Belgium have dismissed coach Domenico Tedesco following a string of poor results, the Belgian football association announced on Friday. Tedesco’s departure comes after weeks of speculation and a noticeable decline in the team’s performance.
The 39-year-old’s tenure began promisingly, with Belgium going unbeaten in his first 13 matches after he took over from Roberto Martinez following the 2022 World Cup. However, their form dipped significantly in recent months, culminating in a disappointing last-16 exit at Euro 2024 and a third-place finish in their Nations League group.
A loss to Israel in their final Nations League match in November proved to be the final straw for Tedesco, whose relationship with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had also deteriorated, leading to Courtois refusing to play for the national team under his management.
Despite the recent struggles, the Belgian FA acknowledged Tedesco’s early success and his efforts to integrate young players into the squad.
“Domenico made an excellent start as national coach and proved that there are still great things possible, even after the send-off of the previous generation,” said Peter Willems, chief executive officer of the Royal Belgian Football Association.
Tedesco also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach the Red Devils.
“I was always proud to be the coach of the Red Devils, we achieved great things together,” Tedesco said. “A beautiful journey is now unfortunately coming to an end.”
The search for Tedesco’s successor is already underway, with Thierry Henry, who previously served as assistant to Roberto Martinez, among the potential candidates. The Belgian FA stated that the process is “proceeding smoothly.”
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