The Belgian Football Federation announced the appointment of Van Bommel as coach of the first team, in the coming period, after the departure of Rudi Garcia from his position, following the exit from the 2026 World Cup.
The Belgian national team did not perform as expected during the 2026 World Cup, as it exited the tournament with a loss to Spain in the quarter-finals, at a time when the team suffered a decline in level under Garcia's leadership.
Van Bommel's appointment as coach of the Belgian national team
The Belgian Football Federation revealed on its official website that the task of coaching the Red Devils has been assigned to the Dutch coach, effective August 15, 2026, under a contract that extends until the end of the European Nations Cup "Euro 2028".
During his coaching career, Mark van Bommel coached clubs including PSV Eindhoven, Wolfsburg, and Royal Antwerp, achieving remarkable success by leading the club to a historic domestic double, winning both the Belgian League and Belgian Cup titles during the 2022-2023 season.
As a player, Mark van Bommel played at the highest levels with some of Europe's most prestigious clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Milan.
Van Bommel participated in 79 international matches with the Netherlands national team, scoring 10 goals, and played a major role in helping "The Oranje" reach the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The new technical staff is set to include three assistants: Boudewijn Zenden, Martin Martinez, and Reinier Robbemond, as part of the federation's plan to support the team with a technical staff possessing extensive experience.
Van Bommel's first comments after taking charge of Belgium
Van Bommel said via the Belgian Federation's official website: "I am greatly honored to become the coach of the Belgian national team, and I thank the Royal Belgian Football Association for the trust it has placed in me."
He added: "Belgium has outstanding players and enormous potential, and together we will work to build a disciplined, ambitious, and courageous team capable of competing with the best national teams."
He continued: "Success is not guaranteed, but hard work, honesty, and commitment are guaranteed. We will do everything in our power to help this team develop day after day and make the Belgian people proud of it."
The Dutch coach concluded his remarks by saying: "I look forward to meeting the players, the technical staff, and the fans, and starting this new chapter together."
Statements from the Belgian Federation's sporting director
Vincent Mannaert, the sporting director of the Royal Belgian Football Association, stated: "I am extremely pleased that Mark van Bommel and his assistants have agreed to take on this challenge; they possess great enthusiasm and high ambition."
He concluded: "I am fully confident that their international experience as coaches and players will fully qualify them to help our Belgian national team continue to develop, achieve the desired results, and reach its full potential, both individually and collectively."
