Belgian Pocognoli frontrunner to be Scotland boss

Former Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been identified by the Scottish FA as their prime candidate to replace Steve Clarke.

The 39-year-old Belgian, who left Monaco at the end of last season, previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to a first league title in 90 years in 2024-25.

Pocognoli is one of several candidates to have been spoken to by Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell and Craig Mulholland, who was appointed as the association's chief football officer in May.

And it is thought an appointment could be imminent, with Scotland returning to action in the Nations League with a four-game block of fixtures, starting in Slovenia on 26 September.

Pocognoli spent time in England during his playing career, turning out for West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion, and earned 13 caps for Belgium.

He would become just the second foreign boss of the Scotland men's team, after German Berti Vogts.

Clarke - who had signed a new four-year deal in May - resigned following the group-stage exit at the World Cup, ending his seven-year tenure.

Steven Naismith, who served as one of his assistant, said last month he expects to continue in the national team set-up under a new boss.

After his sacking by Monaco in early June, Pocognoli said he had learned lessons and would take time to prepare for his next job "with calm and determination".

He left having finished seventh in his sole season in Ligue 1, having been lured from Union Saint-Gilloise in the October. It was at the progressive Belgian club - like Hearts, part of the Jamestown orbit - where he forged his reputation.

After his 17-year career as a left-back in the top divisions in England, Germany and the Netherlands, and Belgium ended, he worked with the youngster at USG and with the Belgian national set up.

Then, in 2024, he ascended to the senior team, winning the Belgian Super Cup almost immediately before leading the club to a first league title since 1935 and a tilt at the Champions League.

Before long, Monaco came calling, impressed by Pocognoli's bold approach.

He is said to favour an attacking 3-4-1-2 system which he himself has described as "a dominant one, with and without the ball. High pressing, counter-pressing, but also real mastery in possession".

"For me, players are artists," he added. "And for an artist to put on a good show, they must be comfortable mentally and physically."