Aug 17, 2026
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Former Belgium defender Sebastien Pocognoli has been named the new manager of the Scotland men's football team, succeeding Steve Clarke.

ManyPress

ManyPress

ManyPress Editorial

2 min readSource:BBC Sport
Sebastien Pocognoli Appointed as New Scotland Manager

Key facts

  • Sebastien Pocognoli is 39 years old.
  • He is the second foreign manager in the history of the Scotland men's team.
  • Pocognoli previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to a league title in the 2024-25 season.
  • Steve Clarke left the position after a seven-year reign.
  • Scotland's recent World Cup campaign included a win against Haiti and losses to Morocco and Brazil.

Sebastien Pocognoli, 39, was confirmed as the new Scotland manager on Sunday and officially introduced to the media on Monday. The former Belgium defender takes over from Steve Clarke, who concluded his seven-year tenure earlier this summer following Scotland's exit from the World Cup group stage.

Background and Coaching Experience

Pocognoli joins the Scotland setup after departing Monaco at the end of the previous season. During the 2024-25 season, he managed Union Saint-Gilloise, leading the club to their first league title in 90 years. He is the second foreign manager to lead the Scotland men's team, following German coach Berti Vogts.

Goals for the National Team

At his introductory press conference alongside Scottish Football Association officials Ian Maxwell and Craig Mulholland, Pocognoli emphasized the importance of the country's passionate football culture. He stated his intention to build upon the foundation established by Clarke, focusing on developing players for the future and refining the team's style of play.

Timeline

  1. 2024-25
    Pocognoli led Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years.
  2. Sunday
    Pocognoli was confirmed as the new Scotland manager.
  3. Monday
    Pocognoli was introduced to the media.

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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Sport.

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