Former Monaco manager and West Brom player Sebastien Pocognoli favourite for Scotland job

Saturday, 15 August 2026 17:22

The former head coach of AS Monaco FC is favourite to become manager of Scotland's men's team.

Sebastien Pocognoli, 39, is understood to be the Scottish Football Association's leading candidate to take over from Steve Clarke.

Clarke led the team to the World Cup but quit after they scored only one goal and failed to reach the knockout phase.

Pocognoli played most of his career in Belgium - his home country - but also spent two seasons with West Bromwich Albion and a season on loan with Brighton in the Championship.

He guided Union Saint-Gilloise (USG) to the Belgian title last year but only lasted eight months at Monaco after a poor run of results at the end of the season saw them miss out on the Champions League.

Managing Scotland would be only his third head coach role in senior men's football, but he did manage Belgium's under-16 and under-18 sides.

His achievement in securing USG's first title in 90 years saw Pocognoli named Belgian coach of the year and put him on the radar of other European sides.

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If confirmed, he could be in charge for Scotland's upcoming Nations League games.

The first is away to Slovenia on 26 September, followed by a home game three days later against Switzerland, and a trip to North Macedonia on 3 October.

Sky News

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