Scotland appoints Sébastien Pocognoli as new head coach
Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli, 39, is named Scotland’s new manager and will face North Macedonia in Skopje on October 3 in UEFA Nations League B.
Scotland have announced a new head coach: 39-year-old Belgian Sébastien Pocognoli will replace Steve Clarke and will lead the team into the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, including a trip to Skopje on October 3.
New coach, quick calendar challenge
Pocognoli arrives with a résumé that includes spells at Union Saint-Gilloise and a period working with Genk’s youth setup, as well as coaching roles in Belgium’s youth national teams. The Scottish FA have moved swiftly to appoint him after Clarke’s exit following a disappointing showing at the recent World Cup.
The appointment places Pocognoli immediately into a demanding schedule: Scotland are drawn in League B, Group 1 of the UEFA Nations League alongside Switzerland, Slovenia and North Macedonia, and they will travel to Skopje for the Group B fixture on 3 October.
His task will be to steady a squad that delivered mixed results at the World Cup and to prepare it for competitive home-and-away Nations League matches this autumn. Supporters and pundits will watch closely to see how his club and youth coaching experience translates to managing a senior national side.
For North Macedonia, the encounter on 3 October represents one of the key home fixtures in a group that also features strong opponents from across the region. The calendar means relatively little time for a new manager to impose tactical changes before competitive matches begin.
Photo: press material from the event
