Mark van Bommel named Belgium head coach on two-year deal through Euro 2028

The appointment

The Belgian football association (URBSFA) confirmed on Friday that Mark van Bommel has become the new head coach of the national team, the Red Devils. The 49-year-old Dutchman succeeds Frenchman Rudi Garcia, 62, whose contract was not renewed after ending on 20 July. Garcia had been appointed in January 2025 following the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco and met all his objectives: keeping Belgium in the top division of the Nations League and reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, where they lost 2-1 to Spain.

Van Bommel was out of work after leaving Royal Antwerp at the end of the 2023-2024 season and signs a two-year contract running until the 2028 European Championship. He will formally begin his duties on 15 August. He becomes only the second Dutchman to manage Belgium, after Dick Advocaat, who oversaw five matches between October 2009 and April 2010 before handing over to Marc Wilmots.

Van Bommel's playing pedigree

As a player, van Bommel was a defensive midfielder who earned 79 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 10 goals. He played in the 2010 World Cup final, which the Netherlands lost 1-0 to Spain. His club career spanned spells at PSV Eindhoven (1999–2005 and 2012–2013), FC Barcelona (2005–2006), Bayern Munich (2006 to January 2011) and AC Milan (January 2011 to 2012). He retired from playing in June 2013.

Coaching career so far

Van Bommel began his coaching path as an assistant with the Netherlands U17 side in early 2014, then worked as an assistant to his father-in-law Bert van Marwijk with Saudi Arabia's national team between 2015 and 2017. He returned to PSV to coach the U19s and, from January to June 2018, also served as van Marwijk's assistant with Australia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

His first senior head-coaching role came at PSV from 2018 until December 2019, followed by a brief stint at Wolfsburg from July to October 2021. His most successful period was at Antwerp, where he guided the club to a league and cup double in 2023. His tenure ended after the 2023-2024 season with a 1-0 defeat in the Belgian Cup final against Union SG.

What lies ahead

The Red Devils are entering a new cycle after a mixed World Cup campaign. Van Bommel's immediate task will be to prepare the squad for the qualifying campaign leading to Euro 2028, the tournament his contract targets. His prior experience at Antwerp gives him familiarity with Belgian football, and his appointment had been widely expected since Garcia's departure was formalised on 20 July.