AS Monaco have dismissed head coach Sebastien Pocognoli after less than eight months in charge, the Ligue 1 club confirmed on Monday.
Pocognoli had one year remaining on his contract but paid the price for Monaco’s disappointing end to the season, which saw the club finish seventh in Ligue 1 and miss out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Monaco will instead compete in the UEFA Conference League play-offs after falling short in the race for a top-three finish.
“AS Monaco announces the end of its collaboration with Sebastien Pocognoli at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season,” the club said in a statement.
The 38-year-old Belgian coach was appointed in October after replacing Adi Hutter. He arrived from Union Saint-Gilloise and initially struggled to find consistency with the French side.
However, Monaco revived their campaign during the second half of the season, putting together a 10-match unbeaten run that moved them firmly into contention for Champions League qualification.
Their hopes ultimately faded after a poor finish to the campaign, leaving the club outside the European elite places and prompting a major managerial change.
Pocognoli leaves alongside assistant coaches Kevin Mirallas and Artur Kopyt. Several other members of the coaching staff have also departed in recent days as Monaco begin restructuring ahead of next season.
According to reports in French media, former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis is the leading candidate to replace Pocognoli.
The 40-year-old has been out of work since leaving Flamengo in March. During his time in Brazil, he guided the club to Copa Libertadores success and established himself as one of South America’s most highly rated young coaches.
Monaco are expected to make a decision on their next manager in the coming weeks as they look to rebuild and mount a stronger challenge for Champions League qualification next season.
