Sebastien Pocognoli odds-on favourite to become new Scotland manager

Sebastien Pocognoli has emerged as the clear frontrunner to take over as manager of the Scotland National Team.

Reports emerged on Saturday that the former Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco head coach is the SFA’s leading candidate to take the job.

Scotland are still searching for Steve Clarke’s successor after he resigned from his post after the nation were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup in the group stages.

Now, one UK bookmaker has slashed the odds on Pocognoli taking over down to 1/3.

The SFA will be hoping that they can appoint the 39-year-old before their upcoming Nations League fixtures next month.

Pocognoli was linked to the Hearts job this summer before Wouter Vrancken was appointed instead.

Who is Sebastien Pocognoli?

After a solid playing career which saw Pocognoli play for the likes of Hanover 96, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion as well as the Belgium National Team, the left-back hung up his boots in 2021.

From here, he had stints as manager of multiple youth sides before he took over as manager of Union Saint-Gilloise in 2024.

Here, Pocognoli became a big hit and guided the Belgian club to their first top-flight title in 90 years.

After an excellent start to the 2025-26 campaign, the manager was snapped up by Monaco in October.

However, his time at the Ligue 1 club did not go to plan, and he won just 42.11 per cent of his matches as they finished seventh in the table.

As a result, he was sacked in June and has since been linked with multiple positions, with Sky Sports reporting that he is the front-runner for the Scotland job.

Who else is linked with the Scotland job?

While Pocognoli may be the clear favourite for the Scotland job at present, there are still plenty of managers who are yet to be ruled out.

Steven Naismith is now the second-favourite for the job at 3/1 odds as he continues to remain part of the Scotland set-up.

Kasper Hjulmand is also still in the race at 6/1 odds after he left Bayer Leverkusen in June.

Roberto Martinez’s odds of getting the job are now at 8/1, while Rafa Benitez is considered an outsider at 16/1.

However, it remains to be seen who Scotland elect to appoint, with the 2028 Euros now closing in.