{
  "id": 1316415,
  "title": "Belgian Pocognoli confirmed as Scotland boss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/belgian-pocognoli-confirmed-as-scotland-boss",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T17:40:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/belgian-pocognoli-frontrunner-scotland-boss-135847921.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sebastien Pocognoli, a 39-year-old Belgian former Monaco head coach, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Scotland men's national team. He succeeds Steve Clarke, who recently resigned after Scotland's group-stage exit at the World Cup, ending a seven-year tenure. Pocognoli, who previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to a first league title in 90 years in 2024-25, spent time in England during his playing career and earned 13 caps for Belgium. He joins just the second foreign boss of the Scotland men's team, following German Berti Vogts. Steven Naismith, who served as one of Clarke's assistants, expressed his expectations of continuing in the national team set-up under the new boss.",
  "summary": "Former Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is confirmed as Scotland men's new head coach.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sebastien Pocognoli, 39, appointed as Scotland's new head coach",
    "Succeeds Steve Clarke after World Cup exit",
    "First foreign boss of Scotland men's team since Berti Vogts"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Belgian Pocognoli confirmed as Scotland boss",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/belgian-pocognoli-confirmed-as-scotland-boss-1325460",
        "published": "2026-08-16T17:56:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Belgium's Pocognoli named new Scotland manager",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/belgiums-pocognoli-named-new-scotland-manager",
        "published": "2026-08-16T18:02:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Scotland appoint Belgian Pocognoli as head coach on two-year deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/scotland-appoint-belgian-pocognoli-as-head-coach-on-two-year-deal",
        "published": "2026-08-16T18:12:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}