Official | Rudi Garcia appointed Belgium head coach | OneFootball

French head coach Rudi Garcia has been appointed Belgium national team head coach, the Royal Belgian FA has announced this Friday. The 60-year-old Garcia will be unveiled as the Red Devils’ new manager this Friday during a press conference. The Belgium national team dismissed last week head coach Domenico Tedesco. The former RB Leipzig head coach was heavily criticized for his bad results and his handling of the talented Belgium roster at his disposal.

Garcia was a free agent after a short stint at the head of then-Serie A champions Napoli. He was dismissed in February 2023 following a string of disappointing results with the Partenopei. Garcia is a popular coach in Belgium due to his exploits with Ligue 1 side Lille OSC. Garcia led Eden Hazard’s Les Dogues to a League and Cup double in 2011. He was the preferred choice of recently appointed Belgian FA sporting director Vincent Mannaert, who has been tasked to find a replacement for Tedesco. Former Belgium deputy coach Thierry Henry and former Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag were also considered, according to L’Equipe.

Garcia will make his Belgium debut in March against Ukraine in a two-legged Nations League playoffs. The former Marseille and Lyon head coach will then be tasked to qualify the Red Devils for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval