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Pocognoli replaces Clarke
Scotland confirmed the appointment of Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli as head coach on a two-year contract, replacing Steve Clarke after Scotland’s World Cup group-stage elimination.
“Scotland have officially confirmed the appointment of Sebastien Pocognoli as their new head coach on a two-year contract”
The Scottish Football Association said Pocognoli, a 39-year-old, would lead Scotland into the forthcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, and Teleprensa reported the announcement came on Sunday, 16 August 2026 (21:42 h.).
Pocognoli takes over from Clarke, who had been in charge for seven years and departed after Scotland “suffered an early elimination” from the World Cup, managing “just one victory in three matches,” according to Goal.
In his first comments after the appointment, Pocognoli said: "It's an honour to be asked to become the head coach of the Scotland national team."
Style, passion, and process
Pocognoli framed the job around the Scottish fanbase, telling reporters: "Scotland's supporters are famous for their passion - most recently at the World Cup in the USA - and I have experienced it myself as a player for Belgium when we played in 2013."
Scottish FA chief football officer Craig Mulholland said Pocognoli would “bring an aggressive, front-foot style of play that will excite supporters,” and RTE.ie described the appointment as an “exciting moment for Scottish football.”
The Scottish FA also described Pocognoli as “one of Europe’s brightest emerging coaching talents,” and Newsday said he was hired after being fired by Monaco on June 1.
As the handover begins, Pocognoli said, "Since negotiations began, I have been doing a lot of research, asking a lot of questions and looking at areas that we can build on."
Nations League starts next
Scotland’s first matches under Pocognoli are set for the UEFA Nations League at the end of September, with Newsday saying his first matches in charge will be against Slovenia and Switzerland.
“Scotland travelling to Slovenia on Saturday, 26 September before hosting Switzerland the following Tuesday”
The BBC said Scotland travel to Slovenia on Saturday, 26 September, before hosting Switzerland the following Tuesday, and it also described a four-game camp spanning three weeks across the end of September and start of October.
The stakes for Pocognoli include building on Clarke’s record of taking Scotland to back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup, while the BBC said patience could be required as Scotland shift toward a more possession-based approach.
Looking further ahead, the Goal report said the long-term objective is navigating qualification processes to secure places at the 2028 European Championship and the 2030 World Cup, with the Nations League serving as his first taste of international football as a head coach.
