Sébastien Pocognoli Held Talks With Royal Belgian FA Before Scotland Appointment

The KBVB Search and Contact With Pocognoli

As the Belgian FA weighed candidates to replace Garcia alongside Mark van Bommel, Pocognoli entered the frame. According to reports from Het Laatste Nieuws, the former Union Saint-Gilloise trainer sat down for formal discussions with federation officials. “Other countries had him also on the radar. Thus Pocognoli spoke among other things with the Belgian football association. One conversation to which no further consequence was given,” the outlet reported.

Those exploratory talks did not progress into deeper negotiations. The KBVB ultimately pursued a different direction, appointing Van Bommel to lead the Red Devils. That decision left Pocognoli free to evaluate multiple international offers.

Transition to Scotland

Pocognoli did not have to wait long for another managerial opportunity. Attracting interest from several nations, the 39-year-old Belgian ultimately chose to accept the position with Scotland. His appointment follows his departure from AS Monaco in Ligue 1, where he managed 38 matches during a season that concluded with a seventh-place finish.

Prior to his stint in France, Pocognoli built his managerial reputation by steering Union Saint-Gilloise to a domestic league title during the 2024 campaign. His background also includes stints in youth development with both Genk and Union SG, alongside a playing career that featured spells with standard Belgian clubs and English sides West Bromwich Albion and Brighton.

Next Steps

Scotland prepares to resume its UEFA Nations League campaign later in September, opening a four-match block against Slovenia on September 26. Pocognoli now shifts his focus toward preparing the squad for international competition.