The Coach of the new Belgian League Champions Union Saint-Gilloise has been named Coach of the Season at the Pro League Awards that were held at the Handelsbeurs in Antwerp on Monday evening. Sébastien Pocognoli received his award from the Belgian national team Coach Rudi Garcia.
Sébastien Pocognoli gained 32.40% of the votes, more than 12% more than the Club Brugge Coach Nicky Hayen, who gained 20.21% of the votes. In 3rd place was the KRC Genk Coach Thorsten Fink with 14.63%.For 37-year-old Pocognoli the award is the crowning glory of a season that saw him lead Union to their first championship title in 90 years.
The former Belgian international had a shaky start as Coach at Union with his team gaining just 14 points from their first 10 league games. However, the board kept their faith in Pocognoli and he kept faith in his players. The team went from strength to strength. With 28 points out of a possible 30 in the First Division Play-offs, Union overtook KRC Genk and Club Brugge to become Belgian League Champions for the first time since 1935.
In addition to this Union made it to the group stage in the Europa League and won the Belgian Super Cup at the start of the season.
Sébastien Pocognoli suceeds his predecessor at Union, the German Alexander Blessin, as Coach of the Season. Last season under Blessin Union won the Belgian Cup for the first time in 89-years. Alexander Blessin left Union to join the German Club Sankt-Pauli.