Mark van Bommel appointed head coach of Belgium national football team
The Royal Belgian Football Association announced on 24 July 2026 that Dutch former midfielder Mark van Bommel has been appointed as the new head coach of the Red Devils. He signed a two‑year contract that runs to the Euro 2028 tournament, succeeding Rudi Garcia whose contract was not renewed after Belgium’s quarter‑final exit at the 2026 World Cup.
Van Bommel, 49, most recently led Royal Antwerp to a league‑and‑cup double in the 2022‑23 season and has prior coaching experience at PSV, Wolfsburg and as an assistant in Saudi Arabia and Australia. He will be supported by assistants Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens and Reinier Robbemond.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois welcomed the appointment, calling Van Bommel a “top coach” and saying he will discuss his own international future with the new manager. The hiring has sparked debate among Belgian fans, some criticizing the coach’s lack of French language skills, while sporting director Vincent Mannaert praised the choice as ambitious and motivating.
Entities: Belgium national football team · Boudewijn Zenden · Mark van Bommel · Royal Belgian Football Association · Rudi Garcia · Thibaut Courtois · Vincent Mannaert
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Thibaut Courtois publicly endorsed Van Bommel’s appointment. (player interview)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Mark van Bommel is 49 years old. (biographical data)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Mark van Bommel was appointed head coach of the Belgium national football team. (official announcement by the Royal Belgian Football Association)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sporting director Vincent Mannaert said the appointment was ambitious and motivated. (statement by RBFA sporting director)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The assistant coaching team includes Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens and Reinier Robbemond. (official staff list)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Van Bommel signed a contract that runs until the Euro 2028 tournament. (Royal Belgian Football Association press release)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Van Bommel previously coached Royal Antwerp to a league and cup double in the 2022‑23 season. (coach’s career record)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Rudi Garcia's contract was not renewed after Belgium's 2026 World Cup quarter‑final loss. (Belgian federation announcement)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Thibaut Courtois welcomed van Bommel's appointment and said he will discuss his own international future with him. (existing)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The appointment followed Belgium's quarter‑final exit at the 2026 World Cup, which resulted in the dismissal of coach Rudi Garcia. (existing)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Courtois said he wants to continue with Belgium but would like to skip the upcoming Nations League campaign for rest. (existing)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Courtois was injured during Belgium's last‑eight match against Spain on 10 July in Los Angeles, after which replacement keeper Senne Lammens made an error that contributed to a 2‑1 loss. (existing)