Scotland hope to name 39-year-old Pocognoli as successor to Clarke in fresh approach

<ul><li><p>Belgian would be first non-Scot in role since Berti Vogts</p></li><li><p>Scotland face Slovenia on 26 September in Nations League</p></li></ul><p></p><p>The Scottish Football Association hopes to name the Belgian Sébastien Pocognoli as the successor to Steve Clarke as manager early next week. The 39-year-old, who was sacked by Monaco in June, will become the country’s first non-Scottish manager since Berti Vogts, who was in charge from 2002-04.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/28/steve-clarke-resigns-scotland-manager-after-elimination-from-world-cup-2026">Clarke’s abrupt departure </a>came as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/28/scotland-eliminated-from-world-cup">Scotland exited the World Cup</a> at the group stage. He had signed a four-year contract extension immediately before the tournament. It quickly became clear the SFA would turn towards a foreign manager; Jon Dahl Tomasson and Kasper Hjulmand were linked with the position.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/15/scotland-hope-to-name-sebastien-pocognoli-as-new-international-manager">Continue reading...</a>