With the Bruges factory as an example: the sliding puzzle of trainers shows a striking Belgian trend
Of the 16 trainers who were working in the Jupiler Pro League on January 1, none are still with their original club. Striking: many moved on to a Belgian competitor. Home-grown coaches in particular seem to be in good demand in the market. Looking for explanations for the sliding puzzle with analyst Tom Boudeweel.
Vincent Euvrard from Dender to Standard, David Hubert from OHL to Union, Ivan Leko from AA Gent to Club Brugge, Rik De Mil from Charleroi to AA Gent, Nicky Hayen to Genk…
The trainers’ waltz in the Belgian competition resembles a sliding puzzle, with homegrown coaches in particular appearing to be the new gold.
Why are trainers eagerly changing again, while there has only been one dropout this year? “STVV and KV Mechelen break the traditional hegemony, making it exciting at the top,” says football analyst Tom Boudeweel.
“But Club Brugge started the snowball by firing its trainer and looking for a replacement in its own league. AA Gent, Standard, Union also stole their trainers from a fellow team member.”
Rik De Mil.
In the past, people quickly sought refuge in a foreign trainer, but after less successful examples such as Scott Parker and Chris Coleman, that trend seems to have reversed.
“Foreign trainers do not follow the Belgian competition, so you need more time to catch up,” says Boudeweel.
“Moreover, they also cost more than a Belgian coach. Since things are not going well with Belgian football, that of course also plays a role.”
“In addition, there is a generational change. Standard started with Mircea Rednic, but that was a miscast. Felize Mazzu is not having an easy time… The vast majority of coaches are young coaches.”
“Coaches who work hard for it and who – surprisingly enough – are not all ex-professionals, such as Rik De Mil and Hayk Milkon. It is striking that very few players from the Golden Generation are getting in.”
Bruges trainer factory
The Belgian coaches do not come from the talent factory of the Red Devils, but have come from a different band. “A lot of coaches come from the Club Brugge factory,” says Boudeweel.
“Rik De Mil, Nicky Hayen, Hayk Milkon, Michiel Jonckheere, who receives very positive criticism at KV Kortrijk. But don’t forget Carl Hoefkens, Maarten Martens and Tim Smolders.”
Is blue-black setting a new trend? “I think clubs will start training their own coaches,” Boudeweel said. “Just as the youth players grow from the U18, U19, U23 level… the coaches will also grow in that process.”
“And it’s not just about the field coaches. From physical coaches to video analysts, the whole package shifts.”
Just as the youth players grow from the U18, U19, U23 level, etc., the coaches will also grow in that process.
Tom Boudeweel
According to Tom Boudeweel, it is no coincidence that KRC Genk knocked on Nicky Hayen’s door. “He went through that entire process.”
“He also knows the DNA of Genk, but he mainly brings the football that Genk wants to play. With young people, vertical, with a lot of pressure, with strong wing players.”
“It is therefore no coincidence that the three candidates from Genk – Carl Hoefkens, Timmy Simons and Nicky Hayen – were Belgian. The pressure is high to get into the top 6, because Genk’s revenue model is based on European football.”
“KRC Genk could not afford to take another foreigner who does not know the competition. We are halfway through the competition, so the pressure is on to perform after the winter break.”
Nicky Hayen.
Copy behavior
Now, in the event of a coach dismissal or departure, the clubs still have to borrow from fellow team members, but will they soon take their coaches away from their own youth teams?
“People also see that Club Brugge’s model is successful. Achieving success with our own youth in, among other things, the Champions League. Then automatic copying behavior occurs.”
“A coach at the U18s also learns to deal with video analysts, scouting, data. They often also have a link with the 1B team or the first team. This makes you a manager of an entire group.”
Experiences that prepare them for work as a head coach. Who is the next piece in the sliding puzzle?