Sebastien Pocognoli ready to feel Hampden love as family loyalties split between three countries

The branding on the walls in the bowels of Hampden Park says it all. “Our home,” reads the slogan. As of Tuesday night, it will really begin to feel like Sebastien Pocognoli is in the house.

The Belgian will walk out with his team and hear the Hampden Roar for the first time as Scotland manager. He has already played at the stadium – for Belgium, 13 years ago.

There wasn’t much roaring heard that night, however. Not from Scotland fans at least. The hosts lost 2-0 and ended a miserable night at the bottom of their World Cup qualifying group.

Belgium's Sebastien Pocognoli (L) makes his way over to the travelling fans at full time after the 2-0 win over Scotland at Hampden in September 2013. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602

Pocognoli stretched his legs as a second-half substitute, and Kevin Mirallas secured the points with a goal near the end. Pocognoli put it very delicately when recalling the experience at his unveiling last month. “It was not the same moment for Scottish football…."

Belief among fans is stronger now. Expectations are higher. While the crowd against Belgium that night was a decent enough 36,000, there will be more inside the stadium to watch Pocognoli’s Hampden bow against Switzerland. An attendance of around 45,000 is expected.

Sadly, that number will not include the likeable manager's two children. Pocognoli will feel the love from the Scotland supporters. After all, he is still unbeaten following Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Slovenia in his first game. But Pocognoli is already under pressure from William and Naomi, aged ten and seven respectively.

“It was planned that my kids would come (to the game),” he explained. “But they have to go to school.”

‘They will be wearing the shirts...’

After Pocognoli joined Monaco a year ago next month his family relocated from Belgium as well.

“But I was proactive – I asked the school in Belgium that in case we have to come back can you keep a place open for them?” he continued. “They said yes. Unfortunately that is what happened! So my credit is way down! They have to stay at school.

“It is a pity but they will be in front of the screen," he added. "Like against Slovenia, they will be wearing the shirts.”

William and Naomi have become used to transferring their loyalties between clubs and countries.

“My son loves football, he supports me wherever I am,” said Pocognoli. “He has come with me on the pitch with all my positions in football as coach. He just embraces the football. My daughter supports me but when the game is finished she does not like to hear about football.

“For her, football is the reason I am not there and so sometimes she does not like it. We are quite a stable family. They support me, I am very lucky.”

Union SG head coach Sebastien Pocognoli celebrates as he leaves the pitch with his son after winning the Belgian "Pro League" First Division playoff against Genk at the Joseph Marien Stadium, in Brussels on May 3, 2025. | BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

If Scotland play Belgium – or DR Congo – there might be some conflict. Pocognoli’s wife Sandrine is half-Congolese. Their son has a wardrobe full of football tops. “At the World Cup it was Congo and Belgium,” recalled Pocognoli. “When Congo were out he put the Belgium shirt on again, so that was quite funny.”

Pocognoli has enjoyed a relatively gentle introduction to his new life as Scotland manager. It will get trickier, undoubtedly. Maybe as soon as Tuesday night if Scotland draw another blank in front of goal.

But spare a thought for Murat Yakin, the Switzerland manager. He started this international break by being quizzed about fake Covid documents, of all things. Skipper Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo were removed from the squad following revelations about false test results dating back to 2022.

Yakin’s absence from the team’s pre-match press conference at Hampden was therefore perhaps understandable. However, it emerged he excused himself due to an ear pressure issue after Switzerland’s longer than planned journey from North Macedonia, where they played on Saturday.

A baggage weight miscalculation meant the team's plane was too heavy. It had to lose fuel en route, which meant stopping in Zurich to refuel. At least Yakin watched his players enjoy a straightforward 3-0 victory in Skopje in their opening Nations League game.

Even when missing key players, the World Cup quarter-finalists are a fearsome proposition. They are the real deal and represent Pocognoli’s first proper test. The Slovenians were awkward customers but they are ranked 56 in the world.

The Swiss are currently at 14, sandwiched between Germany and Italy. Scotland do at least have home advantage.

Sebastien Pocognoli takes charge of training (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Pocognoli arranged for his players to train at Hampden on Monday rather than at nearby Lesser Hampden. A much-changed squad means several players, including new call-up Luis Binks, have never played at the national stadium. Pocognoli, too, wanted to reacquaint himself further with the stadium.

He knows his prospects as Scotland manager will hinge on the outcome of matches played on the pitch. Without a goal in their last three matches, Scotland could at least do with scoring on their return to home turf.

The returning Oli McBurnie has not played in front of a crowd at Hampden since a 2-1 defeat by Russia seven years ago. His more recent appearances were during Covid times, when games were played behind closed doors.

The striker will have been reminded of those times on Monday as he trained at an empty Hampden. Pocognoli reported that it was still possible to feel the power of the surroundings.

“You can see it is an old stadium because of the shape,” he said. “You can feel the history. It gives good energy.”

Although Pocognoli has some experience of playing at the stadium, he cannot match his assistant Alan Irvine’s relationship with Mount Florida. It’s where Irvine started his career before signing for Everton in 1981.

“Alan explained a lot,” said Pocognoli. “He used to play here for Queen’s Park. He told me he used to play in the stadium and it was a fantastic story. I just listened to him. That is why his value on the staff is so important. He can tell me things maybe I don’t feel right now. It is a historic place and it will be a uniting moment for Glasgow tomorrow. We will have a good time!”