Ibrox legend Kris Boyd admits he would have taken Scotland manager Steve Clarke at Rangers ‘in a heartbeat’ with his former Kilmarnock boss shining on the international stage.
Rangers icon Boyd knows first-hand just how effective a tactician Steve Clarke can be, the 60-year-old taking Kilmarnock from the bottom of the Scottish Premiership to third place during his tenure at Rugby Park.
But even the division’s all-time record goalscorer might not have expected his former Killie boss to make such an impact on the international stage. Clarke is now the first manager in Scotland’s history to lead his country to successive European Championships, securing a seat on the plane to Germany after Spain beat Norway on Monday night.
Steve Clarke guides Scotland to Euro 2024
“Steve Clarke only signed a new contract with Scotland six months ago,” Boyd tells the Scottish Sun. “But the SFA would be well advised to improve that offer as soon as possible.
“Reaching back-to-back Euros is a terrific achievement. Unfortunately, the incredible feat won’t go unnoticed by clubs all around Europe, and there will be a sizeable queue of them trying to tempt Clarke away with pots of gold.
“I’d bet my life nobody will do a better job than him.”
Rangers hired Philippe Clement as their new manager over the weekend. But, if Boyd had his say, Clarke’s name would have been thrown into the ring too.
‘Unbelievable’
“I was fortunate to work with Clarke at Kilmarnock,” Boyd adds. “And what he achieved at Rugby Park on a tiny budget was unbelievable. I can’t speak highly enough of him and his abilities as a coach.
“There were a few people touting him for the Rangers job. And I’d have had him at Ibrox in a heartbeat.”
Clement, a three-time winner of Belgium’s Jupiler League at Genk and Club Brugge, will make his managerial debut in charge of Rangers this weekend, the Glasgow giants hosting Hibernian at Ibrox.
