Scotland hires Sebastien Pocognoli, 39, as first foreign boss since 2004
What's next: The Belgian is due to open his tenure in Nations League games at Slovenia on Sept. 26 and home to Switzerland three days later.
Scotland has appointed Belgian coach Sebastien Pocognoli as the successor to Steve Clarke, turning to its first non-Scottish men’s national team manager since Berti Vogts left in 2004. Pocognoli, 39, takes over after Clarke exited following Scotland’s group-stage elimination at the 2026 World Cup.
The Scottish FA is betting on a stylistic reset after seven years under Clarke, whose results included qualification for three major tournaments but whose pragmatic approach drew criticism. Chief football officer Craig Mulholland said Pocognoli would bring a more aggressive, front-foot style. Pocognoli won Union Saint-Gilloise’s first league title in 90 years in 2025 before an eight-month spell at Monaco ended in June.