Former Albion defender Sebastien Pocognoli has been named as the new head coach of Royal Union St Gilloise.

He takes charge of the Belgian top-flight club and current cup holders, where Tony Bloom is a stakeholder, on a two-year contract.

Pocognoli, now 36, played for the Seagulls during their 2016-17 promotion-winning season.

Highlights included his free-kick to secure a 2-1 victory at QPR and the superb cross from which Anthony Knockaert scored the winner at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

He completed his playing career at RUSG, where he then coached the under-21s.

He has since been in charge of Genk under-18s and the Belgium national team at that age group.

His first senior coaching role sees him succeed Alexander Blessin, who took charge at St Pauli soon after they lost the services of Fabian Huerzeler to Albion.

Bloom was asked during Huerzeler’s first press conference whether he had mentioned Blessin during negotiations with St Pauli.

The Albion chairman replied: “I didn’t discuss anything with St Pauli.

“I left it to my esteemed CEO to deal with St Pauli.”