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Football

18th Apr 2019

David Moyes among candidates to take over from Alex McLeish as Scotland boss

Former Manchester United and Everton boss David Moyes is among the leading candidates to take over from Alex McLeish as Scotland manager

Reuben Pinder

Scotland must improve in a number of areas, including passing, creating chances and defending

David Moyes is one of the leading candidates to take over as Scotland manager after Alex McLeish was sacked on Thursday morning despite beating San Marino 2-0 in their most recent international qualifier.

McLeish may have led Scotland to the top of their UEFA Nations League group, but the Tartan Army are in desperate need of new direction after a disastrous start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, losing to Kazakhstan 3-0.

Moyes is among the names being discussed to take over, according to the Mail, as is former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan and Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke.

Moyes was last employed by West Ham, whom he lifted out of a relegation battle, reigniting Marko Arnautović in the process by moving him into a central position. But his unsuccessful spell at Manchester United remains Moyes’ most memorable work, doing him no favours on his search for another big job.

The national team job could offer him the perfect return to football management, with no Premier League club seemingly willing to take a punt on the Scotsman.

Scotland have failed to qualify for any major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, and now face a mountainous task in reaching Euro 2020 having won just three points from two matches they were expected to win comfortably.

However, their first place finish in their Nations League group could hand them a lifeline, qualifying them for a playoff spot in the final phase of Euro 2020 qualifying.