RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Sebastien Pocognoli has agreed an initial two-year contract to lead Scotland [Getty Images]
Sebastien Pocognoli is the new Scotland men's head coach after seven years of Steve Clarke - but what awaits the Belgian and what will be expected of him?
A title winner in his homeland while managing Union Saint-Gilloise, the 39-year-old brings a reputation for playing eye-catching football.
However, the former left-back was sacked as Monaco boss in June after just eight months, making him available to the Scottish FA.
Following Clarke's record-breaking spell, the demands on Pocognoli will be to deliver the same results as his predecessor, or better, while shifting the playing style and refreshing the squad.
Belgian Pocognoli confirmed as Scotland boss
Why new Scotland head coach has tricky task
Style shift while delivering success
The Scotland job in 2026 looks a lot different from the one Clarke took on in 2019.
Two months prior to Clarke's appointment, the national team had been humiliated in Kazakhstan. They had not featured at a major finals in two decades.
Seven years on, Scotland have been at back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup. Clarke qualified for three of four tournaments on his watch.
Pocognoli will be expected to, at least, maintain that success. However, the reason Clarke's exit felt natural for many is that a hefty chunk of fans want to see a change of approach.
Craig Mulholland, the Scottish FA's chief football officer, said Pocognoli "will bring an aggressive, front-foot style of play that will excite supporters", adding that Scotland are aiming to "evolve from a position of strength".
The Belgian has described his brand of football as "a dominant one, with and without the ball". He also wants his team to be intense pressers but have "real mastery in possession".
International coaches are not afforded the same amount of time on the training pitch as club managers, so patience could be required if the plan is to move to a more possession-based style.
Integrating new generation
Pocognoli was named coach of the year in Belgium after leading USG to their first league title in 90 years in the 2024-25 season [Getty Images]
Pocognoli's prior experience of working as a youth coach at international level with Belgium would have ticked another box for the SFA. He also coached in the academies of USG and Genk.
During his playing career, he featured at almost every youth level for his nation before winning 13 caps for a Belgium side that featured a long list of world-class talents for well over a decade.
Scotland have had their own mini golden generation, with captain Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and others all continuing to play at Europe's top level.
Clarke was emphatic in his exit interview with the SFA, saying the core he developed over his seven-year spell is "not finished yet".
Many of Scotland's World Cup squad, which was one of the oldest at the tournament, will go again for a Euros they are co-hosting in two years, but Pocognoli will be tasked with hitting the refresh button.
Much has been made of a potential crisis within youth development in Scottish football, which raises concerns about the future of the national team.
For now, Ben Gannon-Doak, 20, has become a Scotland regular over the past couple of years, while Findlay Curtis, 19, made two late cameos at the World Cup.
Tyler Fletcher was taken to the United States but did not feature. It remains to be seen whether his status will rise under Pocognoli, or if fellow teenage midfielder Lennon Miller will be brought back into the fold.
Kieron Bowie, 23, also missed the World Cup cut, but the striker will be playing in Serie A next season, like Miller.
Fans will expect to see striker Robbie Ure after a free-scoring spell with Sirius in Sweden resulted in a move to La Liga side Sevilla earlier this month.
The 22-year-old has fuelled the Tartan Army with hope that he can provide cutting edge at the top end of the pitch, something they have craved for some time.
Immediate benefit from extended camp
First up for Pocognoli is a four-game camp spanning three weeks.
It will be an extended international interval across the end of September and start of October to cut the number of breaks during the club season.
That could be music to the ears of the Belgian, who will be provided with much-needed extra time on the training pitch with his new players to put across fresh ideas.
The Nations League will be Pocognoli's first taste of international football as a head coach, with Scotland travelling to Slovenia on Saturday, 26 September before hosting Switzerland the following Tuesday.
Then comes a trip to North Macedonia on 3 October and another meeting with the Slovenians three days later in Glasgow.
The appointment makes the upcoming camp hugely intriguing as the countdown begins to the new man's first squad announcement.
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