Mark van Bommel appointed Belgium head coach on two-year deal
Short overview
Mark van Bommel has been named Belgium head coach on a two-year contract through UEFA EURO 2028. The Dutchman replaces Rudi Garcia and will lead the Red Devils in the Nations League and World Cup qualifying campaigns.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) officially announced Mark van Bommel as the new head coach of the Belgium national team on Friday, following the departure of Rudi Garcia. The 49-year-old Dutchman has signed a two-year contract that will see him lead the Red Devils through the UEFA EURO 2028 tournament.
Coaching appointment and contract details
Van Bommel takes over a Belgium side that reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they were eliminated 2-1 by eventual champions Spain. His immediate task will be to guide the team in the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign before attempting to qualify for UEFA EURO 2028, which will be co-hosted by the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Van Bommel becomes only the second Dutchman to manage Belgium, following Dick Advocaat, who held the position between 2009 and 2010.
Van Bommel's playing and coaching career
A FIFA World Cup 2010 runner-up with the Netherlands, Van Bommel enjoyed a highly successful playing career as a midfielder. He won numerous trophies with some of Europe's biggest clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.
His coaching career includes spells at PSV Eindhoven, VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, and Royal Antwerp in Belgium. At Antwerp, he achieved notable success by winning the league and cup double during the 2022/23 season.
Coaching staff and first matches
Van Bommel will be assisted by three coaches: his former Netherlands teammate Boudewijn Zenden, former Belgium international Maarten Martens, and fellow Dutchman Reinier Robbenmond, whom he previously worked alongside at PSV Eindhoven.
His first match in charge will be an away UEFA Nations League fixture against Italy on 25 September, followed by a home match against France three days later.
Quotes from the new head coach
"It is a huge honour to become Belgium head coach. I would like to thank the Belgian Football Association for the trust they have placed in me," Van Bommel said on the federation's official website. "Belgium has exceptional players and enormous potential."
"Together with my coaching staff, we want to build a disciplined, ambitious team that is brave enough to compete with the very best," he continued. "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. I can't wait to meet the players, the staff and the fans, and to begin this new chapter together."
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