The Royal Belgian Football Association officially named Mark van Bommel as the new manager of the Belgian national football team this Friday. The 49-year-old Dutchman takes over for Rudi Garcia, who departed the role following the team’s appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals. Van Bommel has committed to a contract that keeps him at the helm of the Red Devils through the UEFA EURO 2028 tournament.
Reflecting on his new position, the former Dutch international midfielder expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead a squad he considers rich in potential. Van Bommel emphasized that his tenure will focus on instilling discipline, ambition, and courage to challenge the world’s top teams. His coaching career includes stints at PSV Eindhoven, Wolfsburg, and Antwerp, the latter of which he led to a historic league title before leaving in June 2024.
Vincent Mannaert, the technical director for the association, noted that the decision to hire Van Bommel stems from a desire for a younger coaching perspective. Mannaert expressed confidence that the new staff’s blend of playing and coaching experience makes them the right choice to cultivate the development of Belgium’s mix of veteran players and emerging talent. Van Bommel is set to begin his tenure with a series of Nations League matches, starting against Italy on September 25.
