Ian Maxwell Celebrates Historic World Cup Qualification for Scotland

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

During an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, Maxwell addressed the future of head coach Steve Clarke, stating, “that’s a conversation for another day” when asked about the possibility of extending Clarke’s contract beyond the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He added, “I think he’s now earned the title of ‘Sir.'”

The match featured stunning goals from Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, and Kenny McLean, along with a tap-in from Lawrence Shankland, culminating in a dramatic stoppage-time victory at Hampden that allowed Scotland to surpass Denmark and win Group C. Maxwell remarked, “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 event, stating, “The football as a standalone 90 minutes was incredible, but when you add the additional context of having not been to a finals since 1998 and the disappointment that everybody felt on Saturday when we lost in Athens, it was just an absolutely incredible night and, for me, it’s got to be the best night in the history of Scottish football.”

This marks Clarke’s third qualification for a major final since he took over the national team in 2019. Maxwell opined, “Steve has been incredible – our greatest ever manager. Three tournaments out of four is just an incredible return, and I’m absolutely delighted for him.”

He emphasized that the SFA maintained unwavering support for Clarke, even after Scotland finished at the bottom of their group with just one point during the 2024 Euro finals. “A lot of people didn’t want him to be the manager anymore, and it’s brilliant to see nights like that because it ratifies that decision,” Maxwell said. “He’s been a massive part of us getting to the World Cup. When we appointed him six years ago, if anybody had said this was going to be how the next six years would look, we would’ve all bitten your hand off for it.”

Clarke’s contract is set to expire at the end of the World Cup campaign next summer, and although he previously indicated he was 75% certain he would depart, he acknowledged post-match that “the door is always open” for an extension.

Maxwell noted that a decision regarding Clarke’s future is likely to be made after the tournament in the Americas. “This is just about enjoying the moment, enjoying qualification, and getting ready for what will be an unforgettable summer. Let’s prepare as properly as we can, see how we get on in the tournament, and we’ll take it from there,” he said.

Moreover, the SFA is expected to receive a substantial cash bonus as a reward for qualification, which Maxwell believes could mark a turning point for Scottish football in enhancing the national game. However, he added, “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.”