The Belgian FA has announced that the Frenchman Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of the national men’s football team the Red Devil. Rudi Garcia’s appointment comes a week since the sacking of his predecessor Domenico Tedesco. 60-year-old Garcia previously coached top clubs such as AS Roma, Marseille, Lyon and Napoli and also brought Eden Hazard to the fore while he was at Lille.
A week after the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco, the Red Devils have new national coach. The Frenchman Rudi Garcia will take over the reins of the national men’s team. The 60-year-old was on the FA’s Director of Sport Vincent Mannaert's much-discussed shortlist. However, in recent days Julen Lopetegui had appeared to be in pole position. However, it will be Rudi Garcia and not the former Spannish national team coach that will coach Belgium's national team.
With Rudi Garcia, the Football Association has brought in a coach with a lot of experience at the top of international football. His big breakthrough as a coach came at Lille. Rudi Garcia led the northern French club to the national title in 2011 and helped ensure the emergence of the then young Eden Hazar.
After five years at Lille, he moved to AS Roma for three seasons. While he was there AS Roma were runners-up twice in the Italian league. He then had spells as coach at Marseille, Lyon, Saudi Al-Nassr and Napoli, where he was sacked in November 2023 after 5 seasons with the club.
Rudi Garcia’s first match in charge of the Red Devils will be on 20 March when Belgium play a Nations’ League Play-off match against Ukraine.