21 ° C
Profile

Day: 13 October 2025

Sébastien Pocognoli appointed AS Monaco head coach through to 2027

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/10/2025

AS Monaco has announced the appointment of Sébastien Pocognoli as the club’s new head coach. The 38-year-old Belgian, who has signed a contract running until June 2027, joins from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, where he enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Belgian Pro League.

The club made the official announcement on Monday, just three days after parting ways with Austrian coach Adi Hütter.

Pocognoli arrives in the Principality fresh from guiding Union SG to a historic league title — their first in 90 years — and a Belgian Super Cup victory in his first full season in charge. His side produced a stunning run in the Champions’ Play-offs, securing 28 points from a possible 30, and finishing ahead of rivals Club Brugge.

In Europe, Pocognoli’s team made headlines with a 3-1 away win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and reached the Europa League play-offs before falling to Ajax Amsterdam. His achievements earned him the 2024–25 Coach of the Year award in Belgium.

A bold, attacking football philosophy

Known for an ambitious and attractive style of play, Pocognoli impressed not just with results but with a dynamic tactical identity. Under his leadership, Union SG sat top of the Belgian Pro League after 10 games this season, before his departure to the Riviera.

He now takes the reins at AS Monaco with the challenge of stabilising a squad that started the season strongly but faltered in recent weeks.

A coach with top-flight experience on and off the pitch

A former Belgian international with 13 caps, Pocognoli enjoyed a professional playing career spanning over 360 matchesin top leagues including Belgium, England, the Netherlands and Germany. He retired from playing in 2021 and immediately stepped into coaching.

He began with Union Saint-Gilloise’s U21s, then moved on to KRC Genk’s U18s and later the Belgian national U18 team, before returning to Union as first-team head coach.

Back to work in Monaco

Pocognoli is due to meet his new squad on Tuesday at Monaco’s Performance Centre, where preparations will begin ahead of the club’s return to Ligue 1 action.

He inherits a team currently sitting fifth in the league and preparing for a crucial Champions League tie against Tottenham next week.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Image source: AS Monaco

New French government faces early turbulence as Macron defends Lecornu

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/10/2025

Just days into his second mandate as Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu is under pressure from all sides, with censure motions, party expulsions and warnings from President Emmanuel Macron against political destabilisation.

Sébastien Lecornu officially launched his new government in Paris on Monday 13th October, following his reappointment as Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. The unveiling of his 34-member cabinet — a mix of political veterans and technical profiles — comes at a moment of heightened political tension in France, with immediate threats from both the left and the far right.

Lecornu’s top priority is passing the 2026 budget in a deeply fractured National Assembly. But his government is already walking a tightrope, facing multiple motions of censure just days after taking office.

Right-wing backlash and party expulsions

Six ministers affiliated with Les Républicains were expelled from the party over the weekend after defying party orders to join Lecornu’s cabinet. The decision deepens the rift between the executive and the conservative wing of French politics, as Les Républicains leader Bruno Retailleau seeks to reinforce party discipline.

On the left, Mathilde Panot of La France Insoumise announced a motion of censure signed by insoumis, Green, Communist and overseas MPs. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen also confirmed her party would submit a censure motion.“Don’t unpack your boxes too quickly,” Panot warned on X. “Censure is coming.”

Macron accuses rivals of sowing instability

From Egypt, where he is on a state visit, President Emmanuel Macron responded to the political storm, warning unnamed “forces” in Parliament of fuelling division at a critical moment for the country.

“Too many have failed to meet the moment with the seriousness expected by the French,” he said. “They have fed speculation and division.”

Macron reaffirmed his support for Lecornu, praising his ministers as “committed to moving the country forward with calm, stability and ambition”.

Quiet launch, tough weeks ahead

In contrast to previous reshuffles, the formation of the new cabinet was deliberately subdued. There were no public ceremonies or media appearances. Ministers were asked to hold their handovers in private, and the team met behind closed doors at Matignon on Monday afternoon.

The government’s first Council of Ministers is scheduled for Tuesday morning. That will be followed by Lecornu’s much-anticipated declaration of general policy and a likely confidence vote — a moment that could determine the short-term survival of the new government.

With no outright majority in the Assembly and a deeply polarised opposition, Lecornu’s second term begins in extremely delicate conditions. His ability to deliver a budget and avoid a collapse will test both his political skill and Macron’s long-term strategy for stabilising the executive.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Anthony Delanoix, Unsplash

Adi Hütter departs AS Monaco: “I wish the club nothing but the best”

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/10/2025

Adi Hütter has been relieved of his duties as head coach of AS Monaco after a run of poor results, the club confirmed on Friday 10th November. The decision comes after a promising start to the 2025/26 campaign unravelled with just one win in Monaco’s last five matches in all competitions.

Monaco are currently fifth in Ligue 1, but recent form has fallen short of expectations. Hütter, who joined the Principality side in July 2023, took charge of 93 matches during his tenure and averaged 1.9 points per game in the league.

Of all Monaco managers to oversee more than 20 Ligue 1 fixtures, only Claudio Ranieri, Leonardo Jardim, and Niko Kovač recorded higher win rates than Hütter’s 56%.

“I leave behind a quality team”

Speaking to L’Équipe following his departure, Hütter reflected positively on his time in Monaco.

“I will remember almost exclusively the positive things and the success of the last two years, during which we brought Monaco back into the top three in France and, after a long absence, experienced two Champions League campaigns in a row,” he said.

“Sometimes destinies separate, but I am completely happy with that. I am leaving behind a quality team that works well, with great individuals.”

“I wish the management, the players, the staff and the entire club nothing but the best for the future.”

In its press release, AS Monaco said: ” The Club would like to thank Adi and his staff for their work and commitment to AS Monaco, and wish them the best for the future.

Pocognoli tipped to take over

Reports suggest that Hütter is likely to be replaced by Sébastien Pocognoli, current head coach of Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise. No official announcement has been made by the club regarding a successor.

Monaco return to action on Friday 18th October away at Angers in Ligue 1. They will then face Tottenham at home in the Champions League on Monday 21st October.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Heute

Prince Albert II presents Riviera Electric Challenge awards

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
13/10/2025

Prince Albert II presented awards to the winners of the 11th Riviera Electric Challenge on Friday, as 20 crews completed the two day, 300 kilometre eco-driving competition across France, Italy and Monaco. 

This sporting challenge is quite unusual. Victory doesn’t derive from speed but from precision, strategy and respect for the environment. The rally itself wasn’t typical either. Participants faced eco-driving tests where they had to cover a route revealed at the last moment while consuming minimal energy, optimising energy recovery during descent and braking. They also had to tackle regularity challenges and quizzes about the historic Grimaldi sites they passed through spanning from medieval castles to mountain villages linked to the Prince’s family history.

The Challenge’s results

The Association Paesi Bandiera Arancione crew, made up of Luana Mauro and Fiorella Manogo, claimed top honours in the overall classification and also took home the Ladies’ Cup.

Luana Mauro and Fiorella Manogo, photo by Monaco Life.

Monaco’s municipal team, however ,brought particular pride to the Principality. François Lallemand, Fifth Deputy Mayor, and Jean-Luc Puyo, Municipal Councillor, won the eco-driving prize for the most environmentally respectful driving throughout the course. Mayor Georges Marsan praised them for “brilliantly defending Monaco’s colours” and the institution’s ecological and sporting values.

Eric Rini and Audrey Guillon from Nice Metropole finished second overall and won the regularity prize, demonstrating remarkable consistency across the demanding route. The Nice Chamber of Commerce team of Cédric Reynaud and Ines Stanojevic completed the podium in third place.

Lastly, the SMEG crew of Eric Fouage and Benoit Rabille won the quiz competition.

All the crews that took part in the Riviera Electric Challenge, photo by Monaco Life.

Since 2015, the Riviera Electric Challenge has been promoting a new generation of responsible mobility, showcasing that it is in fact possible to combine driving pleasure with reduced carbon footprint. The route wound through villages and towns linked to Grimaldi family history including Cagnes-sur-Mer, where Rainier I Grimaldi built a castle in 1309, and Dolceacqua,  which was twinned with Monaco in November 2023.

When it comes to the Principality, Monaco has become a leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, with over 1,000 free charging points and neatly 20% of its vehicles fleet now electric by the end of 2024.

The rally departed from Cagnes-sur-Mer on October 9th, stopped overnight to Dolceacqua and arrived at the Palace Square on October 10th for the prize-giving ceremony.

See more in Kyriaki Topalidou’s video reel below…

See also: 

Monaco’s Ever forum to celebrate 20 years with focus on future technologies

 

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Monaco Life

“Breathtaking”: Prince Albert hails Vacherot’s historic Masters 1000 win for Monaco

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
13/10/2025

Valentin Vacherot has made sporting history for Monaco, becoming the first Monegasque tennis player to win a tournament on the ATP Tour in the Open Era after defeating tennis legend Novak Djokovic en route to victory at the Shanghai Masters — and then overcoming his own cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in a gripping final on Sunday.

The 26-year-old didn’t just bring home Monaco’s first-ever ATP title since 1968; he did so at a Masters 1000, the sport’s most prestigious category after the Grand Slams. Ranked just 204 in the world at the start of the tournament, Vacherot is now officially the lowest-ranked player in history to win a Masters 1000 event.

“It’s simply breathtaking. I don’t have adequate adjectives for this achievement,” said Prince Albert II after the victory. “We knew Valentin had qualities, that he had been progressing for some months now, and we knew he had the potential to go so far, but we never thought he could reach a Masters 1000 final so quickly.”

The Prince also added: “It’s remarkable not only in terms of technique and physicality, but also mentally. He’s a boy who has progressed greatly at that level.”

Beating the best

One of the defining moments of Vacherot’s campaign came in the third round, when he stunned Novak Djokovic in straight sets — arguably the biggest upset of the year on the ATP Tour and a defining victory in Vacherot’s young career.

“I hadn’t even dreamed of this because it wasn’t conceivable,” Vacherot told reporters after the match.

From that moment on, belief seemed to fuel Vacherot’s run. Sunday’s final saw him rally from a set down to defeat Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in a dramatic all-family showdown.

An extraordinary fortnight

Vacherot entered the tournament in Shanghai as an alternate and had to battle through qualifying rounds, surviving match points along the way. Now, after a string of sensational victories, he will soar 164 places in Monday’s ATP rankings to become World No. 40.

“We have a bunch of young kids that train every day and just the videos of seeing them jumping around when I win… What’s in my heart, the most important, is the joy that I bring back home,” he said.

Vacherot is currently Monaco’s only singles representative in the ATP top 1,000.

“We’re just a small federation. Four players at that level is crazy for Monaco. We’re a little family.”

Valentin Vacherot, photo credit: Monaco Info

Prince Albert hails team spirit

Prince Albert II echoed those sentiments, praising the team behind Vacherot and the sense of unity that helped drive the success.

“There’s really a team around him, this team spirit that you don’t always find in tennis and other individual sports. I think the fact that he’s also a Davis Cup player was part of his formation,” the Prince said.

“There’s this family spirit that they’ve all managed to create, but which was also instilled by the president, by Mélanie de Massy, my cousin.”

The Prince also revealed that he had been in touch with Vacherot before the final.

“I sent him a message of both congratulations and encouragement,” he shared. “And I finished, as I finish my messages with Charles Leclerc, with: Daghe Munegu! (Go Monaco). I dare hope that it brought him luck.”

A win for Monaco sport

The triumph adds to a growing list of international sporting achievements for Monaco — from motor racing to athletics and now, tennis.

“Even if we’re a small country, even if we have limitations in many areas, we can, thanks to this spirit, thanks to this dynamic, achieve very great things,” said Prince Albert II.

For France, the final was bittersweet. Rinderknech’s loss means the nation’s wait for a Masters 1000 champion stretches into another year. The last Frenchman to lift such a trophy was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2014.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Monaco Info