Rudi Garcia and Belgium part ways: there’s already a favorite to take his place

After seeing their 2026 World Cup run end in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 loss to Spain, Rudi Garcia and the Belgian Football Association have decided to part ways. The former coach of Roma and Napoli, among others, will therefore no longer be on the bench for the Red Devils, a position he had held since January 2025. Garcia leaves Belgium still without a trophy despite the team’s efforts and talent on the field, although the FIFA rankings still place Lukaku and his teammates in sixth place.

“Rudi Garcia played a decisive role in the revival of the Red Devils,” said Vincent Mannaert, technical director of the Belgian Football Association, in a statement to RBFA media outlets. “He was appointed head coach amid a complicated sporting and financial context. Thanks to his dedication and experience, team cohesion was restored, and we achieved a highly commendable result at the recently concluded World Cup. On behalf of the federation, I would like to sincerely thank Rudi and his assistants for these past 18 months.”

Garcia himself added: “Following discussions with the Belgian Football Federation, we have decided not to continue the excellent collaboration of the past 18 months. I’m leaving Belgium in League A of the Nations League and among the top eight teams in the world. I’d like to thank my fantastic group of players, sporting director Vincent Mannaert, and the fans who continued to support us throughout this World Cup. I wish Belgium every success in continuing the generational transition that I was delighted to help initiate.”

In Brussels and the surrounding area, speculation about the next head coach has already begun: according to Belgian media, the frontrunner is Dutchman Mark van Bommel, who played for AC Milan during the 2011–2012 season and, as a coach, in Antwerp’s unexpected successes, leading the team to win the Belgian league, the National Cup, and the Super Cup in 2023.