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Sebastien Pocognoli to be unveiled as new Scotland manager as Hearts boss reveals: 'I know him pretty well' Belgian coach to be appointed successor to Steve Clarke Sebastien Pocognoli is set to be unveiled as the new Scotland manager on Monday. The Belgian has agreed a deal with the Scottish Football Association to become the successor to Steve Clarke, who stepped down after seven years in charge following Scotland's World Cup exit in June. Pocognoli, who was linked with the Hearts vacancy during the summer, emerged as the first-choice candidate following a data-led approach by the SFA involving the use of analytics. The 39-year-old will become only the second non-Scottish manager in the Hampden hotseat and the first since German Berti Vogts, who held the position between 2002 and 2004. A 13-cap Belgium international, the former left-back represented the likes of Standard Liege, West Brom and Brighton during his during his time as a player, before beginning his coaching career with the Union Saint-Gilloise academy setup. A stint with the Genk academy would follow, before he was approached to lead Belgium’s Under-18 squad in 2023. After impressive work in the Belgian youth system, he was handed his first job in senior management when he was appointed head coach of Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2024. In his debut season as manager, Pocognoli was able to guide Les Unionistes to their first league title in 90 years, winning nine of ten matches in the Belgian Championship Playoffs. He moved to Monaco in October last year and won 16 of his 38 games in charge, but was sacked in June after a disappointing end to the season ended in a seventh place finish and failure to qualify for the Champions League. Current Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken played alongside Pocognoli at Genk between 2006 and 2008 and they later managed opposing teams in the Belgian Pro League when Pocognoli took charge of USG and Vrancken managed Gent. “I know him pretty well,” revealed the Hearts boss after his side’s 5-2 win over Inverness in the Premier Sports Cup. “Because I played with him two years I think as a player. He was a young player at the moment. And he was under-18 coach when I was in Genk first team coach. So I know him a bit. But I don't know his coaching. “I know his style of play. Because we played together when he was in Union. And he did really well there. And let's hope when he's a coach or when it's official that he can work with the national team.” Asked if Scotland fans should be excited by the appointment, Vrancken added: “Let's hope. Let's hope. Like I said, I didn't work with him. So I don't know. But his style of play can work I think. His style of play is also pretty physical, direct. So I think it could match. But I think there are other people to decide on these things. I know him just as a good guy. “ Pocognoli is expected to be joined in the Scotland dugout by Kevin Mirallas, the former Everton and Belgium winger, who worked under him at USG and Monaco. Mirallas, capped 60 times by Belgium, scored against Scotland at Hampden in 2013, with Pocognoli coming off the bench. The SFA are also in the process of appointing new head coaches for the Under-21s and Under-17s . Scot Gemmill left his post as Scotland Under-21 role after 13 years last month while McLaughlin departed the Under-17s position after the same length of tenure last week. Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.