Steve Clarke inducted into Scottish Football Hall of Fame

Steve Clarke has been inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, announced today by the Scottish Football Museum and the Scottish FA at Barclays Hampden. His induction comes as part of the recent revamp of the Hall of Fame, which celebrates those who have made a significant, positive impact to the game in Scotland. Steve is the first nominee in the 2026 cohort to be inducted, following public nominations and the meeting of an expert committee earlier this month.  

As Scotland Men’s National Team prepares for a historic return to the FIFA World Cup with a send-off match against Curacao at Barclays Hampden tomorrow, Steve had this to say about his induction:  

“It’s an honour to be inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame. Especially when I look at the past inductees, who have made such a positive contribution to the game.

"Individual accolades should always come second to achievements for the wider group, and I’m proud of what the players and staff – past and present – have been able to accomplish, in terms of taking Scotland back to major international tournaments after we spent too long on the sidelines. 

"They have given this country all that they have, and you can see the wider impact of that across the nation. So, this recognition is for them as much as me.” 

Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Football Museum, which houses the Hall of Fame exhibition, a key attraction for visitors to Europe’s first national football Museum, Chairman Robert Craig said:  

“It is with great pleasure that we see Steve Clarke inducted into the Hall of Fame today. Visitors to the Museum love being in the Hall of Fame gallery and reading about the legends of the Scottish game, and Steve was a very popular nominee from our visitors and amongst the Committee. 

“Ahead of the most exciting summer of football, we are thrilled to honour Steve in this way.” 

A significant impact

Steve played for St Mirren, Chelsea and Scotland, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup with Chelsea and making six appearances for Scotland. After retiring as a player he moved into coaching, working at clubs including Newcastle United, Chelsea, West Ham United and Liverpool. As assistant manager at Chelsea he won the Premier League twice as well as the League Cup in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2007. On leaving Liverpool in 2012 he managed West Bromwich Albion and Reading FC, as well as a spell  coaching at Aston Villa. Steve was appointed Kilmarnock manager in October 2017 and led them to a European place with a club record points total in his only full season in charge. In May 2019, he was appointed manager of the Scotland Men’s National Team. During his tenure, he has led the team to qualifications for UEFA Euro 2020, their first major tournament for 23 years, UEFA Euro 2024 and FIFA men’s World Cup 2026, their first 
appearance at the World Cup finals since 1998. 

Amongst legends  

The Scottish Football Hall of Fame has its permanent home in the Scottish Football Museum at Barclays Hampden and hosts over 120 legends of the Scottish game, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Jim Baxter, Sir Matt Busby, Rose Reilly, Jock Stein, Elsie Cook. A key visitor attraction for the football fans who flock to the Museum each year from across the world, each inductee is honoured with a plaque in the exhibition space  with highlights of their career. 

 
Hall of Fame 

The Hall of Fame celebrates the successes of those in football who have made a significant, positive impact to the game in Scotland. It was recently refreshed by the Scottish Football Museum after a hiatus in the last few years, to bring its suite of inductees into a new, modern era and to reflect a more inclusive and current view of the game. Last year a shortlist of female candidates were chosen and inducted including Elsie Cook, the 1881 Scotland Women’s National Team and Sheila Begbie.