GLASGOW: Scotland have appointed Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli as head coach on an initial two-year contract. The 39-year-old former AS Monaco manager ‌replaces Steve Clarke and will lead the team in their Nations League campaign.

Clarke stepped down after guiding Scotland back to ​the World Cup for the first time ​in 28 years where they suffered a group-stage ⁠exit at this year’s tournament in North America.

“When ​I first heard of the interest, I was ​immediately excited about the opportunity. Scotland’s supporters are famous for their passion, most recently at the World Cup in the ​USA, and I experienced it myself as a ​player for Belgium when we played there in 2013,” Pocognoli ‌said ⁠in a statement.

He arrives after a brief spell at Monaco, where he was dismissed in June when the club finished seventh in Ligue 1 and failed ​to qualify ​for the ⁠Champions League.

Before joining Monaco, Pocognoli was named Belgian Coach of the Year after ​leading Union Saint-Gilloise to the league title.

The ​former left-back, ⁠who played for several clubs including Standard Liege, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion, is the second foreign ⁠manager ​of the Scotland men’s team after German ​Berti Vogts, who was in charge from 2002 to 2004.

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