Belgian Red Devils manager Rudi Garcia to leave at end of July, Mark van Bommel confirmed as replacement

The Royal Belgian Football Association is not renewing its contract with manager Rudi Garcia, despite the Red Devils’ recent accomplishments on the international stage.

The 62-year-old Frenchman was appointed 18 months ago during a “challenging sporting and financial context,” commented the association.

Garcia coached the Belgian national team to success in the A division of the Nations League and, last month, took them to the World Cup quarter finals where they lost to the eventual champions Spain, 2-1.

Despite the defeat, in a post-match press conference, Garcia highlighted the fact that, at that stage in the competition, Belgium “were the only team to score a goal [against them] in eight matches,” reports Bruzz.

During the group stage of the World Cup, Belgium finished top of their group. However, they struggled to produce convincing performances, winning only one of their three matches and pulling off a late comeback to beat Senegal 3-2 in the round of 32.

Belgium’s 4-1 win over tournament co-hosts United States in the round of 16 showed strength of character in the face of FIFA’s controversial pre-match overturning of US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension. Like many other national coaches, Garcia spoke out against the decision, which had been directly steered by President Donald Trump, likening it to an April Fool’s Day joke.

Ahead of his exit at the end of the month, Garcia said that he is not departing with bitter feelings. Instead, in his leaving statement he thanked his group of players and coaching staff for their support and effort in recent competitions and wished the team all the best in the future.

“I am now ready for new ambitions again, both with a national team and at a club. I wish Belgium every success in continuing the generational shift that I helped initiate with great pleasure,” he said.

Dutch football coach and former player, Mark van Bommel, 49, has been confirmed as Garcia’s replacement from 15 August, with a contract running until 2028.

The Belgian football association also announced that "three experienced personalities from the world of football" would strengthen the national team's technical staff, reports RTBF. The new assistant coaches have been named as Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens and Reinier Robbemond.

Photo: ©Royal Belgian Football Association