Mark van Bommel, a former captain for the Netherlands, has been named the new head coach for Belgium. His contract extends through to Euro 2028. The Belgian Football Association confirmed the appointment, noting that van Bommel will officially begin his role on August 15.
The 49-year-old succeeds Rudi Garcia, whose departure was confirmed after Belgium exited the 2026 World Cup in the quarter-finals. Spain, the eventual champions, eliminated Belgium from the tournament. Garcia had been in charge for 18 months, with his contract concluding at the end of the World Cup cycle.
Van Bommel expressed his honour in becoming the head coach of Belgium. He stated that the nation possesses outstanding players and significant potential. His aim, along with his coaching staff, is to build a disciplined, ambitious, and brave team capable of competing with the best.
Vincent Mannaert, the sporting director for the Belgian Football Association, welcomed van Bommel’s arrival. Mannaert highlighted van Bommel’s international experience as both a coach and a player as a key asset. This experience is expected to help the Red Devils continue to improve, achieve results, and reach their full potential.
Coaching Staff and Previous Roles
Van Bommel will be supported by assistant coaches Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens, and Reinier Robbemond. Zenden is a former winger for Chelsea and Liverpool. The new coaching team will face an early challenge with upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Before this appointment, van Bommel most recently managed Royal Antwerp. During his tenure, he guided the club to the Belgian league title, the Belgian Cup, and the Belgian Super Cup. In his debut season, he led Royal Antwerp to their first league title in 66 years.
However, Royal Antwerp exited the Champions League in the group stages the following season, securing three points from six matches. Van Bommel then departed the club at the end of that campaign after his side finished third in the regular season and sixth in the subsequent six-team championship group.
Van Bommel’s coaching journey began with his nation’s under-17 side. He also served as an assistant manager for Saudi Arabia and Australia, and worked with PSV’s youth team before managing their first team. He also had a brief spell as manager for Wolfsburg in 2021, where he was dismissed after less than five months following an eight-match winless run.
Belgium’s Recent Performance and Future Tasks
Belgium, currently ranked eighth in FIFA’s world rankings, had a mixed performance at the recent World Cup. They topped Group G with five points despite largely underwhelming in the group stages. The team staged a comeback against Senegal in the round of 32, winning 3-2 after extra time, and then defeated the United States 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Their World Cup campaign ended with a late goal from Mikel Merino, which secured their exit against Spain. This defeat marked the end of an 18-match unbeaten run for Belgium, which had stretched back to a 3-1 loss against Ukraine in March 2025.
Van Bommel’s immediate tasks include overseeing Nations League fixtures against Italy, France, and Turkey, scheduled for September and October. He is also tasked with improving Belgium’s performance in the European Championships, as the team has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the tournament since its 1996 expansion.
In the two most recent iterations of the European Championships, Belgium has fallen in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals. Van Bommel’s appointment aims to address these past disappointments and guide the team towards greater success in future tournaments.
The Royal Belgian Football Association expressed confidence in van Bommel and his staff, believing they will help the Red Devils continue to grow and fully utilise their potential.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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