Scotland to appoint new manager in change of direction
Scotland are set to appoint former Belgium international Sébastien Pocognoli as the new manager of the men’s national team.
The 39-year-old has emerged as the Scottish FA’s choice to succeed Steve Clarke and is expected to be formally unveiled in the coming days.
Pocognoli is understood to have accepted the opportunity to take charge. He would become only the second foreign manager in Scotland’s history, and the first since German Berti Vogts left the job in 2004.
His appointment would represent a significant change of direction for the national team following Clarke’s seven-year spell in charge.
The former Kilmarnock manager stepped down in June after Scotland were eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage.
Scotland opened the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Haiti before defeats against Morocco and Brazil left them third in their group. Clarke departed despite having signed a new contract shortly before the tournament which had been intended to take him through to the 2030 World Cup.
Pocognoli arrives with a growing reputation after making an immediate impact in his first senior managerial job with Union Saint-Gilloise.
The former left-back took charge of the Brussels club in the summer of 2024 and led them to the Belgian championship in his first season – their first league title in 90 years.
Union collected 28 points from a possible 30 during the championship play-offs, while Pocognoli was named the Belgian Pro League’s Coach of the Year.
That success earned him a move to Monaco in October 2025, signing a contract with the Ligue 1 club until 2027. His spell in France proved considerably shorter, however, and he left the club in June after around eight months in charge.
Pocognoli won 13 caps for Belgium and played for clubs including Standard Liège, Genk, AZ Alkmaar and Hannover 96, as well as West Bromwich Albion and Brighton in England.
His imminent arrival follows a search led by Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell and chief football officer Craig Mulholland. Steven Naismith had been among the names strongly linked with succeeding Clarke, while former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand and Jon Dahl Tomasson were also reported as potential candidates.
Scotland begin their UEFA Nations League campaign away to Slovenia on 26 September before Pocognoli is expected to take charge at Hampden for the first time when Switzerland visit Glasgow three days later.
Scotland are set to appoint former Belgium international Sébastien Pocognoli as the new manager of the men’s national team.
The 39-year-old has emerged as the Scottish FA’s choice to succeed Steve Clarke and is expected to be formally unveiled in the coming days.
Pocognoli is understood to have accepted the opportunity to take charge. He would become only the second foreign manager in Scotland’s history, and the first since German Berti Vogts left the job in 2004.
His appointment would represent a significant change of direction for the national team following Clarke’s seven-year spell in charge.
The former Kilmarnock manager stepped down in June after Scotland were eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage.
Scotland opened the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Haiti before defeats against Morocco and Brazil left them third in their group. Clarke departed despite having signed a new contract shortly before the tournament which had been intended to take him through to the 2030 World Cup.
Pocognoli arrives with a growing reputation after making an immediate impact in his first senior managerial job with Union Saint-Gilloise.
The former left-back took charge of the Brussels club in the summer of 2024 and led them to the Belgian championship in his first season – their first league title in 90 years.
Union collected 28 points from a possible 30 during the championship play-offs, while Pocognoli was named the Belgian Pro League’s Coach of the Year.
That success earned him a move to Monaco in October 2025, signing a contract with the Ligue 1 club until 2027. His spell in France proved considerably shorter, however, and he left the club in June after around eight months in charge.
Pocognoli won 13 caps for Belgium and played for clubs including Standard Liège, Genk, AZ Alkmaar and Hannover 96, as well as West Bromwich Albion and Brighton in England.
His imminent arrival follows a search led by Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell and chief football officer Craig Mulholland. Steven Naismith had been among the names strongly linked with succeeding Clarke, while former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand and Jon Dahl Tomasson were also reported as potential candidates.
Scotland begin their UEFA Nations League campaign away to Slovenia on 26 September before Pocognoli is expected to take charge at Hampden for the first time when Switzerland visit Glasgow three days later.