Scotland manager Steve Clarke announced his departure in a deeply emotional open letter addressed directly to the “Tartan Army” faithful on Saturday night.

The decision was made shortly after Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Ghana officially mathematically eliminated Scotland from capturing one of the remaining World Cup Round of 32 berths.

Reflecting on a historic seven-year tenure that transformed the national team’s fortunes, Clarke expressed immense pride in what they achieved together.

“When I took this job seven years ago, my ultimate dream was to restore our national pride and see Scotland competing regularly on the biggest stages in world football,” Clarke wrote.

“To lead this country to its first World Cup since 1998, alongside back-to-back European Championships, has been the absolute privilege of my life.

“We have shared unforgettable nights, broken decades of heartbreak, and stood toe-to-toe with the very best. I want to thank every single member of the Tartan Army who traveled across the globe to be our twelfth man. Your passion, your noise, and your unwavering belief kept us going through every high and low.”

Turning his attention to the squad that broke Scotland’s long-standing tournament droughts, Clarke was full of praise for his players.

“To the players, you have given absolutely everything for that badge. You deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honor to be called their Gaffer. You have set a new standard for Scottish football. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor.”

Scotland’s Group Stage campaign concluded on Thursday with a bruising 3-0 defeat to Brazil. The squad was then left sweating on other results for over 48 hours to see if they could sneak into the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed sides.

The tournament had started with such promise when Scotland secured a 1-0 win over Haiti – marking the men’s national team’s first victory at a World Cup finals since 1990. However, that narrow single-goal margin ultimately proved costly following subsequent defeats to Morocco and Brazil.