Sébastien Pocognoli looks increasingly likely to be the next man in charge of Scotland. After Steve Clarke stepped down after seven years in the hot seat following the World Cup, the Scottish FA are set to appoint their first foreign boss since Berti Vogts more than 25 years ago.
Pocognoli is the leading choice to lead the nation into the upcoming Nations League campaign, then set about making sure Scotland qualify for Euro 2028 as co-hosts.
Early life and playing career
Born in Seraing, Belgium in Liege Provence, Wallonia, on August 1 1987, Pocognoli is 39 years old. His nickname is 'Poco'. He is of Italian descent and initially didn't like football until his father, who worked next to the Standard Liege stadium, influenced him.
His first dream was to become an archaeologist: "I've always been interested in travel, culture, and adventure. Humanity inspires me."
The left back started as a youth player with Standard Liege in 2000. He went pro with Genk four years later before moving to AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands in 2007. He won the Eredivisie title the following year under Louis van Gaal.
Coaching influences and style
Pocognoli cites Van Gaal as his biggest coaching influence: "He taught me the most, tactically and technically. He had a very direct way of communicating, which shocked me a little at first."
He made his full Belgium debut in May 2008 after playing at U16, 17, 19 and 21 levels, as well as the 2008 Olympics, and won 13 caps in total. He returned to Standard Liege in 2010 and stayed for three years before joining Hannover 96 in Germany.
He moved to the UK with West Bromwich Albion the following year. He had a third stint at hometown club Standard Liege after three years with the Baggies, which also included a loan spell at Brighton. He won the Belgian Cup with Standard, beating former club Genk in the final in 2018 and qualifying for the Europa League.
Managerial rise
He joined Union Saint-Gilloise in 2020 and played seven times before retiring. Union appointed him manager of their Under 21 side. He moved on to coach Genk's Under 18s before taking the same role with the Belgian national team. He returned to USG as head coach in July 2024.
He enjoyed an incredible debut season, leading the club to their first top flight Belgian championship for 90 years. He was headhunted by AS Monaco in October 2025 but was sacked eight months later.
He typically deploys a 3-4-1-2 system and prefers aggressive, attacking play but is willing to be flexible. He places an emphasis on the human element of football: "For me, players are artists. And for an artist to put on a good show, they must be comfortable mentally and physically."
