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Sébastien Pocognoli appointed Scotland Men’s National Team Head Coach Sébastien Pocognoli takes charge of Scotland, bringing fresh ideas and an ambitious, attacking approach ahead of the UEFA Nations League. The Scottish FA have announced the appointment of Sébastien Pocognoli as the new Head Coach of the Scotland Men’s National Team. The 39-year-old has signed an initial two-year deal and will begin work ahead of Scotland’s UEFA Nations League campaign which kicks off next month. He takes over from Steve Clarke, who left the position at the end of June after Scotland’s disappointing World Cup campaign. Pocognoli becomes only the second foreign manager to take charge of the Scotland national team, following on from German Berti Vogts who managed Scotland from 2002 to 2004. The Belgian coach has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young managers in European football. In his first senior managerial role, he led Union Saint-Gilloise to the Belgian Pro League title, ending the club’s 90-year wait for a championship. His achievements that season also included the club’s first appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stages and victory in the Belgian Super Cup. Those successes earned Pocognoli the Belgian Coach of the Year award and led to his appointment as manager of AS Monaco in 2025. Pocognoli brings considerable experience from both sides of the touchline. He represented Belgium 13 times and played as a left-back for a number of clubs across Europe, including Genk, AZ Alkmaar, Standard Liège, Hannover 96, West Bromwich Albion, Brighton & Hove Albion and Union Saint-Gilloise. During his time with AZ Alkmaar, he won the Eredivisie under Louis van Gaal. After retiring in 2021, he moved into coaching, working with Union Saint-Gilloise’s Under-21s, Genk’s Under-18s and the Belgian Under-18 team before taking his first senior managerial position. Speaking after his appointment, Pocognoli said he was proud to take charge of Scotland and eager to begin working with the squad. “This is a huge honour and an opportunity I am incredibly excited about. Scotland has supporters with an extraordinary passion for the national team. I saw that first-hand when I played against Scotland for Belgium in 2013, and it was clear again during the recent World Cup in the USA. “My coaching staff and I will work tirelessly to give the supporters a team they can identify with and be proud of. We also want to continue the progress made under Steve Clarke and his staff. “Since discussions began, I have spent time learning about the team, asking questions and identifying where we can improve. There is a lot to look forward to, but we know the work starts immediately. “The first camp is not far away, so our focus over the next few weeks will be preparing for the UEFA Nations League and ensuring we are ready to make the most of our time together next month.” Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said Pocognoli had emerged as the leading candidate after an extensive selection process. “Sébastien made a particularly strong impression throughout the process. He is a highly motivated coach with a clear understanding of the challenge ahead and a well-defined approach to the role. “He takes over a talented squad that has secured Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years. Steve Clarke and his staff deserve great credit for the work they have done and the platform they have created. “Our aim now is to build on that progress as Scotland enters a new Nations League cycle.” Chief Football Officer, Craig Mulholland, believes that Pocognoli will bring a fresh dimension to the national team. “This is an important and exciting appointment for Scottish football. Sébastien has developed a reputation as one of the outstanding young coaches in Europe. “His teams play with intensity, ambition and a clear desire to take the game to their opponents. That front-foot approach should appeal to Scotland supporters. “The recruitment process involved detailed analysis of performance data, and Sébastien’s profile aligned closely with the qualities we were seeking. Just as importantly, we were impressed by his character and his ability to build strong relationships with players. “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with him and are looking forward to seeing the next stage of Scotland’s development begin next month.” The Scottish FA will announce Pocognoli’s coaching staff at a later date.