Rudi Garcia has been appointed as the new head coach of the Belgian national football team, the Red Devils.
The 60-year-old Frenchman will be introduced on Friday at 13:00, confirmed the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB). Garcia succeeds Domenico Tedesco, whose contract was terminated last week due to poor performance.
Garcia began his coaching career in France with Saint-Etienne. He then managed Dijon, Le Mans, and Lille, where he mentored a young Eden Hazard. With Lille, he won both the league title and the cup in 2011.
Subsequent managerial positions included AS Roma (2013-2016), Marseille (2016-2019), where he reached the Europa League final, Lyon (2019-2021), Saudi club Al Nassr (2022-2023), and Napoli. He was dismissed from Napoli in November 2023 after just a few months. Since then, Garcia has been without a club.
Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco and Belgium's Leandro Trossard look dejected after a soccer game between Belgian national soccer team Red Devils and Slovakia, Monday 17 June 2024 in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. Credit: Belga
Garcia’s first task with the Red Devils is the double playoff tie against Ukraine. In March, Belgium must fight to retain their spot in the Nations League A-division. Afterwards, the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup awaits.
Garcia will be presented at the Proximus Basecamp in Tubeke, alongside sports director Vincent Mannaert. Shortly before this, Iceland’s Elisabet Gunnarsdottir will also be introduced as the new head coach of the Belgium women’s team, the Red Flames, at the association’s headquarters.
