Mark van Bommel appointed Belgium coach as Thibaut Courtois plans year‑long break
Dutch former midfielder Mark van Bommel was presented as the new head coach of Belgium’s national football team, succeeding Frenchman Rudi Garcia after the 2026 World Cup. The Belgian FA explained that Garcia’s tenure was always intended as a short‑term project and that the change was decided following the quarter‑final loss to Spain.
Van Bommel said he will hold talks with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who announced after the World Cup that he intends to sit out the Nations League and take a year off from the national side to focus on his club duties with Real Madrid. Courtois hopes to return for Euro 2028. Van Bommel emphasized that no decision has been made yet and that the discussion will be open and without prejudice.
Sporting director Vincent Mannaert reiterated the rationale behind Garcia’s departure and expressed confidence that Van Bommel’s leadership and people‑management style suit the next phase of the “Red Devils”.
Entities: Belgium national football team · Club Brugge · David Okereke · Joaquin Seys · Joel Ordóñez · Mark van Bommel · Nicolò Tresoldi · Real Madrid · Royal Antwerp FC · Rudi Garcia · Thibaut Courtois · Vincent Mannaert
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Mark van Bommel replaced Rudi Garcia as Belgium head coach. (multiple sources)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Thibaut Courtois announced he wants a year‑long sabbatical from the Belgium national team after the 2026 World Cup. (multiple sources)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Vincent Mannaert said the coaching change was planned before the World Cup. (multiple sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Belgium was eliminated by Spain in the quarter‑finals of the 2026 World Cup. (multiple sources)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Van Bommel emphasized unity and language issues in his first press conference. (multiple sources)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Mark van Bommel was presented as the new Belgium national team coach on 7 August 2026. (multiple sources)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Thibaut Courtois plays for Real Madrid. (multiple sources)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mark van Bommel said no decision has been made about Courtois' participation in the Nations League. (multiple sources)