Anderlecht’s Double Pursuit: New Sports Director and Coach
Anderlecht’s Coaching Situation: A Match Before the Director
RSC Anderlecht’s recruitment process for their next head coach is quite unusual. Typically, a sports director would be appointed first to have a significant say in the hiring of the coach. However, Marc Coucke, the club’s owner, is sights set on appointing the coach before the sports director.
Coucke has expressed that he wants a big-name sports director who will commit to Anderlecht for many years. A candidate like Vincent Mannaert, the Belgian FA’s technical director, has been mentioned despite being unlikely.
Anderlecht’s Plan: Coach Hiring First, Director Later
While Alfred Schreuder is expected to be named as the new T1 (head coach) of Anderlecht soon, the search for a sports director may not conclude until next summer. This is to give the new hire plenty of time to prepare for the transfer window.
To expedite the process, Anderlecht has “recruited a recruitment firm to help find Olivier Renard’s successor.”
Why consultants in the search for a new sports director?
The club’s decision to use a recruitment firm might raise eyebrows, given the need for a profile with intimate knowledge of the Belgian league. Former Anderlecht sporting director Jesper Fredberg‘s appointment from outside the Belgian league scene wasn’t seamless.
FAQs
- Who are the frontrunners for the Anderlecht coaching job?
- Alfred Schreuder is the primary candidate for the T1 role at the moment.
- When will the new sports director be appointed?
- The appointment might not happen until next summer to ensure sufficient preparation time for the transfer window.
- Why does Anderlecht need a recruitment firm for the sports director role?
- The precise reason remains unclear, but it may be to facilitate a smoother and more extensive search process.
Did you know?
Anderlecht has a rich history, winning the Belgian league a record 34 times and the Belgian Cup 10 times.
Pro Tip
Keep an eye on the Belgian transfer market this summer for signs of who Anderlecht might be targeting with their new sports director.