Belgium’s hunt for a new national coach after Roberto Martínez announced his departure immediately after the elimination at the World Cup at the end of last year. Big names would be on a wishlist on the desk of the football association, and after the Spaniard, the new national coach would again not have a Belgian passport.
Het Nieuwsblad comes up with three names that it has heard from a larger shortlist. Joachim Löw is mentioned first. The German was ultimately responsible when Die Mannschaft captured world gold on Brazilian soil in 2014. Löw was national coach for fifteen years. Since he handed over the baton to Hansi Flick a year and a half ago. There have been rumors of a new coaching job for Löw. But so far no contract has been signed.
Mauricio Pochettino is also mentioned. The Argentinian worked at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, at Tottenham Hotspur he certainly got to know Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld well. In London, they reached the 2019 Champions League final together. Pochettino then coached Paris Saint-Germain for a while, where he won a Ligue 1 championship. Pochettino is also currently free, after his dismissal in Paris he has not yet found a new trainer job.
Belgium is also in need of a technical director
Third, André Villas-Boas would be a candidate. The Portuguese is still only 45, but has already worked in Portugal, Italy, England, Russia, China and France. Villas-Boas has been out of work for two years now. In February 2021 he submitted his resignation as coach of Olympique Marseille. The French club had brought in Olivier Ntcham against his will. Villas-Boas has national titles in Portugal (with FC Porto) and Russia (with Zenit Saint Petersburg) on his resume.
The newspaper knows that there are more candidates, and makes the reservation that it is still questionable whether this trio has ears to the financial and sporting perspectives that Belgium has to offer them. A technical director is also being sought, because Martínez also fulfilled that position. Frank Vercauteren would be the main candidate, while Thomas Vermaelen (now assistant national coach), Michel Preud’homme, Timmy Simons and Johan Walem are also linked to that job.
