Scotland set to appoint 'bold and demanding' 39 y/o previously linked to Hearts as Steve Clarke's successor
Scotland set to be name 39-year-old as new head coach.
Former AS Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is set to be appointed as the new Scotland head coach after emerging as the shock candidate to replace Steve Clarke over the weekend.
Pocognoli, 39, who left the Ligue 1 side in early June, is understood to be the Scottish FA’s choice to lead the national team according to an exclusive report from the Scottish Sun, as they seek to replace Clarke, who resigned from his role after seven years in the job amid Scotland’s group stage exit from this summer’s World Cup.
A 13-cap Belgium international, he represented the likes of AZ Alkmaar, West Bromwich Albion and Standard Liege during his during his time as a player, before beginning his coaching career in with Union Saint-Gilloise’s academy setup. A stint with the Genk academy would follow, before he was approached to lead Belgium’s Under-18 squad in 2023.
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After impressive work in the Belgian youth system, he was handed his first job in senior management when he was appointed the permanent 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.
After beating league leaders Club Brugge 1-0 in the penultimate game of the season, he sealed their historic league title with a 3-1 final-day victory over Gent, earning a spot in the Champions League League Phase in the process for the first time in the club’s history. Described as a “bold and demanding modern coach”, the SFA have been working through their shortlist of names to replace Clarke in recent weeks, and appear to have plumped for Pocognoli as they man they want to lead the team going forward.
Amongst the contenders to replace Derek McInnes as head coach of Hearts prior to Wouter Vrancken’s appointment in the summer, the Belgian won 16 of his 38 games in charge of AS Monaco last season, finishing in seventh place in Ligue 1, but was sacked in June after a disappointing end to the season saw Le Rocher fail to qualify for the Champions League.
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