Belgium’s Football Association is looking to appoint a coach with ‘proven international experience’ as they begin the search to replace Marc Wilmots.
Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has been linked with the job and Belgian FA president Francois de Keersmaecker said he would be a ‘potential candidate’ if he chose to apply.
Just like England, the world number 2 ranked side began the task of searching for a new coach after Wilmots was sacked in the wake of Belgium’s Euro 2016 quarter-final exit to underdogs Wales.
Technical director for Belgium’s FA (KBVB), Chris van Puyvelde said on Friday they were looking for someone to get the most from a ‘special generation’ of players.
‘It’s an open process; I expect my mailbox is going to be flooded,’ said Puyvelde, who will oversee the selection process.
‘We want a candidate to have experience and to have already achieved results in international football. He must play modern football. He must show tactical acumen and flexibility to adapt because no one game or no opponent are ever the same. He must also deliver a high-performance environment because the players he is working with are used to working at a high level.
‘We have a special generation and they need to be allowed to also take decisions of their own.’
This comes as Belgium currently has some of the finest players in their national side such as Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, keeper Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City winger Kevin de Bruyne. Yet they were humbled by the Red Dragons at their crucial must-win Euro 2016 clash.
At a news conference on Friday where Wilmots’ departure was confirmed, a reporter asked KBVB president Francois De Keersmaecker if Van Gaal, who was sacked by Manchester United in May, was a candidate for the job.
‘Van Gaal might be a potential candidate,’ De Keersmaecker said.
‘We will see if he puts himself forward as a candidate. If he does then we will evaluate his candidacy.’
The KBVB have said they want the new coach in place by September 1 when Belgium host Spain in a friendly in Brussels. Five days later they begin their bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup away in Cyprus.