Sébastien Pocognoli (born 1 August 1987) is a Belgian football manager and former player who played as a left-back. He is the head coach of the Under-21 squad of Union SG. Between 2008 and 2014, he made 13 appearances for the Belgium national team.

Early and personal life
Born in Seraing, Pocognoli is of Italian descent.

Pocognoli revealed that his father worked next to the stadium. Growing up, he revealed that he initially hated football, but thanks to his stubborn father, he grew to like football as a sport.

Club career

Genk
Pocognoli began his career with the youth team of Standard Liège, but he left at the age of 15 to join Genk, where the club offered him a professional contract and felt Standard Liege would not gave him a first team opportunities if he had stayed.

Pocognoli made his Genk debut, where he came on as a substitute for Marco Ingrao in the second half, in a 1–0 win over Gent on 9 April 2004, which turns out to be his own appearance this season. However, newly–Manager René Vandereycken sent him to the reserve team the following season. In 2006 he made a first team breakthrough at the club and played his first game for the past two years on 22 January 2006, where he made his first start and played 69 minutes before being substituted in a 2–1 loss against Charleroi. In the next game against Westerlo on 28 January 2006, Pocognoli scored his first Genk goal (and his first professional goal), in a 2–0 win. He finished the 2005–06 season with fifteen appearances and one goal.

Despite interest from clubs like Eredivisie side Ajax and Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, Pocognoli ended up staying at the club and did well when he set up a goal for Ivan Bošnjak, in a 1–1 draw against Standard Liège on 19 August 2006. Three days later, Pocognoli signed a new contract with Genk, keeping him until 2008 and two months later, he signed another contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2011 Despite being sent–off for a second bookable offence against Sint-Truidense on 29 October 2006, Pocognoli became a regular for the club during the 2006–07 season, making thirty–four appearances in all competition. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Pocognoli was nominated for the Young Player Footballer of the Year award, but lost out to Lucas Biglia.

AZ
On 20 June 2007, Pocognoli left Genk to join Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, signing a five–year contract with them. The fee was worth about €2.75 million. Upon joining the club, Pocognoli revealed that he had an offer to join Bayer Leverkusen, but opted for AZ instead.

Pocognoli made his AZ Alkmaar debut, where he came on as a substitute in the second half, in a 4–0 win over VVV-Venlo in the opening game of the season. Pocognoli then scored his first goal for the club, in the UEFA Cup match, in a 1–0 win over Paços de Ferreira on 20 September 2007. Pocognoli scored his first league goal for the club on 9 December 2007, in a 2–1 win over Utrecht and his second later came on 22 January 2008, in a 2–1 loss against NAC Breda. Despite being absent several times, Pocognoli went on to make thirty–three appearances and scoring three times in all competition, under the management of Louis van Gaal.

In the 2008–09 season, Pocognoli continued to be in the first team regular at the club and then scored his first goal of the season, just coming on as a substitute, in a 3–3 draw against Heerenveen on 1 November 2008. His second goal for the club later came on 21 January 2009, in a 3–0 win over Achilles '29 and three days later on 24 January 2009, he scored again in a 2–0 win over De Graafschap. As the 2008–09 season, Pocognoli suffered an injury, which kept him out for six weeks. Despite this, he helped the club win the league for the first time since 1981 after title contender Ajax lost 6–2 to PSV Eindhoven on 18 April 2009. Pocognoli went on to make twenty–seven appearances and scoring three times in all competition in the 2008–09 season.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Pocognoli surprisingly attracted interest from La Liga side Barcelona. He ended the transfer speculation when he signed a contract with the club on 14 June 2009, keeping him until 2014. Pocognoli helped the club win the Johan Cruyff Shield, where he set up one of the goals, in a 5–1 win over Heereveen. However, his first team opportunities was limited under the new management of Ronald Koeman, due to injury and spent most of the first half of the season on the substitute bench. Despite this, Pocognoli set up one of the goals in the Group Stage match of the UEFA Champions League, in a 1–1 draw against Standard Liège on 9 December 2009 and then scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–0 win over ADO Den Haag a week later on 19 December 2009.

During his time at AZ, Pocognoli later credit Van Gaal for his role of helping his formation as a footballer.

Standard Liège

On 23 January 2010, Pocognoli was in a negotiation with a move to Belgian Pro League, signing for his former club Standard Liège. The move was confirmed the next day, where he signed a three–year contract, keeping him until 2014. Upon joining the club, Pocognoli was given number thirty–five shirt for the new season.

Pocognoli made his Standard Liege debut, where he made his first start and played the whole game, in a 1–0 loss against his former club, Genk on 7 February 2010, followed up by scoring his first goal, in a 1–0 win over Westerlo in the next game. Despite suffering from an injury, Pocognoli returned to the first team from injury, where he set up one of the goals, in a 1–1 draw against Zulte Waregem on 14 March 2010. Pocognoli went on to make sixteen appearances and scoring once in all competition in the second half of the season.

In the 2010–11 season, Pocognoli started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–0 win over Lierse on 6 August 2010. However, in a match against Sint-Truidense on 20 August 2010, Pocognoli was sent–off after a second bookable offence, in a 1–0 loss. Pocognoli was sent–off for the second time this season after a second bookable, in a 1–0 win over Germinal Beerschot on 13 November 2010. Despite suffering from an injury in the last game of the season, Pocognoli finished the 2010–11 season, making forty appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

In the 2011–12 season, Pocognoli continued to become a first team regular in the first team as a left–back position and did well when he set up the only goal in the game, in a 1–0 win over Zulte Waregem on 23 October 2011. Two weeks later on 6 November 2011, Pocognoli, once again, set up one of the goals, in a 2–1 win over Club Brugge. Three weeks later on 25 November 2011, Pocognoli then set up one of the goals, in a 3–2 win over Mechelen. Pocognoli went on to finish the 2011–12 season, making fifty–one appearances in all competition.

In the 2012–13 season, Pocognoli missed the opening game of the season after being suspended, but continued to manage his first team place following his return. However, Pocognoli suffered injuries in the first half of the season. After almost absent for two months, Pocognoli returned to the first team, where he came on as a substitute in the second half, in a 6–1 win over Charleroi on 7 December 2012. Pocognoli made eleven appearances in all competitions in the first half of the season at the club.

Hannover 96

On 22 January 2013, Pocognoli left Belgium when he moved to German club Hannover 96, signing a three–year contract, keeping him until 2016.

Pocognoli made his Hannover 96 debut against Wolfsburg three days later, where he made his first start, but in the 34th minute, he was sent off on his debut for the club. After serving a three match suspension, Pocognoli made his first team return, where he made his second start, in a 5–1 win over Hamburg on 23 February 2013. In a match against Augsburg on 30 March 2013, Pocognoli then set up one of the goals, in a 2–0 win. Despite missing out, due to injuries, Pocognoli finished the second half of the 2012–13 season, making eleven appearances in all competitions.

In the 2013–14 season, Pocognoli continued to keep his first team place despite competing with Christian Pander over a left–back position. Pocognoli continued to regain his left–back position in the first half of the season until he suffered injuries that affected most of the season. Despite this, Pocognoli finished the 2013–14 season, making twenty appearances in all competition.

West Bromwich Albion
On 12 July 2014, Pocognoli left Hannover 96 to sign for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £1,500,000, signing a three–year contract, with a year's option. Upon joining the club, Pocognoli was given the number fifteen shirt.

After making his first start in the pre–season friendly game against Shrewsbury Town, Pocognoli made his West Bromwich Albion debut, in the opening game of the season, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–2 draw against Sunderland. After missing a game, due to a thigh injury he sustained during a match against Southampton, Pocognoli made his return from injury, in a 2–0 loss against Everton on 13 September 2014. However, as the 2014–15 season progressed, Pocognoli lost his first team place following the arrival of new manager Tony Pulis, who preferred Chris Brunt, Chris Baird and Joleon Lescott in the left back role, as well as being hampered by injury concerns. Pocognoli ended his first season at West Brom with 16 appearances to his name.

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Pocognoli considered leaving the club, citing a lack of first team opportunities. Though Pulis openly admitted Pocognoli could leave if the club's valuation was met, Pocognoli stayed at the club throughout pre-season and made his first appearance of the season in a 3–0 loss against Norwich City in the second round of League Cup. After being placed on the transfer list by West Brom during the January 2016 transfer window, Pocognoli was expected to leave the club, but no move materialised. Following this, Pocognoli said he was still determined to fight for a first team place, having only made 4 appearances in the 2015–16 season. Pocognoli finally made his first league appearance of the season, and set up Salomón Rondón to score the only goal, in a 1–0 win over Manchester United on 6 March 2016. This was to be his only Premier League appearance of the season.

On 30 August 2016, Pocognoli joined Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan deal following an injury to first-choice left-back Liam Rosenior. Competing with Gaëtan Bong for the left–back spot, Pocognoli made his Brighton & Hove Albion debut in a 0–0 draw against Ipswich Town on 27 September 2016, playing the full match. He scored his first goal for Brighton in a 2–1 win over Queens Park Rangers on 7 April 2017. At the end of the season, having made 20 Championship appearances, Pocognoli returned to West Brom and was released at the end of his contract.

Return to Standard Liège
On 16 June 2017, Pocognoli returned to Standard Liège for a third stint at the club where he began his career.

On 17 March 2018, he played as Standard Liege beat Genk 1–0 in extra time to win the 2018 Belgian Cup Final and qualify for the UEFA Europa League. He moved to Union SG in January 2020.

International career

Pocognoli played youth football for Belgium at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. He was a squad member at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He also played at the 2008 Summer Olympics, making 6 appearances at the tournament.

After being called by the senior team for the first time on 24 May 2008, Pocognoli made his senior team debut on 30 May 2008, making his first start, in a 3–1 loss against Italy, and he has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. While playing for the national team in 2009, Pocognoli was involved in a dressing room altercation with teammates Timmy Simons and Stijn Stijnen.

Coaching career
Upon retiring from playing at the end of the 2020–21 season, he was hired by Union SG to coach their Under-21 team.

Career statistics

Honours
AZ Alkmaar
 Eredivisie: 2008–09
 Johan Cruijff Shield: 2009

Standard Liege
 Belgian Cup: 2017–18

References

1987 births
Living people
People from Seraing
Belgian people of Italian descent
Belgian men's footballers
Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Belgium men's youth international footballers
Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Belgium men's international footballers
Standard Liège players
K.R.C. Genk players
AZ Alkmaar players
Hannover 96 players
West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise players
Belgian Pro League players
Challenger Pro League players
Eredivisie players
Bundesliga players
Premier League players
Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic footballers for Belgium
Men's association football fullbacks
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in England
Expatriate men's footballers in England
Belgian football managers
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise non-playing staff
Footballers from Liège Province