The post-FIFA World Cup shake-ups have continued, with Belgium naming Mark van Bommel as their new head coach.
The Red Devils have turned to the former Netherlands international to lead them following the resignation of Rudi Garcia earlier this month.
The Dutch tactician will take over the reins of the Red Devils until the European Championship in two years' time, having proved his competence at club level.
van Bommel Takes Over Red Devils
Forner Royal Antwerp head coach Mark van Bommel was a swift choice for the bosses of Belgian football once Rudi Garcia left his position.
He will officially commence his stint on August 15 and will lead the side to their UEFA Nations League games in September and October.
The Dutchman joins Belgium after two years without a job, having left Antwerp at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024.
He will be joined by compatriots Boudewijn Zenden and Reinier Robbemond, as well as former AZ Alkmaar coach Maarten Martens in the dugout for Belgium..
He will face Italy, France, and Turkey in the September/October international break, and will get a baptism of fire in those games.
Replacing Rudi Garcia: The Fallout From the FIFA World Cup
Rudi Garcia led Belgium to the FIFA World Cup this summer, having been in charge of the side since January 2025.
Garcia signed a contract that ran until the end of the World Cup, and he decided against renewing after the tournament in North America.
Belgium started really slow in the tournament, drawing against Egypt and Iran before picking up the pace in their final group game against New Zealand.
They went on to face Senegal in the Round of 32, returning from the brink to defeat the African side in dramatic fashion.
Their Round of 16 game against the USMNT was filled with drama, namely the Folarin Balogun incident, but they won convincingly to reach the quarter-finals.
In the last eight, they were drawn against eventual champions Spain and held them to a 1-1 draw until a change from Garcia decided the outcome of the game.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois felt discomfort in his thigh but felt that he could play on, as the pain did not stop him from diving and saving shots.
Garcia disagreed and took off the experienced Real Madrid man, replacing him with FIFA World Cup greenhorn Senne Lammens, who cost the team with a mistake.
Courtois spoke to the press after the match, delivering a veiled criticism of the coach's decision.
Rudi Garcia also reportedly fell out with sporting director Vincent Mannaert, who was displeased with their group stage performances.
The French tactician decided that it was time to leave the position, allowing Mark van Bommel to begin a new era.
Why Mark van Bommel This Time?
Belgium have opted to make Mark van Bommel their new coach because of his impressive resume.
The 49-year-old is an authority in Belgian football, having coached Royal Antwerp for two years between 2022 and 2024.
van Bommel enjoyed significant success in Belgium, winning the Belgian Cup and Belgian Pro League, as well as the Belgian Super Cup.
He left Antwerp when his contract ended, and had not found a job that appealed to him before the Belgium one came around.
He expressed his enthusiasm to work with the national team in a statement, pointing out that he hopes to build a team that can compete with the very best.
"It is a great honour to become head coach of Belgium.
Belgium has outstanding players and enormous potential. Together with my coaching staff, we want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the very best."
Belgium are ranked eighth in the world, and van Bommel will be tasked with getting the best out of this talented group of players.