The Belgian Football Association makes the decision and fires Domenico Tedesco: “End of a beautiful story”

The inevitable has happened. The sporting committee of the Belgian Football Association has decided to say goodbye to Domenico Tedesco. Two years ago, the Italian German made a promising start as national coach, but the enthusiasm quickly turned into criticism. Tedesco had a particularly bad turn, especially during and after the European Championship.

The question was no longer whether Domenico Tedesco would be fired as national coach, but when.

So today.

On Friday, the sporting committee of the Belgian Football Association decided during a meeting to terminate cooperation with the coach, who still had a contract until the 2026 World Cup. The decision was ratified by the board of directors.

The search for a new national coach is already underway.

“Domenico made an excellent start as national coach,” CEO Peter Willems of the KBVB said in a press release. “He has integrated a number of young players and proved that great things are also possible after the departing generation.”

But after the disappointing European Championships last summer, Tedesco’s chair started to shake for the first time. In an easy group, the Devils had difficulty qualifying for the next round, where France proved too strong. Tedesco made an insecure impression tactically and communicatively.

Unfortunately, a beautiful story now comes to an end. But this team is still at the beginning of its development and will make waves in the coming years.

Domenico Tedesco

That tenor continued in the Nations League.

Apart from brief flare-ups – without results – against France and Italy, Tedesco was never able to reverse the negative tenor around his person. Cancellations of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne did not help him. After a painful defeat in Israel, which the national coach facilitated by a risky selection, the bottom had been reached.

The fact that Tedesco did not even comment on the draw for the World Cup preliminary round was the sign that the Belgian Football Association no longer saw any prospects for the future.

In the short statement from the KBVB, the fired coach had only nice words today: “I was always a proud national coach of the Red Devils, we have achieved great things together. A beautiful story is now unfortunately coming to an end.”

To remain in the A group of the Nations League, Belgium must beat Ukraine in March. “I am 100 percent sure that the team will win and qualify for the World Cup without any problems,” Tedesco said.

“This team is still at the beginning of its development and will make waves in the coming years.”

“I wish the players, the great employees of the federation and the supporters all the best from the bottom of my heart.”

And say that the marriage between Tedesco and the Red Devils had started so promisingly two years ago. Especially with that reference victory in Germany.

The young coach scored points on and off the field through the contrasts with predecessor Roberto Martinez. Surprising selections, opportunities for youth, successful tactical interventions and nice press chats.

“A relief,” our analyst Peter Vandenbempt also thought at the time.

Tedesco also initially received praise for his approach in the much-discussed dispute with Thibaut Courtois. In retrospect, however, that incident was a poisoned gift that would haunt the Italian German for a very long time.

Tedesco ends his era with the Red Devils with 24 games under his belt: 12 wins, 6 draws and just as many defeats.

It is a painful realization that the latter will be remembered the most.