Scotland boss Clarke revealed by those who know him best

Footage from the Scotland changing room after the win over Denmark says a lot about Steve Clarke. Players and staff line the edge of the Hampden changing room, some standing on the benches and peering over shoulders to get a glimpse of the head coach as he makes his speech. There are celebratory t-shirts on and hands wrapped around bottles of beer, but in the moment the party is suspended as all eyes fix on him. There is a hint of emotion in Clarke's voice, but he is calm as he lays out just how significant Scotland's achievement is: qualifying for a first men's World Cup since 1998. Players barely move. Until Clarke reveals they are free to hit up one of Glasgow's main bars, that is. Then there is a wide smile and bedlam.

To those that know and work with the Scotland boss, that small moment probably encapsulates his traits. Calm, measured, with a hint of humour piercing a sometimes stony exterior. The 62-year-old from Saltcoats has his detractors, but has become Scotland's most capped and perhaps most successful manager. Two European Championships and now World Cup qualification, given what he inherited, speaks for itself. His rise to a legendary perch in Scottish football has been steady and understated, which is probably fine by him.

Character and leadership style

Clarke has been characterised most of his professional life as a man of few words. His sometimes short, clipped answers to journalists' questions and tendency not to smile too much means he has taken on the stereotype of a dour Scotsman. Of course, that impression is not a full picture. But while that characterisation may be cartoonish, it does come from somewhere. As a manager Clarke has said himself he does not like to get too close to his players, preferring to rely on senior squad members to run the dressing room.

That was Gary Dicker's experience when playing for Clarke at Kilmarnock between 2017 and 2019. The former midfielder said the manager did not speak much during his first six months in charge, but his impact was significant. "He only spoke when he needed to but I think he was scanning and picking up everything he needed to and getting to know the place and the players," Dicker said. By using praise and criticism sparingly, Clarke created an environment where every single player wanted to impress him. His presence influenced the group, without the need for words. Kilmarnock went from fighting relegation to European football.

Respect from peers and players

Pat Nevin, a friend of Clarke's from their time at Chelsea, said he was the same as a player. "When he said something everyone shut up and listened," he explained. Every Scotland player was certainly listening quietly when Clarke addressed them at the team hotel before the Denmark game. The normally stoic head coach felt now was the time to use the power of emotion as they prepared for the biggest match of their seven years together. Players said he tapped into his own background and story, taking them through the ups and the downs. He described the journey the group had been on, culminating in this incredible opportunity to go to the World Cup.

"When he was finished, a lot of boys jumped off their seats and were ready to go to war," Ryan Christie said. "I was nearly in tears, man, honestly," Scott McTominay recalled. It is an instructive example of Clarke's emotional intelligence and ability to get the best from a group of players. Do not mistake stoicism on the outside for a lack of feel for the moment. Plenty of people who know Clarke also talk about his dry wit and humour, too. That does flicker in front of the cameras at times but is only properly felt in his company.