Coaching courses for Red Devils and Red Flames

The Red Flames could already apply for a coaching course through the UEFA Development project and the Red Devils now follow them with UEFA B and A coaching courses for national team players. ​ 

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) prepares the Red Devils for life after their playing careers, together with Voetbal Vlaanderen and the Association des Clubs Francophones de Football (ACFF). Due to the coronavirus most sessions are currently taking place online. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

The course runs over two to three seasons and is delivered during the national team training camps in Tubize. Afterwards, players can put the acquired knowledge into practice at youth teams at their clubs. The corona crisis sees them needing to do this behind a computer at home. ​ ​ 

Kris Van Der Haegen, head of coaching development: “UEFA B stands for basic and A for advanced. The B course is 80 to 85 percent focused on youth football and fits the RBFA development vision. The UEFA A course focuses on courses for senior players through the highest amateur level. The start was planned to take place before the departure of the Red Devils to a training camp in Qatar in March. Developments changed this plan. The players have received several pre-course sessions to fully understand what to expect. We expect each participant to be 100% committed”. ​ ​ 

The Red Devils eligible for the course are players with 50 or more selections or players involved in the selection leading up to or during the World Cup in 2018. It also includes players who were part of this generation’s national (youth) teams who have at least 20 A- selections. ​ ​ 

23 players have applied: Dedryck Boyata, Koen Casteels, Nacer Chadli, Laurent Ciman, Kevin De Bruyne, Steven Defour, Guillaume Gillet, Christian Kabasele, Nicolas Lombaerts, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens, Thomas Meunier, Simon Mignolet, Divock Origi, Sébastien Pocognoli, Dennis Praet, Matz Sels, Timmy Simons, Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen and Axel Witsel. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

The big advantage of this approach is that it allows this exceptional generation of players to do this in a Belgian environment and follow the high-quality course together. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Simon Mignolet, Red Devil: “My experience has been very positive, even in these challenging circumstances. The solution with courses in a group works well and the individual tasks we receive keep us engaged. I have personally learned a lot already and I am already looking forward to the next session”. ​ ​ ​ 

Roberto Martínez, national manager and RBFA technical director: “This is a unique opportunity for our Red Devils to start thinking as coaches. This allows them to start developing as coaches and later return to Belgium as a coach”. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Red Flames also follow coaching course ​ ​ 

“We organise a coaching course during the training camps for the Red Flames and several former national team players, to further develop women’s football”, says Kris Van Der Haegen who, besides his role as head of coaching development, is also assistant manager of the Red Flames. 

“They must have at least 25 Belgian national team selections and have played at the highest senior level of a UEFA or FIFA competition for 5 years. They must also prove in an intake interview that they have the ambition, potential and future prospect as a manager”. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Tine De Caigny, Red Flame: “Not only do I personally want to learn from this course, but I also want to transfer my knowledge and experience to the next generation”. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Since the Red Flames are available to follow lessons and lead practical sessions more often than the Red Devils, this course will be spread out over a one-year period. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

The group currently consists of 14 current and former players, who can be deployed to the Association as well as to clubs : Julie Biesmans, Janice Cayman, Maud Coutereels, Tine De Caigny, Audrey Demoustier, Nicky Evrard, Diede Lemey, Sophie Mannaert, Davina Philtjens, Lenie Onzia, Britt Van Hamel, Ella Van Kerkhoven, Tessa Wullaert and Aline Zeler. ​ ​ 

Heleen Jaques already holds a UEFA A diploma. She will follow the sessions for further training to remain up-to-date as a coach. ​ ​ ​ 

Ives Serneels, national manager Red Flames: “A year and a half ago we started an approach to develop more female managers in women’s football. Both at the club and the national team level. This group has been thinking along this path over that time. There is strong desire which should lead to more female managers at our clubs and that is a great prospect”. ​ 

Contact persons
​
​Pierre Cornez (press officer of the RBFA) 0032 496 35 15 56
​Kris Van Der Haegen (head of coaching development) 0032 476 63 19 60