Mark van Bommel named Belgium head coach through 2028 Euros

Mark van Bommel has been appointed as the new head coach of the Belgium national team, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced on Friday, July 24, 2026. The former Netherlands international will officially take charge on August 15, succeeding Rudi Garcia, whose contract expired following the recent World Cup.

Van Bommel, 49, has signed a contract to lead Belgium through the 2028 European Championship. He will be assisted by Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens, and Reinier Robbemond. In a statement, Van Bommel expressed his honor at the appointment, thanking the association for its confidence. He stated his intention to build a disciplined, ambitious, and brave team capable of competing at the highest level, emphasizing hard work and commitment to make the Belgian people proud.

The coaching change follows the conclusion of Garcia's 18-month tenure, which ended after Belgium's quarterfinal exit at the World Cup. The team was eliminated by eventual champions Spain, a result that snapped an 18-match unbeaten run dating back to March 2025. Under Garcia, Belgium topped their World Cup group with five points before staging a dramatic extra-time comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 in...