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The Scottish Football Association announced the appointment of Sebastien Pocognoli as head coach of the men’s national team on a two-year contract. The 39-year-old Belgian will take charge of the squad ranked 42nd in the world by FIFA for the UEFA Nations League campaign in League B that begins next month. The move was detailed in a statement reported by Qatar News Agency.
Pocognoli most recently served as head coach of French club Monaco. He had guided Union Saint-Gilloise to the Belgian league title in the 2024-25 season, according to Sky Sports. The appointment makes him the first foreign head coach of the Scotland men’s team since Berti Vogts between 2002 and 2004, The Athletic reported.
Steve Clarke resigned in July after Scotland exited the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the group stage. The team had ended a 28-year absence from the finals but recorded one win and two defeats in Group C, UEFA records show. Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 before losing 0-1 to Morocco and 0-3 to Brazil.
Pocognoli said he and his coaching staff will do everything in their power to give Scottish fans a national team they can be proud of, the Qatar News Agency reported. The former Belgium international began his coaching career with Union Saint-Gilloise’s under-21 side after retiring as a player in 2021. He later coached Genk’s under-18 team and Belgium’s under-18 side before returning to Union Saint-Gilloise as manager.
Scotland will compete in League B of the UEFA Nations League starting in September under the new coach. FIFA rankings have positioned the team as a competitive side capable of challenging for promotion from that level. The two-year deal provides stability as the squad builds toward future European Championship and World Cup qualification campaigns.
Pocognoli’s rapid rise in management included winning the Belgian Coach of the Year award in 2025 after his title success. BBC Sport reported that he emerged as the leading candidate following interviews with Scottish FA officials including chief executive Ian Maxwell. His playing career featured 13 caps for Belgium between 2008 and 2014.
