John Carver has been a key man in Steve Clarke’s Scotland backroom as he has helped transform the national team.
The Englishman was appointed assistant manager since 2020, replacing Alex Dyer who took the Kilmarnock job.
That mean Carver was by Clarke’s side as he became the first manager to lead Scotland into a major tournament since Craig Brown in 1998 when they made it to Euro 2020 (played in 2021).
The former Newcastle coach has remained in place since and was still assistant when Clarke made it back-to-back Euros at this summer’s competition.
But the 59-year-old has now landed a managerial job of his own and will move on.
John Carver lands Lechia Gdańsk job
Struggling Polish top flight side Lechia Gdańsk have announced that John Carver will be their new manager.
They say they have reached an agreement with the SFA for him to begin work immediately, officially starting to work with the squad tomorrow.
He will first meet the Polish media on Thursday at a press conference for the weekend’s match against Śląsk Wrocław.
A Lechia Gdansk club statement reads: The 59-year-old coach from England has taken over as first-team coach. The contract runs until the end of the 2024/25 season with the option to extend it for another year.
“John Carver was born in Newcastle. He began his coaching career as an assistant to legendary manager Bobby Robson at Newcastle United. During his 15-year coaching career, Carver also served as assistant or head coach at Leeds United, Toronto FC, Omonia Nicosia and West Bromwich Albion.
“He has experience working outside of Europe and in a number of leagues, including the English Premiership.
“Since August 2020, he has been an assistant coach for the Scotland national team, with whom he qualified for and played at Euro 2024, and was on the bench for Scotland’s recent Nations League matches against Poland.
“Lechia has reached an agreement with the Scottish Federation for John Carver to start working for Lechia immediately. At the same time, the club and the Federation have agreed that during the international break in March 2025, coach Carver will be present in the Scotland team’s staff for the play-off double-header with Greece.
“The new coach met with the Lechia team and staff after the match with GKS Katowice. He will officially start working with the White and Green team on Monday, December 2.
“Coach Carver will be available to the media during the press conference before the PKO BP Ekstraklasa match against Śląsk Wrocław, which will take place on Thursday, December 5.
Legia sit 17 in the Ekstraklasa which is in the relegation zone and Carver will be tasked with guiding them to safety.
Carver to stay for Scotland vs Greece
As the statement mentions, Lechia Gdansk and the SFA have come to an agreement which allows Carver to still be on Clarke’s staff for the Nations League play-off against Greece.
Those matches take place on March 20 and 23, with the away leg coming up first.
On the line is whether or not Scotland stay in League A while the result could also affect our seeding for the World Cup qualification draw.
Clarke will be pleased that he still has his right-hand man for such a big two-legged clash rather than having the upheaval of trying to find a replacment.
After that he will obviously have to bring someone in.
A candidate could be Steven Naismith, who previously was on the national team staff and is now out of work after being sacked by Hearts.