Scotland have officially announced the appointment of former Belgian international Sebastien Pocognoli as the new manager of the national side. The 39‑year‑old coach, who steered Union Saint‑Gilloise to an historic Belgian First Division title in the 2024‑25 season, has signed a two‑year contract to replace Steve Clarke. Pocognoli entered the role as a free agent after parting ways with Monaco in early June. During his playing career he earned 13 caps for Belgium and featured for a number of clubs across Europe, including KRC Genk, AZ Alkmaar – where he lifted the Eredivisie under the guidance of Louis van Gaal – Standard Liège, Hannover 96, West Bromwich Albion, Brighton & Hove Albion and finally Union Saint‑Gilloise.
His experience as a left‑back gave him a solid understanding of both defensive organisation and attacking support, traits he hopes to translate into his coaching philosophy. While his résumé includes a brief stint managing Belgium’s U16 and U18 youth sides, this will be Pocognoli’s first senior international appointment and only his third head‑coaching role at senior club level. He previously spent a season in charge of Union Saint‑Gilloise’s first team, where he guided the club to its first league crown in 90 years and earned the Belgian Coach of the Year award in 2025.
Prior to that, he held developmental positions with his former club Genk’s U‑18 side and served as head coach of USG’s Under‑21s. His brief spell at Monaco as head coach ended in June after the club decided to move in a different direction, despite securing qualification for European competition. Clarke’s tenure ended after leading Scotland to their first World Cup appearance since 1998, a campaign that concluded with a solitary win and an early exit at the group stage.
The Tartan Army’s passionate support, however, remains a hallmark of Scottish football, and Pocognoli expressed his admiration for that fervour in his introductory remarks. "It is a genuine honour to be asked to take charge of the Scotland national team," Pocognoli said. "When I first learned of the interest, I was immediately excited about the opportunity.
The Scottish fans are renowned for their passion – we saw that most recently at the World Cup in the United States – and I experienced a similar atmosphere as a player for Belgium when we played there in 2013." He went on to outline his immediate priorities, noting that the coaching staff will work tirelessly to build a side that the nation can be proud of while continuing the progress made by his predecessor. "Since negotiations began, I have been doing a lot of research, asking many questions and identifying areas where we can improve.
I am hugely excited by the prospect and look forward to working with the players to achieve even more success," he added. With the first training camp looming, Pocognoli stressed the importance of preparation for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. "We don't have long until the first camp, so the coming weeks will be spent preparing for the Nations League and putting those plans into action on the training pitch when we meet next month," he explained. British football followers will recognise Pocognoli from his playing days in England.
He made 21 Premier League appearances for West Bromwich Albion over two seasons before moving on loan to Brighton, then competing in the Championship. Earlier in his career, he was part of AZ Alkmaar’s title‑winning side in 2009 and later contributed to Standard Liège’s Belgian Cup triumph in 2018 during a second spell with the club. He retired from playing in his early thirties after a second stint at Standard.
His post‑playing career began at Union Saint‑Gilloise, a club owned in part by Brighton’s chairman Tony Bloom, who also holds a minority stake in Hearts. Pocognoli first took charge of the club’s Under‑21s before returning to Genk to manage their U‑18 squad and assisting with Belgium’s youth national teams. In the summer of 2024 he was promoted to head coach of USG’s senior side, leading them to their first league title in nine decades and guiding them to their inaugural Champions League appearances. During his successful season with USG, Pocognoli’s team faced Rangers in the Europa League, suffering a narrow 2‑1 defeat on Scottish soil – an encounter that likely helped him become familiar with the Scottish football environment.
After his award‑winning season, he accepted the Monaco job in October of the previous year, but his tenure ended on 1 June when the club opted for a new direction. Looking ahead, Pocognoli acknowledges the challenges of taking over a national side with high expectations. He intends to blend his tactical knowledge, honed in Belgium, the Netherlands and England, with the distinctive character of Scottish football.
His focus will be on establishing a solid defensive foundation, encouraging fluid attacking play, and fostering a strong team spirit that reflects the passion of the Scottish supporters. Fans can anticipate his first squad selection and tactical approach to be revealed in the upcoming training camp, where he will assess the current pool of players, integrate promising young talent, and begin shaping a cohesive unit for the Nations League and future qualifying campaigns. The appointment marks a new chapter for Scotland, as they aim to build on recent progress and strive for consistent success on the international stage.