Scotland hires Pocognoli as coach after Clarke’s departure following World Cup

Glasgow, Scotland (AP) — The Scottish Football Association announced on Sunday that they have appointed Sébastien Pocognoli as the team's new coach, succeeding Steve Clarke. Clarke's departure followed Scotland's early exit from the World Cup, failing to progress beyond their group stage. Pocognoli, a former Belgian international, was recently dismissed by Monaco following a seventh-place finish in the French league and the absence of Champions League qualification.

The 39-year-old Pocognoli has signed a two-year contract with the Scottish FA, which extends through the 2028 European Championship co-hosted by Scotland. The SFA hailed Pocognoli as "one of Europe’s brightest emerging coaching talents," citing his recent success in guiding Union Saint-Gilloise to their first Belgian league title in 90 years in 2025.

Pocognoli expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, noting the fervor of Scotland's supporters during the country's first World Cup appearance in 28 years. SFA chief football officer Craig Mulholland stated that Pocognoli will bring an "aggressive, front-foot style of play" to the national team. Pocognoli's inaugural matches with Scotland will be part of the Nations League, kicking off in late September against Slovenia and Switzerland.