By Lori Ewing
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 28 (Reuters) - Scotland captain Andy Robertson paid tribute to departing manager Steve Clarke on Sunday, thanking him for transforming the team's fortunes a day after the 62-year-old stepped down following the country's World Cup exit.
"Gaffer, it's a simple thank you," Robertson said in a lengthy Instagram post. "What you have done for our country will be remembered for years and years to come.
"In time, the sharpness of the disappointment we all feel right
now will fade but not only will your legacy remain, hopefully it will become even more impactful."
Clarke, who led Scotland back to the World Cup after a 28-year-absence, resigned on Saturday after the team finished third in Group C but were not among the top eight third-placed finishers who progressed to the knockouts.
They opened with a 1-0 win over Haiti but then lost by the same scoreline to Morocco and were thumped 3-0 by Brazil.
"The moments that you helped deliver for our country, to name but a few - Serbia away, Spain at home, Norway away and of course Denmark at home. Games that will go down in Scottish folklore and outcomes that would not have been possible without you," Robertson, 32, said of previous qualifying results.
Scotland reached their first European Championship since 1996 after a penalty shootout win in Serbia took them to the 2020 finals and followed that up by making the Euro 2024 tournament after beating Spain 2-0 and winning 2-1 in Norway.
The Scots also beat Denmark 4-2 in their final group game in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to book a place in North America.
Departing Liverpool defender Robertson, who will start the new Premier League season at Tottenham Hotspur, added: "26 boys lived their childhood dream but ultimately failed to achieve our goal."
He also thanked the Tartan Army, who are "a big reason Scottish people are loved and welcomed everywhere we go in the world."
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
