Sebastien Pocognoli is the main candidate to be the coach of Scotland.

Sebastien Pocognoli, former coach of Monaco, is the leading candidate of the Scottish Football Association to succeed Steve Clarke as head coach of the Scotland national team. The 39-year-old Belgian coach left Monaco at the end of last season and has an impressive resume, having led Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years in the 2024-25 season.

Pocognoli's selection comes at a time when the Scottish Football Association, through its executive director Ian Maxwell and new director of football Craig Mulholland, is evaluating several options for the position. Pocognoli's appointment could be announced soon, especially with the Scotland national team preparing for a block of four matches in the Nations League, starting with a fixture in Slovenia on September 26.

Pocognoli's career in football also includes a stint in the English Premier League, where he represented West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion. Additionally, the new candidate for the national team has worn the Belgium jersey on 13 occasions, demonstrating his experience at both club and international levels. If chosen, he will become only the second foreign coach to lead the Scotland men's national team, following Berti Vogts, who managed the team in the 2000s.

Clarke's departure, who had signed a new four-year contract in May, came after the disappointment of the national team in the group stage of the last World Cup, bringing an end to a seven-year era at the helm of the team. Steven Naismith, who was one of Clarke's assistants, recently expressed his hope of remaining in the national team's coaching staff under the direction of a new manager. The choice of Pocognoli could be crucial in revitalizing the Scottish team at a time when it is essential for their competitiveness in upcoming competitions.