Steve Clarke insists he had no idea that he could break the record for the most amount of games in charge of Scotland - if he sees out the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
The national team head coach admits he'd love to lead the team to the next major tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Currently on a run of one win in 15 matches - which came in a drab Euro 2024 warm-up match against Gibraltar - Clarke will need to try his best to turn the nation's fortunes around sooner rather than later.
Tomorrow night's match against Portugal at Hampden Park will be the former Kilmarnock boss' 62nd game as head coach.
This will see the 61-year-old overtake Jock Stein and Andy Roxburgh in the list of former managers and the amount of games they oversaw in the dugout.
“I didn’t know that,” Clarke said with a smile. “Proud, obviously, to be mentioned in the same breath as people like Mr Stein and Mr Roxburgh, who still sends me the occasional email just to keep in touch. No, listen, it’s really good.
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“It shows you that the players have been fantastic for us over the last five and a half years of my reign as head coach. I’d like to add a few more to the number, if I could.”
Asked if catching Craig Brown, who took charge of 71 games, would provide extra incentive to see out a contract that expires at the end of the 2026 World Cup, Clarke reiterated his desire to make sure his team are at the next showpiece in the Americas.
“I want to go to the World Cup,” he said. “I believe this squad of players are good enough to go to the World Cup in 2026. That’s all I’m focused on.”
