His age is a major talking point, and he’ll be testing himself against some very experienced operators in the months and years ahead. He has signed an initial two-year contract. Kevin Mirallas, the former Everton player who has previously worked with Pocognoli, is expected to join him in Scotland.
“I like to do things in a different way,” said Pocognoli. “I don’t believe there’s only one route to being the best, not just in football but in life. Did the Scotland challenge reflect my identity and personality? I think yes, and that’s why I was curious to go through the meetings.”
“I might be one of the youngest managers for this job, just as I was in Belgium.”
“Everyone was surprised, and it ended happily. Then I continued the journey in Monaco, and today I’m here.”
In Belgium, that was Union Saint-Gilloise, who use the same data analytics company as Hearts, and whose first league title in 90 years became a remarkable story. That was the 2024–25 season, with Pocognoli in charge. He was 37 when appointed and delivered immediately.
USG’s success was a process, though. They didn’t leap from obscurity to champions in Pocognoli’s one season. In the three campaigns before he stepped up from youth coaching, they finished second, third and second. In 2023 and 2024 under different managers, they missed the title by a single point. Pocognoli was the one who finally got them over the line.
How did it happen? “It starts with people who believe in you and give you the chance to shine,” he explained. USG are an intriguing case: they have had four different managers in recent seasons, all quickly tempted away to supposedly bigger roles, only to struggle.
Felice Mazzu left for Anderlecht, Karel Geraerts went to Schalke and then Reims, Alexander Blessin to St Pauli, and Pocognoli to Monaco. Each move proved disappointing, prompting the question of whether these coaches are products of USG’s system—and whether they can thrive outside it.