Yves Vanderhaeghe is ready for a third term at Kortrijk: “Happy with a new challenge”

With Yves Vanderhaeghe, KV Kortrijk has chosen a familiar face to guide the club to safer regions in the Jupiler Pro League. “I have a familiar feeling here,” said Vanderhaeghe on his “first” working day.

KV Kortrijk is familiar territory for Yves Vanderhaeghe. He was an assistant coach from 2008 to 2014 and also head coach from 2014 to 2015. Vanderhaeghe was also at the helm of KVK between 2018 and 2021.

“It is indeed a team with which I am familiar and whose internal kitchen I know,” Vanderhaeghe tells Sporza. “I was told that it will be my 380th match on the Kortrijk bench on Saturday. I have a familiar feeling here.”

Vanderhaeghe is happy that he can get back to work after being thanked in Saudi Arabia last year. “A year without work was new to me. I was always able to get back to work quickly. But maybe it was good to recharge the batteries.”

There will still be opportunities after Beerschot, but it would be good to take a good step in the right direction on Saturday.

Yves Vanderhaeghe

Vanderhaeghe has not sat still in the past year. “I have been exercising a lot and have been able to pay more attention to the home front. And of course I have also followed a lot of football, which remains number 1 anyway. I am happy that I now have a new challenge.”

On Saturday, a serious test awaits Vanderhaeghe and his team with the move to bottom line Beerschot. “It is a difficult opponent to fight, especially in Kiel.”

“We must try to get results quickly. There are still opportunities afterwards, but it would be good to be able to immediately take a good step in the right direction.”

I have followed everything and I am well informed.

Yves Vanderhaeghe

Vanderhaeghe was satisfied on Wednesday with what he saw during his first training. “I have seen a lot of commitment and a lot of footballing ability,” he said.

“The last pass and the finish could perhaps have been better, but after one training you cannot form a clear picture.”

In any case, he has that clear picture of the competition as a whole. “I have followed everything and I am well informed. I am back where I should be. On the field, where I belong. And the assignment with Kortrijk is clear,” Vanderhaeghe concludes confidently.