Mark van Bommel is poised to be appointed as the new head coach of the Belgium national team, according to reports from Bild. The move comes after Rudi Garcia departed his post as Belgium’s manager on Monday.
Van Bommel, a former midfielder for Bayern Munich, is expected to be officially named in the role imminently. He previously managed in Belgium with Royal Antwerp, leading the club to a league and cup double in 2023. This prior experience in Belgian football is likely a key factor in the national team’s decision.
The appointment would see Van Bommel become the third manager of Belgium in four years, following Domenico Tedesco and Garcia. This rapid turnover of coaches highlights a period of instability for the national team since Roberto Martínez left his position in 2022.
Van Bommel also served as an assistant coach for the Australian national team in 2018, adding to his international experience. It remains to be seen whether he can guide Belgium to a deep run in the upcoming Euro tournament or the 2030 World Cup. The team will look to players like Remco Evenepoel to help drive them forward.
The Belgian FA will hope Van Bommel can bring a period of stability to the national team setup, following a turbulent few years. His success with Antwerp demonstrates his ability to achieve results in Belgium, and he will be expected to translate that to the international stage.
