Steve Clarke seemed like a reluctant hero at first.
The Scotland job gave him a huge sense of pride but there was also a hint of duty.
This was a manager who thrives for the day-to-day life on the training ground, who accepted the life of a caged beast that only gets to roam a handful of times all year and all for the greater good.
It’s taken a few years but Clarke now feels more like he’s in his natural habitat as a national boss.
Even more – he’s actually started to enjoy it.
The Scotland gaffer wasn’t aware of yesterday’s back pages when he sat down to his briefing.
He was surprised to learn that they included a vow from SFA chief Ian Maxwell that a new contract was in the pipeline to take him beyond World Cup 2022 in Qatar regardless of how the next few weeks unfold.
A while ago that might have sounded more of a threat than a promise to the manager but he’s now in with the bricks and and relishing his role.
Clarke isn’t looking beyond the Euros and who knows what will happen past Qatar.
But one thing is for sure is that he’s going nowhere for the next few years.
“Ian is also going to meet us in Portugal so I will be chewing his ear!” Clarke joked when told about the new deal could be in the post.
“Listen, it’s not about me. I’m going to concentrate on the team and hopefully get the team in a good shape, do well in the tournament and let the Scottish public enjoy a tournament.
“It’s great to be involved. It’s not about me. That will take care of itself after the tournament.
“I have always said that I’d be here for the World Cup. I’ve been really consistent. I told you guys when we beat Serbia to qualify that I’d be here for the tournament. I’m here.
“And I’m telling you I want to be the guy who takes the team to the World Cup finals in Qatar in 2022 and if that can happen with or without a new contract, I’m comfortable.
“I’m enjoying the role. I have learned a lot in the two years that I’ve been in the job. I feel more comfortable as an international manager, or an international head coach, now than I did at the start. I’m enjoying the job.
“The success has been great but I want more success.”
You can see Clarke if in his element right now. Even with the Covid curve ball with John Fleck, he has got the full attention of his squad for more than the odd day and it’s got the juices flowing.
He said: “Everybody knows I like to work with players on the training pitch.
“The international job is such that basically you just borrow the players for a 10 day window.
“You get two or three training sessions on the pitch, you put them together, you hope you piece them together well to get the results, and then they go back to their clubs. So the fact we are going to have four, five, hopefully six weeks together is good.
“I get more time on the training pitch and more time to get to know the players and they get to know me a little bit better.”
Fleck is stuck in his room but Billy Gilmour has checked in and Clarke will be particularly pleased to welcome the Stamford Bridge kid on the back of the Blues’ victory in the Champions League last Saturday night.
He said: “I was delighted for Chelsea. I spent a long part of my career at Chelsea so I was delighted to see them win it again but I was also delighted for Billy.
“I spoke to him the other day and he was excited and can’t wait to meet up. He had a couple of days in London with his mum and dad – he didn’t make it all the way back to Ardrossan – but he’s relaxed and in a good place.
“We’re looking forward to having him and Scott McTominay join up with us.
“If ever a player didn’t deserve to be on the losing team in a European final, then it was Scott the other night.
“He was outstanding and it will be good to have both of them on board.”
The Manchester United ace might only have a runners-up medal from the loss to Villarreal but he’s first class as far as his national boss is concerned.
Clarke said: “It’s great for us that we’ve got a player of Scott’s ability in the squad.
“He showed the other night how he can play midfield and he’s also shown, when we’ve selected him as a centre-back, that he can play that position equally well. To have that type of player in your squad is a big bonus for me as a coach.”
Clarke’s mind is whizzing right now. Not only is he plotting line-ups and tactics, but managing playtime and fitness, all while there’s concerns over Covid.
His players might get time to chill out but the manager insists he’ll have plenty of opportunities to unwind later.
He said: “I don’t think you ever really switch off but I did manage to get 18 holes on the golf course the other day, which was nice. I actually hit the ball quite well so I was happy.
“The players’ job is to relax at the right times, my job is to make sure we’re prepared. If that means I don’t get too much down time then so be it.”
