Steve Clarke’s Scotland: The Top 10 Players Who Defined an Era

The Cherry On Top?

72 matches, 32 wins, 102 goals scored, and two European Championships. Steve Clarke’s six years in charge of the National Team have provided the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Qualifying for back-to-back European Championships secured the Ayrshireman’s legendary status in Scottish football terms, putting an end to 23 years of near-misses and embarrassing failures. Yet, one clock keeps ticking. It’s been 27 years since the Tartan Army last roared on their team on the world stage, and Clarke’s aim is to reset that clock to zero.

If Scotland’s wonderkid Ben Gannon-Doak’s thoughts are anything to go by, Steve Clarke will achieve his ultimate goal of steering Scotland to the 2026 World Cup. “I have no doubt in my mind that we’re going to go” the 20-year-old proclaimed in an interview with Amy Canavan of the BBC. The automatic “no chance, we’re rubbish” response won’t be entertained by the flying winger - nor Clarke himself.

Against all odds, Clarke’s men are guaranteed a play-off for next year’s World Cup in North America. A resolute performance in Denmark followed by less-than-convincing wins against Belarus and Greece has given the Tartan Army genuine hope of a tour of the Americas next summer. It’s tantalisingly close. A draw in Athens on Saturday coupled with a win at home against Denmark on Tuesday would book Scotland’s place next June. Two matches to end 27 years of suffering; Steve Clarke could not have asked for much more at this stage in the campaign.

Steve Clarke’s Top 10 Scotland Players Who Defined an Era

Looking back upon Steve Clarke’s record-breaking 72 matches in charge, who are the top performers of his era? Here are the top 10 players since Scotland’s dramatic 2-1 win against Cyprus at Hampden in June 2019.

10. Grant Hanley (35 appearances under Steve Clarke)

The big centre-half would header a brick wall for Scotland if it threatened his goal - and Clarke has rewarded him with 35 international caps as a result. Hanley’s inclusion often divides opinion amongst the Tartan Army, but time and again Clarke’s loyalty has been rewarded with heroic performances from the man from Dumfries.

In March, Hanley stepped up when everyone, but Clarke, doubted him, delivering a performance that Miller and McLeish would have been proud of. Away in Athens – the scene of Saturday’s career-defining encounter - Hanley blocked, cleared, headed and tackled everything that came his way, marshalling his side to a dogged 1-0 win against the Greeks.

That was the first leg of the Nations League play-off - less said about the second leg, the better. Hanley had already delivered similarly heroic displays against Portugal, Croatia and Poland in the same Nations League campaign.

While his ball-playing ability might come into question, Hanley’s ability to defend should not. How Steve Clarke would love a performance as committed and effective on Saturday as that night in Athens.

9. Billy Gilmour (43 appearances)

Two of North Ayrshire’s finest sons, Saltcoats’ Clarke and Ardrossan’s Gilmour grew up in neighbouring towns, connecting them through more than just the national team. Such is Clarke’s belief in Napoli’s midfield maestro, Gilmour was catapulted into the Scotland starting lineup as a fresh-faced 20-year-old to face England at Wembley in the second match of EURO 2020. In a frenetic encounter, Gilmour put in a man-of-the-match performance and made a nation dream that they might progress past the group stage of a major tournament for the first time in history. It wasn’t to be, and a positive COVID test put an end to the wee man’s tournament and ultimately Scotland’s too.

Since that night in London in 2021, Gilmour has added 42 caps to his name, underlining his importance to Scotland’s success in recent times. Frustratingly, an adductor injury sustained in Napoli’s 0-0 draw against Como on 1 November has ruled the midfielder out of Saturday’s match in Piraeus, however, he could still play a vital role against Denmark next Tuesday.

8. Ché Adams (43 appearances)

When Clarke took charge in 2019, he inherited a squad rich in world-class left-backs and central midfielders but short on firepower - evidenced by Eamonn Brophy leading the line in Clarke’s first game against Cyprus.

That lack of options in attack prompted Clarke to think outside the box and approach players with Scottish lineage. Step forward Ché Adams: a Premier League-quality striker. Qualifying through his maternal grandparents, Clarke convinced the Englishman to commit to the dark blues and he hasn’t looked back since.

With 10 goals in 41 matches, Adams continues to run his socks off for Scotland in a system that quite often leaves him living off scraps. His best performance to date was against the Danes at Hampden where Scotland’s 2-0 victory secured a place in the Play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Adams rounded off a fantastic display of physicality, technicality and hold-up play with an exquisite side foot finish past Kasper Schmeichel. Same again next week please, Ché.

7. Lyndon Dykes (46 appearances)

Nobody epitomises Steve Clarke’s Scotland more than Lyndon Dykes. After all, he is the best on earth! Another beneficiary of Clarke’s attacking recruitment drive, Dykes was called up to the Scotland squad in 2020 after a hugely productive season at Livingston in the Scottish Premiership. It could have been very different had the big Aussie chosen to play for the Socceroos. Luckily, Steve Clarke won the race and the rest is history: “In the end, I just went with my heart and my gut, and I chose Scotland.” Dykes told FourFourTwo in 2021.

Thank goodness he did. The often-shaven headed nuisance has led the line brilliantly, roughing up defenders, scoring 10 goals and winning just about every aerial duel he’s ever contested.

In Copenhagen in September, his partnership with Adams showed that both strikers can work well together from the start with each bringing different skillsets to the team. Whether he gets the nod to lead the line from the start or is trusted to impact the game from the bench in Greece or at Hampden, you can be sure that Dykes will play a vital role in Scotland’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.

6. Kieran Tierney (40 appearances)

It was typical: the Tartan Army had waited years for world-class talent and received two at once - both left backs. The Tierney/Robertson conundrum puzzled Strachan and McLeish, and Clarke eventually cracked it with a back five, with Tierney at left centre-back, with Robertson at left wing-back. The result was a formidable left side that was solid in defence and electric in attack. Tierney, from centre-back, provided cover for Robertson and an option on the overlap in attack. Famous wins against Israel and Spain at Hampden both shining examples of the threat the pair posed opposition back lines. It was Tierney’s lung-busting run and cut back that set up Scott McTominay for his second against Spain that sent Hampden into delirium.

Unfortunately, like much of his club career, Tierney’s appearances in a Scotland shirt have been limited by injury. It’s fairly certain that Tierney would have many more than the 40 appearances under Steve Clarke had he not spent so much time in recovery. His importance to the Scotland team was never more evident than in Scotland’s opening game of EURO 2020. Ruled out with a knee ligament injury, his absence was sorely felt throughout the team as Scotland limped to a 2-0 defeat to the Czechs after that Patrick Schik wonder-strike.

In recent times, Clarke has gone with four at the back meaning Tierney’s game-time has been limited. But with some of Clarke’s greatest successes having been built from the foundations of a back five, might we see the gaffer revert to his tactics of old? The added width and solidity at the back might just encourage Clarke to call on the services of one of his most trusted players, Kieran Tierney, from the start in Athens.

5. Callum McGregor (52 appearances)

Fifth highest appearance holder and fifth on this list. Callum McGregor was a mainstay in Clarke’s starting lineups prior to his international retirement in 2024 – and for good reason too. Calmac was the man for the big moment in a Scotland shirt. From his deep-lying midfield position, McGregor scored Scotland’s only goal at EURO 2020 with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box to equalise against Croatia in the final match of the group stage. Three years later in Cologne, it was McGregor’s assist to McTominay that created Scotland’s only goal of EURO 2024.

Combined with outstanding performances alongside Ryan Jack – particularly in Serbia – McGregor earns his place as Clarke’s fifth most important player. In the absence of Billy Gilmour in Greece, Clarke would love to have the Celtic captain available.

4. Ryan Christie (57 appearances)

Bournemouth’s number 10 became a Scotland legend in November 2020. When we were all huddled up on our couches during lockdown, Inverness’ Ryan Christie put his nation on his back and fired Scotland to EURO 2020. Then, amid the joyous celebrations, Christie’s tear-filled post-match interview elevated him to national hero status.

Until that point, Christie’s unfair reputation preceded him amongst the Hampden faithful. He had built a reputation for being wasteful, born from his Celtic days and his penchant for shooting from distance. Against Serbia, it was his willingness to shoot from range that set the Scots on the road to the EUROs.

Since then, Christie has been used on both wings, as a 10, and more recently as a deep-lying midfielder. His versatility makes him invaluable to Clarke. In a team that lacks pace in the wide areas, Christie offers energy, experience and, thanks to Andoni Iraola, excellent playmaking ability. In what was a difficult watch for the most part against Greece, Christie was a shining light in the first 45 minutes when deployed in his now familiar midfield role.

Christie’s importance cannot be understated and there’s plenty more to come from the 30-year-old.

3. Scott McTominay (58 appearances)

I’d like to start this point first by apologising. I know what you’re thinking: ‘In what world should a Ballon D’or nominee and Serie A MVP come third on this list?’ I understand. The order of the final three was the most difficult decision of the lot.

Scott McTominay - or McFratm, as he’s known in Naples - is third through no fault of his own. In his 58 appearances under Steve Clarke, McSauce has evolved from a ball-playing centre-back into a goal-scoring machine.

Inspired by Mourinho’s experiment at Manchester United, Clarke utilised McTominay at right centre-back to mixed results. En route to EURO 2020, McTominay played many key matches in a back three, where he started against Serbia.

McTominay credits a conversation with Clarke for transforming his mindset. In March 2024 he told The Guardian: “He said I didn’t look happy, that I didn’t look like I was smiling about the place.” He continued: “Ever since that, I’ve just thought: ‘Let’s go for it.’ It was a weight lifted off my shoulders.”

Since then, he scored seven goals in EURO 2024 qualifying and he has become a global superstar at Napoli. With 13 goals to his name under Clarke, Scott McTominay has emerged as Scotland’s talisman.

2. Andy Robertson (59 appearances)

Captain, leader, legend. One week after winning the Champions League with Liverpool, Andy Robertson scored in Steve Clarke’s first match as Scotland manager. The full back has been a mainstay from the start and has never let his country down. In our strongest position, Robertson has rightly remained first choice throughout Clarke’s tenure, offering attacking threat and defensive solidity in equal measures. Moments like his winning header in Warsaw will live long in the memory of the Tartan Army alongside his countless assists and vital recovery runs.

Following a string of starts for Liverpool and a stellar performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League, the captain looks to be getting back to his very best and at just the right time from Steve Clarke’s point of view. At third on Scotland’s all-time appearance list with 88 caps, there are few things Robbo has left to achieve in football, so he’ll be more determined than anybody else to lead his country to the World Cup next summer.

1. John McGinn (67 appearances)

At number one, we’ve got McGinn…SUPER JOHN MCGINN. ‘Meatball’ has appeared 67 times and scored all 20 of his goals under Clarke, including a hat trick against San Marino, all while playing in midfield. When his country has needed him, he has always stood up in the big moments. He’s scored big goals in important matches: he scored in Scotland’s victories against Croatia and Poland in the Nations League and seven goals in qualifying for EURO 2020.

Then there are the intangibles: his rump must have earned Scotland hundreds of fouls over the years and his personality is as unique as it is irreplaceable.

Like many of this generation of Scotland midfielders, McGinn is versatile and willing to be used wherever Clarke requires him. Across the 67 matches he’s played for Scotland under Clarke, he’s played almost everywhere in midfield and loves getting forward as much as possible. His technical ability combined with his grit and determination makes him the perfect Steve Clarke player and it would be fitting for Clarke’s most trusted player to fire Scotland to the World Cup.

These ten names – and many more – embody Steve Clarke’s legacy. Commitment, unity, and a belief that Scotland can go toe-to-toe with anyone. Regardless of the outcome against Greece and Denmark, this generation has given a nation something it had lost: hope.

Come on Scotland!