In a recent announcement, the Belgian soccer federation revealed that Rudi Garcia has been appointed as the new head coach of the national team. The seasoned coach, who is 60 years old, has an extensive background, having led various high-profile clubs, including Napoli, Marseille, and Roma throughout his career. This will mark his first experience managing a national squad, and he has agreed to a contract that will extend until the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.


Garcia steps in to fill the role following the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco, who was let go last week due to his inability to successfully reinvigorate the team during his brief stint.


With Garcia at the helm, there is a possibility that Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, may rejoin the national team. Courtois had conflicts with Tedesco and opted out of the team just prior to the 2024 European Championships after being overlooked for the captaincy.


Tedesco was brought on board in February 2023 to overhaul the Red Devils after a lackluster end to Roberto Martínez’s tenure, which culminated in disappointment at the last World Cup. His spell ended poorly, culminating in a disappointing early exit in the Euro 2024, where they lost to France in the round of 16, leading to his eventual sacking.


Garcia’s inaugural match will occur in March as part of the Nations League playoffs against Ukraine, where he’ll aim to secure Belgium’s place in League A. Following that, the team will begin its qualifying campaign for the World Cup in June.


Previously, Garcia achieved notable success by winning both the French league and Cup with Lille in 2011, managing the renowned Belgian player Eden Hazard during that time.


Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Garcia stated, “After some intense discussions, I’m delighted to have this opportunity to coach the Red Devils on the road to the World Cup. I will be able to work with a talented group, and I hope that through achieving good results, we will be able to rally the whole country behind our Red Devils once again.”