Who is Sebastien Pocognoli? 'The Belgian Simeone' described as a 'champion' who is Scotland's new manager

Former AS Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is the shock replacement for Scotland manager Steve Clarke, with a deal expected to be rubber-stamped in the coming days after talks with the Belgian boss.

The 39-year-old has enjoyed immense success with Belgian Pro League outfit Union Saint-Gilloise in recent years, and was poached by Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco last October. However, a tough run of results saw the former Belgium international relieved of his duties, allowing Scotland to swoop as they searched for a successor to Clarke, who resigned following the squad’s group stage exit from the World Cup in the summer.

Scotland are set to appoint 'the Belgian Simeone' as their next head coach. | AFP via Getty Images

While David Moyes, Steven Naismith and Ange Postecoglou have all been favourites for the role over the last two months, Pocognoli’s odds of becoming the next Scotland manager tumbled over the weekend, with several bookmakers almost instantly installing him as the favourite for the top job at Hampden Park.

Expected to be named Scotland’s new head coach in the coming days, many fans are now asking: who is Sebastien Pocognoli? What has he achieved, and what could he bring to the national team?

Here is everything you need to know about new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli:

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Who is Sebastien Pocognoli?

The former Belgian international turned manager Pocognoli has already won a league title during his two years as a senior head coach. Playing for various clubs, he most notably represented AZ Alkmaar, Standard Liege and West Bromwich Albion during his 18-year career. He began his coaching career by taking charge of Union Saint-Gilloise’s Under-21 side in the immediate aftermath of his retirement in 2021.

After a short stint with Union Saint-Gilloise’s academy, he was poached by Genk to manage their Under-18 side. He later combined that role with the head coach of the Belgium Under-18. After strong work in the Belgian youth system, he was handed his first senior managerial role in the summer of 2024, returning to his former side Union Saint-Gilloise as head coach.

His achievements in the Belgian Pro League saw him snapped up by Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco in October 2025, with the French outfit approaching Pocognoli to replace Adi Hutter. His stint at Stade Louis II wasn’t quite as successful, though. While he guided them into the knockout stages of the Champions League and found success in European competition, his record of just 16 wins from his 38 matches in charge saw him sacked by the club in June after just eight months.

Sebastien Pocognoli win ratio

The 39-year-old head coach’s win ratio is as follows:

• Union Saint-Gilloise: P69 W9 D15 L15 - 56.52%
• AS Monaco: P38 W16 D9 L13 - 56.52%

Sebastien Pocognoli’s reputation

A huge success at Union, his sole season in charge of the club saw him famously guide the club to their first Belgian Pro League title in 90 years, while he also won the Belgian Super Cup. Dubbed “the Belgian Simeone” by the club’s supporters thanks to his pragmatic tactics, demanding mentality, and his habit of dressing entirely in black on matchday, similar to the Atletico Madrid icon. However, it is believed he was more influenced by his time under Netherlands managerial icon Louis van Gaal during their time together at AZ Alkmaar.

Heavily praised by talented young Belgian youth international Fedde Leysen, the 23-year-old hailed Pocognoli as a master at psyching the team up in a positive way before matches. The defender claimed he would take quotes from opposing teams, rival players, and the media and share them with his squad, with the intention of building unity. He was also cited for his strong psychological strategy and his ability to adjust his tactical style for each game.

While his time at AS Monaco wasn’t quite as positive, he still received praise for his work with younger players. Similar to his time in Belgium, the former left-back focused on developing the side's young talent. Aladji Bamba, who signed for Newcastle United in a £34million deal this summer, is said to have benefited from his coaching.

Monaco captain Denis Zakaria also publicly backed Pocognoli’s core principles of being dominant with or without the ball, with a huge demand for aggressive, high work rate and high pressing, which he used to force quick turnovers. He tends to favour a bold 3-4-1-2 formation, and keeps a defensive philosophy that “defenders are dependent on the defensive work of the attackers.”

Pocognoli has already won a league title during his short managerial career. | Getty Images

‘A super guy’ and ‘a champion’

Former Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, who played alongside Pocognoli for the Belgium national team, spoke highly of the prospective new Scotland boss following criticism of his management with AS Monaco as recently as January, praising his ‘champion’ mindset and his ‘quality’ as a coach.

“I played with 'Poco' in the national team,” said Hazard. “I know him very well, he's a super guy. He arrives in a team where there are quite a few injured players. It's not easy. It's a complicated moment. He did a super good job last year in Belgium. He was champion (with Union Saint-Gilloise).

“We just need to give him a bit of time. In football, there isn't much. That's the problem in football. But he has quality as a coach and experience as a player. We just need the injured players to return and for confidence to come back to the group as well."