Ex-Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo ‘is interested in the vacant Belgium role’ after Roberto Martinez’s departure… with Red Devils chiefs ‘looking to appoint a new coach by the end of this month’
- Andrea Pirlo has emerged as a candidate to take on the vacant Belgium job
- The role became available after Roberto Martinez’s departure last month
- The Italian coach has spent his time in Turkey managing Fatih Karagümrük
- Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry has also been tipped to take the job
Former Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo is interested in the vacant Belgium manager role, according to reports.
The ex-Italy international has spent the last six months managing Turkish Super Lig side Fatih Karagümrük after his dismissal from the Allianz Stadium in May last year.
And despite only taking on his current role in the summer, after Roberto Martinez’s departure as Belgium coach, the Italian has turned his attention to the Red Devils.
Italian coach Andrea Pirlo has emerged as a potential candidate for the vacant Belgium job
Roberto Martinez stepped down as Belgium manager after their disappointing World Cup
According to Dutch outlet HLN, Pirlo is one of the coaches currently interested in succeeding Martinez in the Belgium dugout.
In recent weeks, managers have been able to submit their CVs to Belgium chiefs – given the vacant role – and Pirlo was one of the coaches to do so.
However, the criteria set out by the board, for their new coach, include: being a serial winner, international experience, people manager and a tactical expert.
There are concerns that Pirlo is not a ‘serial winner’ after his failed stint with Juventus and bleak start to life in Turkey – with Fatih Karagümrük currently 10th in the league.
Belgium chiefs will meet on Friday to discuss the current available candidates, with the intentions of making an announcement about their new coach by the end of this month.
Pirlo has been in charge of Turkish Super Lig side Fatih Karagümrük since the summer
The 43-year-old was dismissed of his position at Juventus after a string of poor results in 2021
According to the same outlet, current Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry has also emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Martinez – who was recently appointed as the new Portugal manager.
Henry began work with the Red Devils in 2016 but moved on to forge his own attempts at a managerial career with Monaco and Montreal Impact. After failed stints there, he returned as Belgium assistant in 2021.
The same outlet claim that international players such as Toby Alderweireld and Romelu Lukaku have backed the Frenchman as ‘the ultimate solution’ to Belgium’s woes.
Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry has also emerged as a candidate for the manager role
It was announced on Monday that former Belgium coach Martinez would take on the managerial role at Portugal – after Fernando Santos’ departure.
Martinez himself had a World Cup to forget with Belgium, who failed to even make it out of the group stage and also had a crisis within the squad, with the Spaniard criticised for struggling to make the most of his talented group during his six-year tenure with the side.
On his new appointment, Martinez said: ‘I am very excited to be here. I am very happy to represent one of the national teams with the best talent in the world.’
Former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has been appointed as Portugal’s new head coach
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