The situation changed at the end of December, when Milan fired Paulo Fonseca on the 30th. The first contacts between Conceição and the management of the Rossoneri had even taken place before the C4. For the 50-year-old Portuguese, it was difficult to say no to a great Italian team, a country where he had the most years of his club career (at Lazio). Mannaert quickly understood: he would have to find another solution for the national team.
Rumors, like Gattuso and ten Hag, are numerous
Time is running out because the sports director would like to announce the new coach during the month of January, just to give the chosen one enough time to prepare for the Nations League play-off against Ukraine (March 20 and 23). Mannaert is now discussing with another candidate, whose name has not yet been leaked.
The Mark van Bommel track seems to have cooled down. That of Hein Vanhaezebrouck did not really exist, as he affirmed among our colleagues at Newspaper a few days ago. And Michel Preud’homme? At 66, he feels good in retirement, far from the pressure of football despite his friendship with Mannaert. Rumors coming from Tubize are numerous, such as that of the Italian Gennaro Gattuso (stationed at Hajduk Split after adventures in Marseille, Valencia and Naples) or the Dutchman Erik ten Hag (dismissed from Manchester United on October 28 last).
Tedesco awaits dismissal from Stuttgart
Ideally, Mannaert would like to find a man who is already familiar with Belgian football, which is not the case with the last two names. But the market is not simple, despite the certain attraction that the brotherhood of coaches maintains for the Devils, in full reconstruction. The budget is another obstacle to manage, in times of economy in the federation. Especially since we will also have to pay for Tedesco’s dismissal.
Yes, because the Devils officially still have a coach. But from his home near Stuttgart, Domenico Tedesco no longer has many illusions. The 39-year-old German has had a few talks with Mannaert since the sporting director’s arrival on December 2. The two men are still in telephone contact from time to time but the chances of seeing him continue his mission are slim. Not non-existent but still thin.
Tedesco’s absence from the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw on December 13 demonstrated doubts about his future with the Devils. He was one of the only European coaches absent from the meeting in Switzerland. As a signal to tell him that he would not lead the matches against Wales, North Macedonia, Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan on the road to the American tournament.
