Belgium fire national football team coach Tedesco
Domenico Tedesco has been dismissed as the coach of Belgium's men's national football team, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) confirmed at a board meeting on Friday. His departure had been expected for weeks due to the team's poor results.
"A beautiful story has unfortunately come to an end," Tedesco said in a statement released by the RBFA. Tedesco was under contract until the summer of 2026. Due to poor results, he will not see out the remainder of his contract.
"This team is only at the beginning of its development and will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. I wish the players, the great staff at the club and the fans all the best from the bottom of my heart," he said.
Plummeting performance
Tedesco was appointed coach in February last year, following the departure of Roberto Martinez after a disappointing World Cup in Qatar. Tedesco was not a household name at the time, but he had previously enjoyed successful spells with club sides Schalke 04, Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig.
After an encouraging match against Germany in March 2024, the Red Devils' performance plummeted. The nadir came at the European Championships in Germany, where Tedesco's team finished second in the group, lost to Slovakia, were jeered by the Belgian fans after a draw with Ukraine and lost to France in the next round.
Clash with Courtois
Few good performances or results followed in the Nations League. A clash with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and the absence of star players De Bruyne and Lukaku also tarnished Tedesco's image. According to some newspapers, Tedesco will receive just over 1 million euros in compensation, money that a cash-strapped football association would have preferred not to spend.
"I am 100 per cent sure that the team will win against Ukraine"
This spring, Belgium must ensure they stay in Group A of the Nations League with a double-header against Ukraine in March. After that, the focus can shift to qualifying for the World Cup. "I am 100 per cent sure that the team will win against Ukraine and also qualify for the World Cup without any problems," Tedesco said.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco during the match against Israel in Budapest, 17 November 2024 © PHOTO MATIJA HABLJAK / PIXSELL
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