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Day: 16 October 2025

Precocious Sébastien Pocognoli looks to bring ‘rigour and intensity’ at AS Monaco

by: Luke Entwistle
16/10/2025
Sébastien Pocognoli speaks in his presentation as manager of AS Monaco

Sébastien Pocognoli isn’t wasting any time. It was only just over a year ago that he made his managerial debut, and he has now been ushered through the door at AS Monaco, where he will be expected to repeat his success at Union Saint-Gilloise.

“Everything happened quickly,” began Pocognoli, presented to the press on Tuesday, having just taken charge of his first session as Monaco manager. It was a phrase that referenced the speed at which his move from USG to the Principality took form, but it is equally relevant to his career as a whole.

Retired at 34, the former Belgium international led USG to their first Belgian league title since 1935 at the age of 37, and by 38, he was leading the side in their first-ever Champions League campaign. But it didn’t last long. It was only the previous summer that the Belgian was appointed USG manager, representing his first job with a professional side, having previously had stints in youth football. “It was a great marriage,” said Pocognoli of the club where he played and then later managed. But it was a union that was to be broken when a derby-day defeat to OGC Nice put paid to Adi Hutter’s time at the Principality club.

“What we are doing is trying to anticipate things that we realise could maybe not be in a good place soon. At this stage, we have our season and our goals under control,” said Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro, explaining the decision for the managerial change. It was a pre-emptive strike of sorts, with the club fifth in Ligue 1 and just three points behind leaders PSG, and one not without risk, given the age of the new man at the helm, and the timing of the decision. Scuro assumes that risk: “The risk is always there. Doing something or not doing something, there is always a risk,” said the Brazilian; action, not reaction.

Pocognoli with Scuro. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life

And so Scuro put the wheels in motion. On Friday, Hutter was out; by Saturday, Pocognoli was in. “There is a shared desire to bring about a return to form and a freshness on the pitch,” said Pocognoli, who said that he was easily sold on the Monégasque project. “The sporting project attracted me. The approach is daring […] It gives me a lot of confidence that a big club in France can be interested in a young coach from Belgium,” he said on Tuesday.

Pocognoli liked “intensity” during his first session

He outlined what he aims to bring. “Those who know me know that I like rigour and hard work. In terms of football, I like to go hard, with intensity,” says the Belgian, who showed himself to be a hands-on technician during his first session, attended by Monaco Life. And he was happy with what he saw during that short late afternoon session, as the sun set on the club’s performance centre in La Turbie.

“The first session went well. They were coming back from a few days off, and with a new manager, so there was a lot of intensity, a desire to show things, naturally. I had to calm them down a bit because you can’t go too far, but there was a good dynamic and good intensity,” said Pocognoli.

Pocognoli directing his first session. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life

Intensity is one of his key principles, if not the key principle. Pocognoli is also accustomed to playing with a 3-4-1-2 formation, the one that served him so well back in his native Belgium. However, he would not be drawn on whether he would retain that system at Monaco. “I think we have a pretty hybrid squad,” said the manager, who may have to experiment in the coming weeks in order to find the right formula.

Van Gaal’s inspiration

However, beyond the tactical element, Pocognoli is a manager who lends great importance to the man-management aspect. It is something that he learnt from Louis Van Gaal, during his time as a player at AZ Alkmaar. “I felt myself progressing every day [with him]. When he left, I felt less good. That meant that he was a good manager. That’s when I realised that a coach could be important for a player, and when I said, ‘Why not become a coach?’” recalled Pocognoli.

Prior to playing under Van Gaal at Alkmaar, Pocognoli could have joined Monaco, as he revealed. “They (Monaco) came to see me at Genk, but in the match that they came to see me, I was sent off. I have a second chance, now. It’s good,” joked the Belgian. Handed a second chance, he will now look to seize it and drive his new club towards its lofty objectives.

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Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life

Prince Albert II launches 9th E-Rallye Monte-Carlo

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
16/10/2025

Prince Albert II opened the ninth edition of the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo on the evening of Wednesday October 15th from Casino Square, sending off 62 crews from 18 different countries.

The event, organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco, is a regularity rally exclusively for fully electric vehicles. This year’s competition features 37 different models from 17 manufacturers.

Among the participants is Camille Gottlieb, the Prince’s niece and daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who is partnering with Margaux Grundstein. The pair won the FIA consumption category last year and are hoping to repeat their success while also promoting Be Safe Monaco, an organisation focused on tackling drink-driving.

Another prominent participant is Italian former Formula 1 driver Stefano Modena, who previously competed in multiple Grand Prix races. He is racing alongside co-driver Jack Scarlett Richardson.

Several other Monegasque teams are competing including Olivier Campana and Nicolas Milanesio, who finished second in last year’s event. Campana, who serves as deputy general manager of the Yacht Club de Monaco, is competing in his fifth rally.

After the ceremonial start, competitors immediately faced two regularity stages, including a night-time run through the famous Col de Turini. Thursday’s programme includes four more stages through the Alps and Italian Piedmonth, with crews tackling the Col de la Lombarde at over 2,300 metres altitude before returning to Monaco’s Esplanade des Pêcheurs around 6pm.

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More photos of the depart can be found in the gallery below…(all photos credit: Monaco Life)

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene open new SMEG headquarters in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/10/2025

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene inaugurated the new headquarters of Monaco’s electricity and gas company, SMEG, on Wednesday 15th October, in a ceremony attended by government officials, company representatives, and notable figures from across the Principality.

Now officially named Immeuble SMEG, the 10-storey building spans 12,000 square metres and marks a major new chapter for the company, which celebrates its 135th anniversary this year. The new site will house SMEG’s operational teams, as well as private tenants and several government departments.

Speaking at the event, Thomas Battaglione, CEO of SMEG, welcomed Their Serene Highnesses and underscored the significance of the building not only as a modern workspace, but as a symbol of the company’s long-standing role in Monaco’s infrastructure.

Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

This latest inauguration also holds historical resonance. It comes more than 35 years after the original SMEG headquarters was opened by Prince Rainier III, who was joined at the time by then–Hereditary Prince Albert. The moment was recalled during the ceremony as a reminder of the continuity between generations and the evolution of public service in the Principality.

The new building is part of a broader effort to modernise public infrastructure while meeting current environmental and efficiency standards, in line with Monaco’s long-term energy strategy.

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Main photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

Ever Monaco’s 20th edition showcases desert testing and urban mobility

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
16/10/2025

Ever Monaco’s 20th edition opened on October 15th with sessions examining how extreme-condition testing and urban infrastructure development are advancing electric mobility. The forum has been held annually in Monaco and is focusing on renewable energy and sustainable transport. 

The two-day event runs until Thursday evening, when winners of a start-up competition with €20,000 in prizes will be announced.

Desert racing tests electric limits

The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc, a women-only off-road rally held annually in Morocco, shared how desert racing has contributed to electric vehicle development. The rally introduced an electric vehicle category in 2017 and is ISO 14001 certified for environmental management.

Dominique Serra, founder and director of the rally, speaking to Monaco Life, explained the technical challenges faced in extreme conditions.

“When we set up the electric category, we had to make improvements to the vehicles for batteries, cooling and kilometre optimisation,” she said. “We’ve been able to provide information so that we can work more sustainably and concretely on vehicles in the city.”

Dominique Serra, photo by Monaco Life.

The rally initially created a separate electric route due to range constraints. “We didn’t have charging points all along the desert,” Serra said. “Battery optimisation was very important because you had to check that you were taking the most direct route possible to save your battery.”

However, retrofit technology has changed the picture. “For two years now, we’ve integrated retrofit vehicles into the race and the four-wheel-drive category,” she said. “It’s been a real performance and success.”

Serra, though, was clear about current limitations. “We hope to have 100% electric four-wheel-drives. It’s not quite ready yet, because the manufacturers aren’t quite there.”

She also noted what she sees as different approaches to sustainable technology. “Women are more pragmatic,” she said. “Women don’t just look for power and speed, they also look for what they can do in terms of use and relevance of use.”

Monaco’s electric infrastructure

SMEG, Monaco’s electricity and gas company which has operated in Monaco for over 133 years, outlined its electric mobility services at the event. David Passini, a sales representative at the company, explained that the Mobee car-sharing system now runs approximately 80 vehicles available to both Monaco residents and visitors.

The service includes Renault Twizys for journeys within Monaco and neighbouring towns like Cap d’Ail, Beausoleil and Roquebrune, while Smart and Tesla Model 3 vehicles allow users to travel freely across the PACA region in France and into the Italian regions of Liguria and Piemonte.

On electricity sourcing, Passini told Monaco Life: “Any electric contract up to 36 KVA has 100% green electricity guaranteed in the contract.” The 36 KVA threshold covers most standard residential properties in Monaco.

Wednesday’s session included a morning conference on luxury sector corporate social responsibility, while the afternoon’s conference focused on future energy and vehicles.

Fifteen start-ups pitched throughout the day, competing for prizes from a €20,000 pool including an €8,000 first prize. The companies are developing technologies ranging from CO₂ conversion systems to mobile solar stations and electric foil boats.

Technical roundtables ran in the late afternoon, examining electric vehicle deployment challenges, charging infrastructure rollout, and the role of alternative fuels like hydrogen and bioGNV alongside electrification.

Thursday’s schedule

Thursday morning’s programme continued the technical roundtables on electromobility and renewable energy.

At 2pm, a conference on 20 years of mobility in Monaco will feature Bernard Fautrier, EVER’s honorary president, Deputy Mayor Marjorie Crovetto, SMEG’s Anthony Dupont, and Environment Minister Céline Caron Dagioni.

The start-up competition winners will be announced at 3:30.

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life. 

Chokolashow 2025: Chocolate, charity and contemporary art converge in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/10/2025

The second edition of Chokolashow took place on 13th and 14th October at the Méridien Beach Plaza, positioning itself as both a gourmet event and a platform for cultural exchange and fundraising. Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, the event brought together artists, patrons, and non-profits for two days of programming centred around chocolate as both material and metaphor.

The artistic heart of Chokolashow was an exhibition of eight original works engraved onto slabs of chocolate, created by international artists and displayed ahead of the event from 25th September to 10th October. Each piece explored a nautical theme and was paired with a charitable cause, with proceeds from the closing auction—€9,300 in total—distributed across nine beneficiary organisations, including Action Innocence, Fight Aids Monaco, and the Prince Albert II Foundation.

Prince Albert attended the final evening, viewing the works and meeting the artists before signing a ceremonial chocolate bar — one of two symbolic pieces created for the occasion.

The first, encased in resin and set with diamonds by Italian jewellers Caffaro Rore, drew particular attention for its blend of craftsmanship and spectacle.

Prince Albert II with Artist Marcos Marin (left) and Maria Bologna, organiser of Chokolashow. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace 

The event format

Organised by Monaco International Hub, led by Maria Bologna, Chokolashow was structured as a village-style gathering, with installations, tastings, and a formal dinner. The format allowed guests to move between experiences — an art installation, a table conversation, a product showcase — rather than follow a rigid programme.

The gala dinner, curated by chef Laurent Colin with support from Antonio Fochi, focused on the nuances of cacao, used both as an ingredient and as a motif. The evening also featured experimental contributions from partners like Casa Amodio, which introduced a cocoa-infused mozzarella, and Frenk Bar, which created both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cacao-based cocktails.

Gift bags were filled with artisanal products from Italian producers, including Parmigiano ganaches from I Portici, gianduiotti by Ziccat, and vintage-style chocolates from Atelier 45, reinforcing the event’s cross-cultural intent.

Prince Albert II with the Chokolashow participants. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

Highlights and announcements

Artist Tony Belfatto was awarded the public prize for most appreciated work, and will design the official Chokolashow trophy for the next edition. Francesca Bergesio, Miss Italia 2023, was in attendance as guest of honour, alongside event partner Gerardo Di Maio, who announced that the final of The Look of the Year will return to the same venue on 16th November 2025.

Another key moment came with the announcement of Chokolashow 2026, which will be themed around the Grimaldi dynasty — a nod to heritage, continuity and Monaco’s evolving cultural landscape.

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Main photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace 

Women of Monaco Lunch Green: a gathering of substance and style

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/10/2025

Monaco’s Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo saw more than just fine dining and high fashion on 14th October. The Women of Monaco Lunch, now in its 13th edition, brought together a diverse cross-section of women for a purpose-driven afternoon that balanced elegance with meaning, and raised €13,700 for the Princess Grace Foundation in the process.

Created by Sandrine Knoell and produced by 5 Stars Events, this year’s event was anything but formulaic. Women from across Monaco’s cultural, professional and social circles gathered in the Salon Méditerranée — some leading businesses, others raising families, many doing both. The dress code was green, a visual thread that tied the room together, but the real cohesion came from shared intent: conversation, contribution and community.

This isn’t a gathering built on status or job titles. It’s about proximity — bringing people into the same space who might not normally cross paths. An investment adviser might be seated next to a gallery curator, or a new resident might be discovering her place in Monaco’s rhythm for the first time. That mix is by design, and it’s what gives the event its edge.

Sandrine Knoell (centre) with lunch guests. Photo credit: Christophe Giraudeau

A showcase of local creativity

This year’s lunch also included a fashion presentation by Allure Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, featuring incredibly curated pieces from Elie Saab, Brunello Cucinelli, and Magda Butrym. Models, styled by Cool Bay Monaco, moved through the space without fanfare, an understated interlude that blended into the rhythm of the day rather than pulling focus.

Guests were also introduced to NOA Fine Jewellery, with founder Frieda Kaplan Gross presenting pieces that reflect both craftsmanship and character.

The pieces felt less like statements and more like companions — subtle, enduring, wearable.

Art, finance and the questions that still need asking

Supported by Barclays Private Bank, the lunch struck a balance between refinement and real conversation. While the tone remained elegant, the content went deeper, touching on finance, art, and the value of visibility. A standout moment came from Bérénice Antoinette Robaglia, founder of the FAMM Museum

(Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins), who posed a pointed question to the room: “How many female artists have sold works for over €30 million?” The answer—just three, compared to over 100 men—cut through the buzz of the afternoon, shifting the energy from admiration to reflection. It was a moment that reminded everyone present why these gatherings matter: they make space not just for celebration, but for honest recognition of what still needs to change.

Reframing what gatherings like this can be

As ever, proceeds from the event support the work of the Princess Grace Foundation, but the deeper takeaway was about what these gatherings represent. In Monaco, where glamour is often expected, Women of Monaco Lunch offers something a little different: a reflection of how women in the Principality are creating space — for ideas, for community, and for each other.

See more in Cassandra Tanti’s video below…

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cassandra Tanti (@cassandratanti)

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All photos courtesy of Five Stars Events. Photos credit: Christophe Giraudeau