Steve Clarke told ‘you are my hero’ as Scotland fans hail boss after Tartan Army secure Euro 2024 qualification

FANS were once split over Steve Clarke’s credentials to be the Scotland manager.

Questions were asked of the Tartan Army boss early in his reign and many were even at boiling point just 18 months ago when the Scots crashed to a humiliating 3-0 defeat in Dublin.

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It’s not always been plain sailing for Steve Clarke as Scotland bossCredit: Kenny Ramsay

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The Tartan Army are going to Germany next summer after securing qualificationCredit: Getty

A lot can happen in that time though, and it didn’t take him long to finally win them back over – despite already leading the nation to their first major tournament in 23 years.

But even those who always backed the ex-Killie man to success would never have been able to imagine just how far this small country could go in the months following.

From two nail-biting penalty shootouts against Israel and Norway through the backdoors of the Nations League, to qualifying with two games to spare – the team has come on leaps and bounds.

Yes, we may have failed to reach Qatar.

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But it’s back-back-to-back Euros for Scotland and the buzz around Hampden is back again.

It’s Clarke who deserves most of the credit for uniting the team and turning them into world-beaters.

Thousands of Scotland fans will be flocking to Germany next summer and the streets will be jampacked with Clarke’s loyal followers.

And many of them took to social media to hail and congratulate the boss after Spain’s win in Oslo secured our place in the tournament.

One fan said: “That whole campaign was incredible. Steve Clarke, you are my hero.”

Another exclaimed: “What an absolutely incredible job Steve Clarke has done.”

Someone else wrote: “Back to back Euro qualifications is a tremendous achievement for Scotland. Well done to Steve Clarke and his team for galvanising a nation. We are on our way to Germany!!”

A fifth said: “Sir Steve Clarke, that’s the tweet!”

A sixth commented: “Qualified With 2 games to spare some achievement from Steve Clarke and the players.”

Fans will quite rightly praise Clarke for his efforts in the past few months.

But Scott McTominay has been Scotland’s shining light in the qualifying campaign with a sensational six goals and one assist in the six games so far.

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The midfielder thought he scored his seventh against Spain but it was ruled out by VARCredit: Getty

Only Belgian target man Romelu Lukaku and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more.

The Manchester United midfielder is level with Switzerland’s Zeki Amdouni, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund, Kylian Mbappe and group rival Erling Haaland.

And that’s with McTominay seeing his stunning goal against Spain ruled out as well.

He’s a fan favourite in the Tartan Army and some even think he’s the best player in Europe!

One said: “It’s all thanks to Scott McTominay. We will give him the Ballon d’Or next season.”

Another wrote: “The Ballon d’Or will be changed to Scott d’Or in 2024.”

A third commented: “Scott McTominay for Ballon d’Or.”

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A fourth said: “Haaland about to miss out on another international tournament because he’s simply not as good as Scott McTominay.”

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