Mark van Bommel appointed Belgium head coach through Euro 2028

Mark van Bommel appointed Belgium head coach through Euro 2028

The Royal Belgian Football Association has appointed Mark van Bommel as the new head coach of the Belgian national team. The 49-year-old former Netherlands international will officially assume his duties on August 15, 2026, under a two-year contract that runs through Euro 2028.

Van Bommel takes over the Red Devils following the tenure of Rudi Garcia. Garcia's departure was confirmed this week, with his contract ending July 31. The transition comes after Belgium's run to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated by world champions Spain. During his time with the federation, Garcia recorded 12 wins from 20 matches.

Van Bommel arrives with a background as an elite player and manager. He represented top European clubs including AC Milan, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, where he served as captain. He also played for PSV. On the international stage, he was part of the Netherlands squad that reached the 2010 World Cup final, though they lost that match to Spain.

His coaching profile is highlighted by a two-year stint at Royal Antwerp. There, he led the club to a Belgian Super Cup and a domestic league and cup double in the 2022-23 season. The league title was a historic achievement for Antwerp, marking their first since 1957.

To support his transition to the national team, Van Bommel has named a team of experienced assistants. This staff includes former Liverpool and Chelsea winger Boudewijn Zenden, as well as Maarten Martens and Reinier Robbemond.

Vincent Mannaert, the sports director for the Belgian soccer federation, welcomed the new appointment.

"I am truly delighted that Mark van Bommel and his assistants have agreed to take on this challenge. They are highly motivated and ambitious, and I am convinced that, with their international experience as both coaches and players, they will be perfectly placed to help our Belgian Red Devils continue to improve, achieve results and reach their full potential, both individually and as a team,"Vincent Mannaert, sports director, via sports.yahoo.com

Van Bommel emphasized a desire to instill specific cultural values within the squad. He described the Belgian roster as having outstanding players and enormous potential.

"Together with my coaching staff, we want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the very best. Success is never guaranteed, but hard work, honesty and commitment are. We will give everything to help this team improve every day and make the Belgian people proud,"Mark van Bommel, head coach, via sports.yahoo.com

The new manager also expressed his gratitude toward the federation, stating It is a great honor to become head coach of Belgium and thanking the Royal Belgian Football Association for their trust.

Van Bommel's previous managerial experience also includes time at VfL Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven.

The coach's first major challenge begins in September and October with a series of UEFA Nations League matches. Belgium is scheduled to face France, Turkey, and Italy. The first stern test will occur on September 25 in an away fixture against Italy, a team recently turned down by Pep Guardiola.