Former Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is poised to take on the role of head coach for the Scotland national football team.

The Scottish Football Association is nearing an agreement to appoint the 39-year-old Belgian as the successor to Steve Clarke. The official announcement could come as early as next week.

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Pocognoli made a significant impact in his first season as a head coach, guiding Union to the 2024-25 Belgian league title.

If confirmed, Pocognoli will be the second foreign manager for Scotland, following the tenure of former Germany coach Berti Vogts, who managed the team for two and a half years in the early 2000s.

Before this role, Pocognoli coached youth teams at Union, Belgium, and Genk.

The former left-back for West Brom and Brighton joined Monaco last October but lost his position at the end of the season.

During his time at Monaco, Pocognoli led the team to the Champions League knockout stage, where they were defeated by Paris Saint-Germain. However, the team fell short of qualifying for the current season’s tournament after finishing seventh in Ligue 1, which allowed them entry into the Conference League play-offs.

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Clarke resigned following Scotland’s exit from the World Cup group stage in June, despite recently signing a new four-year contract before the tournament.

The former managers of West Brom and Kilmarnock successfully took Scotland to their first three major tournaments of the century during his seven years in charge.

Former Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been lined up as the new Scotland head coach.

The Scottish Football Association is closing in on a deal for the 39-year-old Belgian to be named as Steve Clarke‘s replacement and the appointment could be confirmed early next week.

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The former Belgium international led Union to the 2024-25 Belgian title in his first season as a head coach.

Pocognoli would be Scotland’s second foreign manager after former Germany boss Berti Vogts, who had a two-and-a-half-year spell in charge in the early part of the century.

Pocognoli had previously worked with youth players at Union, plus Belgium and Genk.

The former West Brom and Brighton left-back moved to Monaco in October last year but was sacked at the end of the season.

Pocognoli led Monaco to the Champions League knockout phase where they lost narrowly to Paris Saint-Germain. However they missed out on qualification for this season’s tournament after a seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1, which gained them entry to the Conference League play-offs.

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Clarke stepped down after Scotland’s World Cup group-stage exit was confirmed in June, despite having signed a new four-year contract in the build-up to the tournament.

The former West Brom and Kilmarnock manager had led Scotland to their first three major tournaments of the century in his seven-year tenure.