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When Berti Vogts was unveiled as Scotland’s first foreign manager, back in 2002, he had a simple instruction. “When we are playing,” he said, “you can call me Berti McVogts!” Scotland fans preferred a slightly courser sobriquet when, six months later, Scotland went 2-0 down to the Faroe Islands before scrambling a 2-2 draw. Vogts left after two-and-a-half ultimately unsuccessful years, and since then Scotland have preferred homegrown managers. But it’s good to try everything twice, except maybe Gigli, and the Scottish FA has appointed one of European football’s most interesting young managers: Sébastien Pocognoli, who was unveiled at a press conference on Monday.

It’s 2026, not 2002, and the way to win people over is with a PowerPoint presentation rather than a cheesy pun. So even though Pocognoli’s middle name, Jean, gave him a bit of a portmanteau open goal, he didn’t ask to be called Jockognoli. Pocognoli, 39, is a former Belgium international who played for West Brom and Brighton. He had a glorious start to his senior coaching career in 2024-25 when he led Union Saint-Gilloise to their first Belgian title since 1935. His head was soon hunted by Monaco, who dispensed it in the summer after a disappointing season. Although Monaco finished seventh, their lowest position since 2019-20, Pocognoli’s win percentage of 42 wasn’t a complete affront to the memory of Tim Sherwood.

“I’m very proud to be here,” roared Pocognoli. “Scotland is a passionate country and I think also, regarding the strong foundation that Steve Clarke and his staff did, that I can use this heritage to put the next accent in the style of play while also developing players for the future.” Pocognoli looked the part: sharp suit, art-dealer haircut, beard that has been through at least three focus groups to find the optimum length. He looked a bit like a cross between Diego Simeone and Gerard Piqué, which would be a helluva style of play to master.

“Since negotiations began, I have been doing a lot of research, asking a lot of questions and looking at areas that we can build on,” continued Pocognoli, who confirmed that Barry Can’t Swim and Limmy would be joining his coaching staff. Craig Mulholland, the SFA’s chief football suit, said Pocognoli “will bring an aggressive, front-foot style of play that will excite supporters”. For all the Scotland fans who wanted to feel their pulse while watching Clarke’s side, the next few years will provide either told-you-so validation or football’s latest reminder that you should be careful what you wish for.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“FIRST TIME EVER. Game delayed due to a child who’s scootered their way on to the pitch. Fair play to the Rangers manager for stopping the game and Charlie Elliott taking her back to her parent” – Montrose FC’s live updates on their SPWPL opener against Rangers – a 4-1 win for the Glaswegians – were briefly interrupted by news of a rogue fan with absolutely zero respect for the rules.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Watching Manchester City under new management for the first time, it’s kind of spooky how much Enzo Maresca channels the ghost of Pep Guardiola on the touchline. Except they are losing” – Chris Jersan.

Dave Hill’s letter [Friday’s Football Daily] made me feel old. My immediate reaction was: ‘Too much money sloshing around at the top; there should be a salary cap.’ Then I realised that I could just about remember the campaign for a minimum wage for footballers. All in the span of one lifetime” – Trevor Townson.

Re: your mention in Friday’s Football Daily of Graeme Souness being sent off in the first half of his first game as Rangers player-manager v Hibs. This event led to pubs popular with Celtic fans in the east end of Glasgow being inundated with requests for a new drink: ‘I’ll have a Souness please … mine’s a half and then I’m off’” – Danny Sullivan.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Danny Sullivan. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

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OH! ENZO!

Life comes at you fast, even when you are the head coach of a behemoth such as Manchester City. Enzo Maresca’s tenure couldn’t have got off to a worse “competitive” start, with Arsenal romping to victory in the Community Shield, the Gunners slicing through City’s defence to score the opening goal after just 24 seconds. The 3-0 defeat for City was Maresca’s joint-heaviest as a manager in England, the joint-heaviest loss for a City manager in their first game in charge, while morale at the Etihad was not helped on Monday morning by the news that Ballon d’Or winner Rodri will imminently jump ship to Barcelona after a £65.4m bid was accepted by City – the Spaniard only returned to Manchester on Friday following his Geopolitics World Cup heroics. Things are looking rosier for Arsenal, with new signing Christos Tzolis involved in all three goals. “He is a really intelligent boy and he has a massive quality, which is when he is in the last 20-30m [of the pitch] he is so composed to pick people out in and around the box,” cheered Mikel Arteta. “He was decisive … we’ve never done it at this club, to win [back-to-back Premier League titles]. We know that it’s going to demand something special and we are ready for it.”

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Fresh from Community Shield triumph, Martin Ødegaard is pleased to have Bruno Guimarães inside the Arsenal tent, passing outwards. “Although we had some big fights with him in the past, he has just come in as a real natural part of the team,” parped the Gunners captain. “He can win the ball, he’s a fighter, but he also has so much quality on the ball.”

Elsewhere in north London, Guglielmo Vicario’s punishment for losing the gloves at Tottenham is … erm … a loan move to Italian giant Juventus. Make that make sense.

The Scottish Football Association has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino and will not be voting for his re-election as chief suit at Fifa.

Sky Sports will not broadcast next season’s Baller League, the celebrity six-a-side competition backed by the influencer KSI, top, top actor Idris Elba and former players including Ian Wright, Wright, Wright and Alan Shearer.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 78, believes this year is “probably” his last as a professional footballer. “I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” the Al-Nassr forward told Vogue magazine, who are presumably besides themselves at the prospect of the Portuguese reaching 1,000 career goals.

Santos captain Neymar became the first player in Brazil’s ⁠Serie A to be forced off the field for a minute ⁠under a new ⁠rule ​aimed at curbing time-wasting by goalkeepers that is being tested in ⁠the league.

And the good vibes just keep rolling at West Ham, who shipped two late goals to draw 2-2 at Burnley in their Championship opener on Sunday. And Watford beat Southampton 2-1, thanks in part to a solo wondergoal from Amin Nabizada.

STILL WANT MORE?

Arsenal’s midfield depth signals ominous warning to title rivals, writes Ed Aarons, as the additions of Guimarães and Tzolis, plus re-emergence of Ødegaard, mean the champions start the season as clear favourites.

Need to read up on the promoted sides and not sure where or how to do it? Our Premier League team previews for Hull City and Ipswich will see you now (and Coventry’s guide went live last week).

For a slightly more biased/less measured take on hopes/dreams/existential fears, our fans’ preview for the new Premier League season is here for your reading pleasure.

Suzanne Wrack sits down for a chat with Brighton’s new star, Emilie Joramo, with the Norwegian midfielder ready to make a splash in the WSL after helping Hammarby to the Europa League final.

After a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Notts County on Saturday, Leicester City learned the hard way that League One is not going to be easy. Will Unwin has more.

The new Premier League season could be Korean-free for first time since 2005. Here’s John Duerden on a potential end of a era for South Korean footballers in England.

Can Real Madrid dethrone Barcelona after pressing the José Mourinho button (again)? Billy Munday has penned our La Liga preview.

And in the latest Rumour Mill, Alexis Mac Allister could be swapping Liverpool for Manchester City, while Milan are keen to take Ethan Nwaneri from Arsenal.

MEMORY LANE

26 October 1978: Reginald Perrin, flanked by his boss CJ and brother-in-law Jimmy, prepare for a game of “non-aggressive football”, in which a team plays against no opposition, rendering the entire concept utterly futile. [Insert name of whoever is in the news as being on the wrong end of a bad foul, bad behaviour, etc, here] might be in the mood to give it a whirl nonetheless.

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