Sebastien Pocognoli Set to Replace Steve Clarke as Scotland Head Coach

Sebastien Pocognoli has emerged as the Scottish FA’s leading choice to replace Steve Clarke, with talks advancing and an appointment expected soon.

The 39-year-old Belgian, who left Monaco at the end of last season, has impressed the Hampden hierarchy during discussions with chief executive Ian Maxwell and newly installed chief football officer Craig Mulholland. He is one of several candidates sounded out, but the former defender is now viewed as the preferred option to take charge of the national team.

Time is already ticking. Scotland return to competitive action in the Nations League with a demanding four-game run, starting away to Slovenia on 26 September. The FA want a new head coach in place well before that window opens, and the sense around the process is that a decision is close.

Pocognoli’s coaching reputation soared when he led Union Saint-Gilloise to a historic league title in 2024-25, ending a 90-year wait for the Brussels club. That achievement, coupled with his recent experience in charge of Monaco, has marked him out as one of Europe’s sharp, modern coaches on the rise.

He also brings a familiarity with British football from his playing days. Pocognoli spent part of his career in England with West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion, and won 13 caps for Belgium, adding international pedigree to his profile.

If appointed, he would become only the second foreign manager of the Scotland men’s team, following German coach Berti Vogts’ spell in charge. It would be a significant break from tradition and a clear statement about the direction the Scottish FA want to take.

Clarke’s departure created a sizeable void. He had signed a new four-year contract in May but stepped down after Scotland’s group-stage exit at the World Cup, bringing an end to a seven-year tenure that reshaped expectations around the national side.

Now the search has narrowed, the stakes are clear. With a new Nations League campaign looming and a squad accustomed to tournament football, the next man in the dugout will inherit both opportunity and pressure. All signs point to Pocognoli being handed that task.