Pedro Martinez Losa’s exit might have seemed inevitable given Scotland’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive major finals, their second during his watch.
But the fact the 48-year-old head coach was handed a contract extension until 2027 just 15 months ago appeared to give him a possible lifeline.
That the Scottish FA has acted so quickly after this month’s Euro 2025 play-off defeat by Finland suggests a loss of faith in the Spaniard’s ability to take his side the much-promised stage further.
The nine-game unbeaten run that preceded the second-leg defeat in Helsinki counted for nothing as SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell stressed that the former Arsenal boss had failed in his “primary objective” of qualifying for a major tournament.
So where does it leave a squad who have nevertheless been promoted back to the Nations League’s top-flight?
‘Ultimately, it looks like a failure’
Following his departure, Martinez Losa insisted he remained “immensely proud” of a three-and-a-half-year tenure during which he reckoned young talent had flourished.
A couple of days before his exit, Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir, who had deputised as captain during Rachel Corsie’s injury absence, also insisted Martinez Losa retained the “respect” of his squad despite a latest setback that had “hit a lot players very hard”.
However, behind the scenes, there had been doubts within the squad for some time, perhaps since his very appointment, and lingering concerns about his side’s style of play.
The decision by midfielder Kim Little, probably Scotland’s greatest women footballer, to call time on her 140-cap international career at the age of 31 to concentrate on playing for Arsenal was an early blow to Martinez Losa’s tenure.
There were still expectations that a side built around Weir, Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert and a growing number of players being exported to England and other top leagues would continue to improve.
During Martinez Losa’s time in charge, though, he only oversaw one competitive win over a top-30 side – Austria in the 2023 World Cup semi-final play-off before a surprise loss at home to Republic of Ireland ended another bid to reach a major tournament.
Ironically, Austria will be his successor’s first opponents, followed by the Netherlands and Germany, as the Nations League begins in February.
The final straw came after the latest defeat by a Finland side three places lower in the rankings, albeit the relative positions were skewed by the Scots’ recent fixtures being against lesser opposition while Marko Saloranta’s side were being relegated from the tougher League A.
Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton thinks questions were always going to be asked given the Spaniard had been tasked with ending that major tournament drought.
“For Pedro, it was a mixed bag,” she told BBC Scotland. “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.
“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 suggests the SFA “will be looking for someone with the highest level of experience they can get”, which is likely to require the candidate to have Uefa pro licence, thus ruling out a number of potential candidates.
“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 said.
“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.”
Who is next?
Jane Lewis, BBC Scotland Sport
So who are among the early runners and riders, especially given finances could come into play? Will the SFA be open to another foreign recruit, or will they look closer to home?
Brian Graham: Still playing centre-forward for Partick Thistle in the Scottish Championship, the 37-year-old said after Friday’s defeat by Livingston “it was nice to be mentioned” but described his candidature as “pure speculation”. He has led the Glasgow club’s women to back-to-back top-six finishes in the Scottish Women’s Premier League and an appearance in a League Cup final.
Mick McArdle: The SFA’s new girls’ and women’s performance manager has worked within Scottish football for almost three decades with St Mirren, Falkirk and Ayr United, holds a Uefa pro licence and recently has been coaching the Scotland Under-19 and Under-23 sides to good effect.
Leanne Ross: The current Scotland assistant is probably the obvious choice. Has won domestic trophies aplenty as a Glasgow City defender and current manager, as well as earning 133 Scotland caps.
Grant Scott: Having coached a several Scottish clubs, he is overseeing Hibernian’s transition from a part-time to full-time club and his improving side are currently fifth in the Scottish top flight.
‘About time. Football’s been horrible’
We asked for your views on Martinez Losa’s sacking and who you think should replace him. Here’s what some of you said:
Hugh: Should have been done sooner. We would have qualified. As for golden generation. No way. We have far better players to pick from.
Ian: It’s about time. He should have left a lot earlier. The manager position should definitely go to Duncan Ferguson.
David M: 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: 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: 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: I sincerely hope the SFA don’t take seven months to find a replacement like they did last time.
Paul: The people who decided to give him a contract extension should also go. Clear out the SFA dinosaurs.
Anon: We should be appointing guys like Grant Scott and Scott Booth. They both understand Scottish women’s football.
Les: 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: About time he went. Football has been terrible. There are players who should never be wearing a Scotland jersey.
