Vincent Mannaert is officially looking for a new coach for the Devils since the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco, which became official this Friday. Here are the six favorites to succeed him.
The information is now official, Domenico Tedesco is no longer the coach of the Devils. We expected it, after the first evaluation of Vincent Mannaert in his new role, at the Belgian Union. The former strong man of Club Brugge has even already launched a few leads in recent weeks.
The one leading to Sergio Conceiçao, in particular, who ended up taking his place on the AC Milan bench. Those leading to Michel Preud’homme and Xavi, too, but both men would have refused. So, a Belgian or a foreign coach, young or experienced? Who would be the ideal replacement for Tedesco at the head of the Devils?
Rudi Garcia, it doesn’t make you dream
Not the most glamorous name on the list. But that of Rudi Garcia was indeed placed on that of Vincent Mannaert. The French coach has been free since leaving Naples last November.
Since the start of his professional coaching career in 2001 (making him the most experienced coach on the list), the 60-year-old has experienced many ups and downs. But his record stops, however, with his historic double achieved with Lille during the 2010-2011 season, with, obviously, Eden Hazard as conductor.
Rudi Garcia is a coach with whom the best players can have a lot of freedom, as was the case during his time at OM. He can also offer a solid tactical implementation to resist the big players, as he was able to do with Lyon against Juventus and Manchester City, in the Champions League. A trainer who also obviously knows how to maintain order.
Rudi Garcia ticks several boxes, but does not seem to really stand out from the others. His teams also often offered a very disappointing, defensive and unamusing game. His successes have been fantastic, but rare. Not sure that’s what the Devils need.
It has been, from the start, an option frozen in Vincent Mannaert’s head. Free since his departure from Antwerp on June 30, the Dutch legend would be interested in the position. A coach who managed to win the Jupiler Pro League, Cup, Supercup treble with the Great Old. But is this, ultimately, the best solution?
We know the style of Mark Van Bommel. Physical, athletic, with combativeness, he could suit the Devils in need of a big boost after the Tedesco era. He already knows part of the new generation well, such as Arthur Vermeeren, Mandela Keita and others (Zeno van den Bosch, in the future?) and could build on these bases.
Let us remember, however, that his stints at PSV, and especially at Wolfsburg, were failures. An interesting option for Vincent Mannaert and the Belgian Union, but perhaps, all the same, more tactically limited than certain other candidates.
Erik ten Hag relaunching with the Devils?
It is another track from Vincent Mannaert. The former Manchester United manager is looking to bounce back from his dismissal at Old Trafford and is also believed to have a place on the Belgian Union’s list. Before moving on, let’s point out that Ten Hag, although his time is widely criticizable, won an FA Cup and an EFL Cup with, probably, the worst team in the history of Manchester United. Recently, no one has been able to do better than him.
Erik ten Hag, it is above all the coach who revealed himself during the incredible epic of Ajax Amsterdam towards the semi-finals of the Champions League, Winners of Real Madrid, among others, the Ajacides had been eliminated at the very last second of the return leg by Tottenham and Lucas Moura’s hat-trick, at the end of an epic encounter. A coach with real tactical sense, who knows from his time at United how to bang his fist on the table at the right time. Could he do it with Courtois, Lukaku and company? That’s another story.
Thierry Henry, is this really a good idea?
This would be the option favored by the players group. Former assistant coach under Roberto Martinez, Thierry Henry is also reportedly being tracked by the federation, although the former French striker has recently denied having had any recent contact with the federation. We doubt it, very much.
Thierry Henry is indeed an option for the Devils, but although his playing career makes young and old alike dream, his reconversion on the benches is, for the moment, not going as planned. With a failure in Monaco and another in Montreal, Henry is not yet part of the promising new generation of coaches, despite himself.
Finalist in the Olympic Games with France (which can be considered a small disappointment at home), Thierry Henry is probably not the candidate with the most developed tactical sense (from a collective point of view). His ego and his remarks in interviews are not easy for a player to manage either. His ego, on the other hand, would allow him to “get into the fat” of certain executives from whom he receives the deepest respect, and who really need, as mentioned above, a boost. His communication, too, has often been criticized. And that, after the passage of Tedesco, no one needs it.
While browsing social networks, here is a name that comes up very often. Perhaps even the one that comes up most often. Devils supporters would like to see Hein Vanhaezebrouck take charge of the team.
A coach with an ultra-developed tactical sense, who managed to win with La Gantoise and who has already officiated during important European Cup matches. The former coach of the Buffalos, but also of Kortrijk, Genk and Anderlecht, is also a Belgian coach, which many would like after the Martinez and Tedesco eras.
Having become an analyst, the 60-year-old man seems to feel like a fish in water in his reconversion. Could he, however, resist the call of the country?
Philippe Clément ticks few boxes
The current Rangers coach is on a tightrope. He recovers a little bit of credit with each victory, but consumes more than he recovers with each defeat. And this season, there are too many defeats for the second Scottish power, which is increasingly considering dismissing the Belgian coach.
Being Belgian is something Philippe Clément has in common with Hein Vanhaezebrouck, but it is also an asset to take over the leadership of the Devils. It may be the only one he has, compared to the other candidates. With Club Bruges, the best core in the country, Clément won everything in Belgium, including four championships. Outside our borders, it was more complicated.
In Monaco, Philippe Clément was unable to compete with Paris Saint-Germain. A very difficult task, which had nevertheless been entrusted to him at the start of his mandate. Worrying, even beating PSG was the priority. Failed, since Clément and Monaco won nothing. And despite the very good comeback with Rangers in the league last season, it is not the Scottish Cup won last season that will change things.
Six men for one place, or a surprise?
Whether on the tactical, charismatic, track record and personality levels, there is little chance that the situation with Philippe Clément will be very different than with Domenico Tedesco. The Devils need a boss who will be able to convince and involve executives, while maintaining order and continuing to integrate the new kids. There seems to be better on the market.
So many options, for which we have not talked about the important financial aspect, which are available to Vincent Mannaert and the Belgian Union. Will one of these coaches become the new coach of the Devils, or should we expect a surprise? Response in the coming weeks.
