SCOTLAND No2 John Carver has landed a shock new manager’s job in Europe.

But his new club have confirmed he will REMAIN as assistant to Steve Clarke for Scotland at the Nations League play-off with Greece in March.

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Carver has been appointed manager of struggling Polish side Lechia Gdansk in a surprise move.

He was in Warsaw last month and helped coach the Scots to a last-gasp 2-1 win against Poland to avoid automatic relegation.

And he’s been tempted back into his first manager’s job in seven years after he was sacked by Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia in 2017 by the club’s technical director, former Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell.

Lechia Gdansk are currently second bottom in the Polish league after just two league wins all season.

They stated: “John Carver is the new manager of Lechia Gdansk. The 59-year-old coach from England has taken over as first-team coach.

“The contract runs until the end of the 2024/25 season with the option to extend it for another year.

“Lechia has reached an agreement with the Scottish Federation for John Carver to start working for the club immediately.

“At the same time, the club and the federation have agreed that during the international break in March 2025, coach Carver will be present in the Scotland team’s staff for the play-off double-header with Greece.”

Former Newcastle United No.2 and caretaker boss Carver will be introduced to the media on Thursday and will be in charge for the first time next week against Slask Wroclaw.

Carver first joined up with Clarke in the Scotland coaching set-up in 2020.

He became assistant boss with boyhood club Newcastle under Bobby Robson, before having a stint as caretaker boss in 2004.

Coaching spells at Leeds and Luton followed, before be became permanent manager for the first time with Toronto FC in 2008.

He resigned after just over a year in charge and returned to England.

Carver returned to Newcastle in 2011 and took over as interim manager in January 2015, successfully steering the Magpies to safety in the Premier League.

John Carver’s career

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne on January 16, 1965

Came through youth ranks at Newcastle before making senior debut with Cardiff City in 1985

Injury ended his professional career aged 20 although he went on to play for Gateshead at semi-pro levle

Worked his way through coaching ranks at Newcastle and became No2 to Sir Bobby Robson

Landed first permanent role as a manager with Toronto FC in 2008

Carver has had coaching spells with Leeds, Luton, Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield United

After returning to Newcastle, he became interim manager in 2015 and led the club to Premier League safety

He left Newcastle and became manager of Omonia in Cyprus in June 2016 but was sacked after just nine months in charge

Carver became Scotland assistant manager in August 2020 after Alex Dyer landed permanent role as Kilmarnock boss

More recently, Carver joined SunSport’s Derek McGregor for an exclusive chat in our brilliant One-on-One series.

You can catch that interview in full on our Scottish Sun Sport YouTube channel.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page