Sebastien Pocognoli named new Scotland head coach - 'I am excited about the opportunity'

The Belgian has signed an initial two-year deal with the Scottish Football Association and takes over from Clarke, who stepped down after seven years in charge following Scotland’s World Cup exit in June.

Pocognoli is the former Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco head coach and he was linked with the Hearts job during the summer. He was identified through a data-led approach by the SFA involving the use of analytics.

The 39-year-old, described by the SFA as “one of Europe’s brightest emerging coaching talents”, becomes only the country’s second non-Scottish manager and the first since German Berti Vogts, who held the position between 2002 and 2004.

He will name his maiden Scotland squad next month and take charge of the team for the first time away to Slovenia in the Nations League on September 26 before making his Hampden bow against Switzerland three days later.

“It’s an honour to be asked to become the head coach of the Scotland national team,” Pocognoli, who won 13 caps for Belgium as a player, said in a statement released by the SFA on Sunday.

“When I first heard of the interest, I was immediately excited about the opportunity. Scotland’s supporters are famous for their passion – most recently at the World Cup in the USA - and I have experienced it myself as a player for Belgium when we played in 2013.

“Along with my coaching staff, I will do everything I can to give them a team to be proud of and build on the success that has been achieved already by my predecessor.

“Since negotiations began, I have been doing a lot of research, asking a lot of questions and looking at areas that we can build on. I am hugely excited by the prospect and look forward to working with the players to achieve even more success.

“We don’t have long until the first camp, so the coming weeks will be spent preparing for the UEFA Nations League and putting those plans into action on the training pitch when we meet up next month.”

What Ian Maxwell had to say

Pocognoli won the Belgian Pro League with Union Saint-Gilloise - their first title in 90 years - in season 2024-25 and also won the Belgian Super Cup. He was appointed head coach of Monaco in October last year but was sacked in June after a seventh place finish in Ligue 1.

Ian Maxwell, the Scottish FA’s chief executive, added: “We are delighted to have Sébastien on board. He was the standout candidate from a thorough process: a very impressive individual, with a real desire to take on the role and a clear vision for how he wants to go about it.

“Sébastien inherits a talented squad who just took us to a first FIFA World Cup in 28 years, and I’d like to reiterate my thanks to Steve Clarke and his staff for their work and the foundations they’ve put in place. I’m excited to see how we build on that ahead of a new UEFA Nations League campaign.”

Pocognoli inherits a Scotland side that qualified for three major finals under Clarke including back-to-back European Championships in 2021 and 2024 and a first World Cup in 28 years this summer.

All three finals ended in group stage exits and the Tartan Army will hope the new man can lead the national side into the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in history when the country co-hosts Euro 2028.

Craig Mulholland, the recently-appointed SFA chief football officer, who led the search, has backed Pocognoli to be a success.

“Sébastien’s appointment is an exciting moment for Scottish football,” he said. “He is one of Europe’s brightest and most sought-after coaches.

“He will bring an aggressive, front-foot style of play that will excite supporters. He will now build on the outstanding work and excellent foundations left by Steve Clarke and his staff.

“While our extensive search was informed by data and insight – and Sébastien’s metrics matched what we believe necessary to enhance and evolve from a position of strength – it’s as important to us that his personality and character will allow him to connect with a fantastic group of players.

“I am delighted we have secured a talent like Sébastien and I look forward to this exciting journey ahead – starting next month.”

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. The SFA confirmed that his backroom staff will be announced in due course.

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.

“I know him pretty well,” revealed the former Gent boss after the 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. “