignment on away soil against Denmark in September.
But the 61-year-old - who is under contract with the SFA until after next year's finals in North America - insists he is able to handle the calls for the sack like water off a duck's back.
Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland, he said: "(I'll handle it) just the way that I handle everything else.
I try to be very measured in my approach and I try to be very measured in my approach to life.
"I've done alright. I'm over 60. I'm still involved in the game.
"So I must have a fair idea how to deal with the disappointments and also how to deal with the highs as well.
"Football, especially club football can be week to week and can be one minute (you are) up and one minute (you are) down.
"It's a little bit like that in international football but it's more spread out. You just have to learn to deal with it.
"I think my character is quite suited to being the guy who gets all the stick.
"Everybody likes to be loved but I don't.... I'm very good at not going on social media and reading the newspapers or whatever.
"You get a general feel for what's happening in the world of football that concerns you but no, that doesn't bother me too much."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
31 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Steve Clarke owes Scotland only one thing and if he can't guarantee it then he should walk away
It doesn't mention it in the manual and they don't hand it out with the coaching badges either. But, somewhere along the line, in order to even want to be a manager these days, it seems as if nursing masochistic tendencies is almost a prerequisite. Really, why else would they put themselves through it? Why would Russell Martin, for example, have stalled for so long on taking an easy life at Leicester City in order to throw himself into the lion's den at Ibrox? Martin hasn't even clocked into Auchenhowie for his first day in the office but he is well aware already there are Rangers supporters out there who would prefer that he didn't bother. The same goes for Steven Pressley at Dundee even though he's currently celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary in Vietnam and has still to set foot back in the city he once called home. He's about to discover a far more arduous marriage awaits. Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, is relaxing with the family in the Greek sunshine but probably still simmering a little inside at the manner with which he was waved off to the airport by Kevin Thelwell and Gretar Steinsson. Ange Postecoglu will be hitting a beach too with a big fat redundo cheque in the back pocket of his togs, after doing the impossible and winning a trophy for Spurs and getting sacked off by them for his trouble. And then there's the curious case of Steve Clarke - the man who ushered Scotland back in from the wilderness years - but who now stands accused of botching the job with the most talented group of players the country has assembled in decades. It all feels a little bit like touch and go right now for Clarke ahead of the friendly in Liechtenstein - on the back of a pride crushing defeat at home to Iceland on Friday night. Any more missteps at the Rheinpark Stadium and he'd be better off hiding out in Vaduz for the summer rather than returning to Glasgow Airport on Scotland's team charter, where only misery and malevolence will be waiting for him at arrivals. It won't happen, of course. No matter what side Clarke cobbles together - and even if the unfortunate Cieran Slicker remains in goal - Scotland will still have enough about them to get out of town with a win against the Lilliputians of the European game. And it will mean absolutely nothing in any case. Because there are Scotland fans out there who have decided that Clarke's time ought to be up. That he's taken this team just as far as he can. Perhaps, that some of the star performers in his team have outgrown him along the way. And, in all honesty, all of the above may well be correct. But here's the thing about Clarke. After leading Scotland to successive European Championships he owes us almost nothing at all. Nothing, that is, apart from complete and utter honesty. If deep down he truly believes he's still the man for the job and that these players of his are receptive to his messaging and instructions, then he has more than earned the right to have a crack at taking them to the next World Cup before bowing out from the position. If, however, he is experiencing any self doubt or feeling as if he's got little more to give, then he should walk away from it with his held high and with a nation's gratitude for the tournaments that he has delivered. It really is as simple as that where Clarke and Scotland are concerned. If he wants to continue in the job one last campaign then he should be allowed to do exactly that. But he has to be certain. And he must be honest to himself. Because the squad he has nurtured and brought to this point cannot be hindered or hamstrung by the man in charge nor can it have its growth stunted at this moment in time, when it feels as if it should be capable of trading blows with the giants. If Clarke is feeling jaded or fatigued by it all, after six years in charge, then he should step aside immediately and let someone else have a go while the likes of Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson and John McGinn are operating at the peak of their powers. These players deserve to be paraded on the biggest stage of all and it's not inconceivable that the likes of Postecoglou or even former Rangers interim Ferguson might connect with them and accelerate their collective development. But that's all down to how Clarke sees things. And rightly so. He gets to decide his own fate where this gig is concerned. Sadly, the same cannot be said for new Rangers boss Martin who is already a hostage to fortune in terms of his job security, even though he's not even started working with his players on the training ground yet. Martin is an articulate, highly intelligent and very likeable young manager. That he has such an ardent and clear view on how he wants the game to be played is another admirable trait. If it works, then he could have the kind of transformational impact on Rangers that Postecoglou had across the city at Parkhead. Let's not forget, a large section of Celtic's supporters were also completely underwhelmed by the big Aussie's appointment when he was rushed into the position after Eddie Howe had taken cold feet at the eleventh hour. But that's where the similarities end. Postecoglou had a track record of trophies and triumphs behind him before he arrived in Glasgow. Martin has the wreckage of a relegation season with Southampton still smouldering in his rear view mirror. All of which means the new man will start next season under the cosh with a support which already suspects the worst of him. Unlike Clarke and Scotland, Martin has deposited nothing whatsoever in the bank of goodwill so - in order to build up some early credit - he will have to be absolutely immaculate in the manner with which he goes about his work over the first few weeks and months of the season. And, given the woeful state of the squad he is inheriting, the chances of that happening seem remote at the very best. Martin must truly believe in himself, in his philosophy and in his staff, or else he wouldn't have touched this task with a bargepole. And that courage in his convictions is to be respected, especially considering the offer he had to slip back down into the quiet life of England's Championship at the King Power. Instead, he has chosen to step into a furnace. All of which just adds weight to the theory that you don't have to be a masochist to be a football manager. But it certainly seems to help.
Daily Record
31 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin needs radical Rangers change but bold James Tavernier captain call divides Monday Jury
Is Steve Clarke still the right man to lead Scotland into the World Cup qualifiers? KEITH JACKSON: That depends entirely on Clarke's own mindset. He has to be very honest with himself and with the country. If he feels he's still the best man for the Scotland job then he has earned the right to go again. On the other hand, if he's grown weary or suspects the players need a new voice then he should step aside. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: He will definitely lead us into them. The question is, will he still be there by the end of that WC campaign? Right now, that looks doubtful. The form is woeful and the negativity is back. Defeat to Denmark in the first qualifier – before facing Belarus away – would all but end our hopes and the manager will be under pressure. SCOTT BURNS: I don't think we can change now. I do think things are on a knife-edge for the manager. If he doesn't make a good start then it will be the end of the road. Hopefully, he can do it. MICHAEL GANNON: Clarke has earned the right to go on his own terms and if he wants a crack at the World Cup then he deserves it. Ignore these useless friendlies, they are more hassle than they are worth. What changes should be made for the Liechtenstein game? KEITH JACKSON: As many as possible. This game means nothing so Clarke should take a look at what he's got in reserve. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: He has to revert to a back four again for starters. If that means Kieran Tierney is left out, so be it. And Clarke somehow has to inject a bit of pace into a side which is bereft of it. I'd give Tommy Conway a run-out for his speed. SCOTT BURNS: The score! I know the manager was criticised for playing three at the back against Iceland, but these are the games to experiment. I would expect Ross Doohan to start and he'll go back to a 4-3-2-1 formation. MICHAEL GANNON: It's a bounce game against a pub team. Sent out an entirely new look side and let's see who has the ability and hunger to break into the big side. Let's see the likes of Miller, Bowie, Wilson and Conway get on, we know what the regulars can bring. Should Russell Martin hang his hat on James Tavernier as Rangers captain? KEITH JACKSON: No. Unfairly or not Tavernier has been the poster boy for the Rangers' underachievement over the last ten years. It's time for radical change. If Nico Raskin is staying then he should be given the armband. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: He's been a terrific servant at Ibrox and deserves his testimonial year. But Martin should be looking to sign a ready-made skipper to take over the armband – with Tavernier's help – and lead a new era at Rangers. SCOTT BURNS: I think he will remain as captain. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up maybe playing in one either. I think Russell Martin's style might get the best out of him. MICHAEL GANNON: There's nothing wrong with keeping Tavernier as club captain but he'll need to be phased out of the team over the next year. It's time for a new era at the club. Was Daniel Levy right to hand Angel Postecoglou his Spurs jotters? KEITH JACKSON: Probably. It did look as if the players had chucked it under Postecoglou and when that happens there is no way back. But Ange should have made the decision for him by dropping the mic the moment he lifted the Europa League trophy. He must have known it wasn't working. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: No. The historic Europa League triumph in Bilbao should have earned him a crack at another Premier League campaign and the Champions League. He got them to fifth in his first season then won a trophy. He deserved to at least start the new campaign. SCOTT BURNS: It is a bit harsh after winning a European trophy. Yet, in the Premier League they were miles below where they should be, although there were mitigating circumstances. It looks like the change was planned before the Europa League final.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Lewandowski quits Poland after 'loss of trust' in coach
Poland's record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski says he will not play for his country while Michal Probierz is manager after being replaced as 36-year-old striker has 85 goals in 158 appearances for his country but is not part of his national team's squad during the current international window.A statement from the Polish FA, external on Sunday said Probierz had "personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team and the training staff of his decision" to appoint Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski as the new this decision, Barcelona's Lewandowski wrote on social media: "Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge. "I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world."The Poland FA also said, external Probierz will answer questions at a news conference on Monday prior to Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Finland, and will be joined by Zielinski, 52, took over as coach in September 2023 but his side finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024 as they became the first country to be knocked out of the Poland are top of their World Cup 2026 qualifying group after two wins from as many games, with Netherlands third on three points after one game.
