Former Dutch international Mark van Bommel has been named head coach of the Belgian national football team with signing a contract that runs through UEFA Euro 2028. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) announced on Friday.
The 49-year-old succeeds Frenchman Rudi Garcia stepped down following Belgium's quarter-final exit against eventual champions Spain at the World Cup. Belgian football officials sought a younger and tactically adept manager with strong leadership skills to succeed Garcia whose tenure faced criticism over tactical decisions and team dynamics despite reaching the last eight.
Van Bommel expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the "Red Devils" into their next chapter. "It is a great honor to become head coach of Belgium" said Van Bommel. "Belgium has outstanding players and enormous potential. Together with my coaching staff what we want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the very best."
Van Bommel’s backroom team will feature former Dutch teammate Boudewijn Zenden the ex-Belgium international Maarten Martens and assistant Reinier Robbemond. RBFA Technical Director Vincent Mannaert praised the appointment also citing the coaching staff's international experience as both elite players and managers.
As a midfielder Van Bommel earned 79 caps for the Netherlands and featured in the 2010 World Cup final. His club playing career included stints at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and PSV Eindhoven. In management he previously coached PSV, Wolfsburg and Antwerp guiding Antwerp to a historic league and cup double in 2023.
Van Bommel faces a challenging start during the expanded UEFA Nations League window this autumn. His debut in charge will be an away match against Italy in Rome on September 25th at home fixtures against France and Turkey before traveling for a second encounter with France in October.
