“The football as a standalone 90 minutes was incredible, but when you add the additional context of having not been to a finals since 1998 and the disappointment that everybody felt on Saturday when we lost in Athens.
“To then have the high of actually still having a chance and watching the game unfold the way it did, it was just an absolutely incredible night and, for me, it’s got to be the best night in the history of Scottish football.”
It was a third qualification to a major finals for Clarke since he took over the national team in 2019.
“Steve has been incredible – our greatest ever manager,” Maxwell suggested. “Three tournaments out of four is just an incredible return and I’m absolutely delighted for him.”
He insisted the SFA never wavered in their support of Clarke, even after Scotland finished bottom of their group with one point at the 2024 Euro finals.
“A lot of people didn’t want him to be the manager anymore and it’s brilliant to see nights like that because it does ratify that decision and make you, I suppose, proud of the decision to keep him because he’s been a massive part of us getting to the World Cup,” Maxwell said.
“He’s been incredible. When we appointed him six years ago, if anybody said this was going to be how the next six years would look, we would’ve all bitten your hand off for it.”
Clarke’s contract expires at the end of next summer’s World Cup campaign and, having previously said he was 75% sure he would leave at the end of his current deal, the 62-year-old admitted post-match on Tuesday that “the door is always open” to an extension.
It appears likely that decision will come after playing in the Americas.
“That’s a conversation for another day,” Maxwell said. “This is just about enjoying the moment, enjoying qualification and getting ready for what will be an unforgettable summer.
“Let’s just prepare as properly as we can, see how we get on in the tournament and we’ll take it from there.”
The SFA is also expected to receive a significant cash bonus as reward for qualification and Maxwell thinks it can be a turning point for Scottish football in terms of boosting the national game.
However, he added: “I’ve not spent any time thinking about the finances, I’ve genuinely not.
“You’re always reticent to look too far into it in case you start to jinx things, but as an association, we’ve made no secret that facilities are a real priority for us.”
