Scottish FA Chief Celebrates Historic World Cup Qualification

Ian Maxwell, the chief executive of the Scottish FA, described Tuesday’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Denmark as the ‘best night in the history of Scottish football,’ marking Scotland’s first World Cup qualification in 28 years.

In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, Maxwell refrained from discussing the potential extension of head coach Steve Clarke’s contract beyond the upcoming tournament hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, stating, “that’s a conversation for another day.” However, he did suggest that Clarke has earned the title of ‘Sir’ following this monumental achievement.

The match featured remarkable goals from Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, and Kenny McLean, along with a tap-in from Lawrence Shankland, securing a stoppage-time victory that allowed Scotland to advance from Group C. Maxwell reflected on the match, saying, “I don’t think anybody knows the word to describe it; it was just an insane 90 minutes of football.”

He elaborated on the significance of the victory, especially in light of Scotland’s absence from a finals since 1998 and the disappointment following their recent loss in Athens. “To then have the high of actually still having a chance and watching the game unfold the way it did was just an absolutely incredible night, and for me, it’s got to be the best night in the history of Scottish football.”

Clarke has now led Scotland to three major finals since taking over the national team in 2019. Maxwell praised him as “our greatest ever manager,” highlighting that qualifying for three tournaments out of four is an extraordinary achievement.

Despite some public dissent regarding Clarke’s position, Maxwell affirmed that the SFA never wavered in their support for him, emphasizing the pride in their decision to retain him. He stated, “He’s been incredible. When we appointed him six years ago, if anybody said this was going to be how the next six years would look, we would have all bitten your hand off for it.”

Clarke’s contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the World Cup campaign, and he has previously expressed that he was 75% certain he would leave. However, he acknowledged after the match that “the door is always open” for an extension.

Maxwell noted that the timing of such a decision would likely come after their performance in the Americas. “This is just about enjoying the moment, enjoying qualification, and getting ready for what will be an unforgettable summer,” he said.

In addition to the emotional victory, the SFA is also expected to receive a significant financial bonus as a reward for qualification, which Maxwell believes could serve as a pivotal moment for Scottish football. He mentioned, “I’ve not spent any time thinking about the finances, I’ve genuinely not. You’re always reticent to look too far into it in case you start to jinx things, but as an association, we’ve made no secret that facilities are a real priority for us.”