Ally McCoist asked if he would replace Steve Clarke as Scotland manager

Jul 22, 2026 - 15:00

Ally McCoist admitted he would never turn down the chance to manage Scotland, as the hunt for Steve Clarke’s successor continues.

Clarke immediately stepped down as Tartan Army boss after the national team’s disappointing World Cup group stage exit, with no replacement being announced as yet.

Steve Clarke in the dugout during Scotland's World Cup defeat to Brazil — Steve Clarke called time on his seven-year stint as Scotland boss after their World Cup exit

After guiding Scotland to their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, the 62-year-old endured a difficult summer in North America.

His side finished the group stage as the 11th best third-place team and missed out on a place in the last 32 on goal difference.

With Clarke stepping down just moments after the nation’s tournament fate was sealed, a number of names have been floated as potential candidates for the role.

So far, ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been tipped for the role, as well as Everton’s David Moyes, and recently departed Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.

Meanwhile, Clarke’s assistant at Scotland, Steven Naismith, has also been backed to be promoted to the manager’s role.

Can’t say no

As speculation continues over who will be next to lead Scotland, the question was put to talkSPORT’s very own McCoist over whether he would fancy his chances of taking the team forward.

The Rangers icon is no stranger to the Tartan Army dugout, having previously been assistant to the late Walter Smith between 2004 and 2007.

On Wednesday’s talkSPORT Breakfast, presenter Shebahn Aherne quizzed: “In all honesty, Ally do you think you could do it?”

To this, McCoist quipped: “I’d need to give up talkSPORT for at least a couple of days a week would I not?”

Work commitments aside, the much-loved Scot insisted he would jump at a return to the national team set-up, despite not having managed since his departure as Rangers boss in 2015.

Steven Naismith was named Steve Clarke’s Scotland assistant in August 2025

Ally McCoist alongside Tommy Burns and Walter Smith with the Scotland National Team — McCoist worked alongside Scottish footballing icons in Walter Smith and Tommy Burns during his last stint in the national team set-up

Answering honestly, he said: “I mean, they’ve got a bit of time to pick and digest and get whoever they want, but I don’t know whether that ship’s sailed, Shebahn, to be honest with you.

“I don’t know, but you never knock back your country, do you? That’s for sure, no matter what it is.”

On his previous spell with Scotland, McCoist said: “I loved it when Walter was in and he took Tommy [Burns] and myself as his assistants in the national team, it was one of the best periods, selfishly in my own life. I loved it.

“And Tam was obviously an absolute diamond, brilliant to work with and Walter – you know what I think of Walter – we had a great wee period there and the team did really, really well.”

McCoist: Future is bright

McCoist was also enthusiastic about the prospect of the potential for a home European Championship, with England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland hosting the 2028 edition.

Due to tournament regulations, only two host nations are able to receive automatic qualification.

Ally McCoist at Rangers — McCoist’s last managerial gig came at Rangers between 2011 and 2014

But after Scotland qualified for each of the last two European campaigns, McCoist had plenty of optimism for the national team.

He said: “The great thing that we’ve got now, that we didn’t have maybe about 10, 15 years ago, I wouldn’t say the entire nation wasn’t in love with the football team, but it had lost a little bit of love.

“That’s back, it’s clearly back and it’s back in abundance. So we’ll want to carry on.

“The next Euros are obviously in the home nations, so you clearly want to be part of that.

“I think there’s two that qualify out of four and all that, and then if there’s any other qualifications, a bit complicated, but you’d like to think we can qualify.”

Ally’s Scotland boss tip

After insisting he would always be open to the Scotland job, McCoist then claimed Falkirk boss John McGlynn could be in line for the role.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn — John McGlynn has guided Falkirk from Scottish League One to the Premiership in the last two years

Three-time PFA Scotland Manager of the Year has been heavily linked with the role after guiding Falkirk to an impressive sixth-place Scottish Premiership finish last season.

McCoist explained: “I’m hearing John McGlynn at Falkirk has got a chance. I for one wouldn’t think that was a bad idea, they did a brilliant job.

“They were brilliant last year, Falkirk and Motherwell in particular, were two great success stories last year. I’ve known John for a long, long time, he’s just a good, hard-working, honest footballing man.

“We could do a lot worse than John, but I don’t think there’s any outstanding candidates at the moment.

“I think Derek McInnes would have been the obvious one, obviously before he got the Rangers job.”