New Scotland head coach Edouard Pocognoli inherits a national team in a far stronger position than the one Steve Clarke took charge of back in 2019, but he will still be expected to reshape the squad and introduce a bolder style of play as he looks to build on his predecessor's achievements.
When Clarke was appointed, Scotland were reeling from a humiliating defeat in Kazakhstan and had gone two decades without reaching a major tournament. Under his stewardship, the Scots reached back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup, qualifying for three of the four tournaments during his time in charge. That record sets a high bar for Pocognoli, who will be tasked with at least matching that level of success.
Despite Clarke's achievements, a significant portion of the Tartan Army had grown eager for a change in playing philosophy, and the Scottish FA appears to have targeted exactly that with Pocognoli's appointment. Craig Mulholland, the SFA's chief football officer, said the Belgian coach