AS Monaco have confirmed the departure of head coach Sebastien Pocognoli following a disappointing end to the 2025/26 season that saw the club miss out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Ligue 1 side announced on Monday that they had ended their collaboration with the former Belgium international after less than a year in charge.
Pocognoli arrived at the Stade Louis II in October 2025 following the departure of Adi Hütter, leaving Belgian side Union Saint Gilloise to take on one of the most demanding jobs in French football.
In an official statement, Monaco thanked Pocognoli and his coaching staff for their commitment throughout the season and wished them success in their future careers.
The 37-year-old inherited a Monaco side sitting fifth in the Ligue 1 standings and initially enjoyed a positive spell in charge. His team embarked on an impressive ten-match unbeaten run, raising hopes of securing a Champions League place.
However, results deteriorated during the latter stages of the campaign and Monaco ultimately finished seventh in the table, missing out on qualification for Europe’s premier club competition.
AS Monaco announces the departure of Sébastien Pocognoli.
— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) June 1, 2026
The club wishes to thank Sébastien Pocognoli and his staff for their total commitment to AS Monaco and wishes them all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/nmG1l3ThWp
Despite the domestic disappointment, Pocognoli did oversee a respectable European campaign. Monaco reached the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs before being eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The club’s hierarchy had set Champions League qualification as a primary objective at the start of the season, and the failure to secure a top-four finish appears to have been a decisive factor behind the decision to make a managerial change.
Monaco now begin the search for a new coach as they look to rebuild ahead of next season and return to the upper reaches of French football. The Principality club remains one of Ligue 1’s most ambitious sides and will be aiming to challenge once again for European qualification.
For Pocognoli, the departure marks the end of a challenging spell in French football after what had been a highly successful period with Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.
