Scotland’s Football Future Following Pedro Martinez Losa’s Departure

Pedro Martinez Losa’s departure from his role as head coach of Scotland’s national team followed the squad’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive major finals, marking the second such instance during his tenure. Despite this, the 48-year-old had been granted a contract extension until 2027 just 15 months prior. The swift action by the Scottish FA, occurring shortly after this month’s Euro 2025 play-off defeat against Finland, indicates a perceived lack of progress in guiding the team to the anticipated next level. A nine-game unbeaten streak preceding the second-leg loss in Helsinki was deemed insufficient, as SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell emphasized that the former Arsenal manager had not met his “primary objective” of securing qualification for a major tournament. This situation prompts consideration of the future for a squad that has, despite recent setbacks, achieved promotion back to the top-flight of the Nations League. Scotland has not fully utilized the talents of players such as Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert. After his departure, Martinez Losa asserted that he remained “immensely proud” of his three-and-a-half-year tenure, during which he believed young talent had developed. Days before his exit, Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir, who had served as acting captain during Rachel Corsie’s injury absence, also affirmed that Martinez Losa maintained the “respect” of his squad, despite a recent setback that had “hit a lot players very hard.” Nevertheless, internal squad discussions had reportedly harbored doubts for a period, potentially since his initial appointment, alongside persistent concerns regarding the team’s playing style. An early challenge to Martinez Losa’s leadership was the decision by midfielder Kim Little, widely considered Scotland’s greatest women’s footballer, to conclude her 140-cap international career at 31 years old, opting instead to focus on her club commitments with Arsenal. Despite this, expectations persisted for the team, constructed around players like Weir, Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert, and an increasing number of athletes moving to England and other premier leagues, to demonstrate ongoing improvement. However, throughout Martinez Losa’s leadership, the team secured only one competitive victory against a top-30 ranked opponent – Austria in the 2023 World Cup semi-final play-off. This was followed by an unexpected defeat at home to the Republic of Ireland, which concluded another attempt to qualify for a major tournament. Ironically, Austria is scheduled to be the first opponent for his successor, with matches against the Netherlands and Germany to follow, as the Nations League commences in February. The decisive factor in his departure was the recent loss to Finland, a team ranked three places lower. It is noted, however, that these relative rankings were influenced by Scotland’s recent matches against less formidable opponents, while Marko Saloranta’s team had been relegated from the more challenging League A. According to former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton, scrutiny was inevitable, considering the Spaniard’s mandate to conclude the team’s major tournament qualification drought. She stated to BBC Scotland, “For Pedro, it was a mixed bag. If you look at some of the achievements and identity of the team, it started to change and at points it looked really positive, but for any national team manager, it’s getting to major tournaments and, when you don’t do that, ultimately it looks like a failure.” Crichton added, “In the world that we live in now with football, there’s always an expectation that managers will lose their job if they don’t deliver the remit expected of them.” Crichton posits that the SFA “will be looking for someone with the highest level of experience they can get,” a requirement likely necessitating a Uefa pro licence, thereby excluding several potential candidates. She commented, “It leaves us in a position of discomfort going into the new year and leaves the powers at be having to find the right person quite quickly – and I hope the wheels are already in motion.” She further elaborated, “It has to be a person who has experience, although not necessarily at international level – a person who is a proven winner. Bringing all the club teams together – I think that’s going to be a massive part and probably something that was an oversight under Pedro’s reign.” Consideration is now turning to potential successors, particularly in light of financial considerations and whether the SFA will opt for another international appointment or a domestic candidate. Brian Graham, a 37-year-old who continues to play as a centre-forward for Partick Thistle in the Scottish Championship, commented after Friday’s defeat by Livingston that “it was nice to be mentioned” but characterized his potential candidacy as “pure speculation.” He has guided the Glasgow club’s women’s team to consecutive top-six finishes in the Scottish Women’s Premier League and an appearance in a League Cup final. Mick McArdle, the SFA’s recently appointed girls’ and women’s performance manager, possesses nearly three decades of experience in Scottish football, having worked with clubs such as St Mirren, Falkirk, and Ayr United. He holds a Uefa pro licence and has recently achieved positive results coaching the Scotland Under-19 and Under-23 teams. Leanne Ross, currently serving as Scotland’s assistant coach, is considered a prominent candidate. She has accumulated numerous domestic trophies as both a Glasgow City defender and its current manager, in addition to earning 133 caps for Scotland. Grant Scott, who has coached multiple Scottish clubs, is currently managing Hibernian’s transition from a part-time to a full-time club, with his developing team presently holding fifth place in the Scottish top flight. The public was invited to share their perspectives on Martinez Losa’s dismissal and potential successors. A selection of these responses is presented below: Hugh commented: “Should have been done sooner. We would have qualified. As for golden generation. No way. We have far better players to pick from.” Ian stated: “It’s about time. He should have left a lot earlier. The manager position should definitely go to Duncan Ferguson.” David M remarked: “They have been absolutely horrible to watch and Martinez Losa should have been let go after the Republic of Ireland game. That game told you he never had a clue on changing games when they were not going your way, tactically inept.” David H expressed: “It was long overdue. He has underperformed and failed to get the best out of probably our best group of players ever. Rather turgid tactics and a lack of pace and creativity in defence, bemusing over inclusion of older Rangers players rather than better young Celtic players. Time for a young female head coach who knows how to get best out of our best players and play with attitude and attack. Maybe Jo Potter or Elena Sadiku, although suspect they’ll go for Leanne Ross, which is a backward step. My outside bet is Eileen Gleeson.” Kevin commented: “A long time coming. I said months ago when he was available to go get Scott Booth. Would he leave Aberdeen so soon now though?” Colin stated: “I sincerely hope the SFA don’t take seven months to find a replacement like they did last time.” Paul remarked: “The people who decided to give him a contract extension should also go. Clear out the SFA dinosaurs.” An anonymous contributor suggested: “We should be appointing guys like Grant Scott and Scott Booth. They both understand Scottish women’s football.” Les commented: “The SFA needs to be far more careful when handing out management contracts. This entire affair is going to cost a lot of money that should be used to grow the women’s game.” Desmond stated: “About time he went. Football has been terrible. There are players who should never be wearing a Scotland jersey.”