Lenie Onzia appointed new national coach of the Belgian Red Flames

Lenie Onzia knows Belgian women's football inside out. As a player, she enjoyed a successful career both in Belgium and abroad. After making her breakthrough at OH Leuven, she went on to play for clubs such as Arsenal, FC Twente and VVV-Venlo, before representing Lierse, Anderlecht, Gent and, once again, OH Leuven, among others.

While still playing for the Red Flames, Lenie Onzia also took her first steps into coaching at the elite sports school. This combination of experience on the pitch and on the sidelines laid the foundations for her subsequent coaching career. In 2022, she decided to bring her international playing career to an end and immediately joined the Belgian Red Flames' technical staff for UEFA Women's EURO 2022.

Following the tournament, she became assistant coach of the Belgium Women's U23 national team, before progressing to the role of head coach of the Belgium Women's U17 national team. In these positions, she played an important role in the development of young Belgian talent.

In 2024, she rejoined the Belgian Red Flames' coaching staff as assistant coach. As a crowning achievement in her coaching development, she obtained her UEFA Pro Licence in September 2026, the highest coaching qualification in European football.

Lenie Onzia knows Belgian women's football from every perspective: as a player, an international and a coach. Drawing on this wealth of experience, she brings not only a strong footballing vision but also a deep understanding of what it takes to help players and teams continue to develop and reach their full potential.

Lenie knows our organisation inside out. She has worn the Red Flames shirt as a player, gained coaching experience with our national youth teams and has been part of the Red Flames' coaching staff as an assistant coach since 2024. This journey makes her the ideal person to take on the role of national coach within our new structure. We have complete confidence in her and will provide her with all the support she needs to succeed. – Simon Mignolet

It is an honour to take on this challenge. I look forward to continuing to build on what we have achieved with this group, with ambition as our guiding principle. – Lenie Onzia

To support Lenie Onzia, the Royal Belgian Football Association is strengthening the Belgian Red Flames' technical staff with two experienced football professionals. Kevin Bogemans will take on the role of assistant coach, while Irene Fuhrmann will join as Senior Technical Advisor.

Having served as assistant coach of the Belgium Women's U19 national team and head coach of the Belgium Women's U23 national team, Kevin Bogemans knows the pathway to the Red Flames better than anyone. In his new role as assistant coach of the Belgian Red Flames, he will bring not only expertise and continuity, but also an in-depth knowledge of the players and Belgium's talent development pathway.

Meanwhile, Irene Fuhrmann joins the coaching staff as Senior Technical Advisor. A former international player and head coach of the Austrian women's national team, which she guided to the quarter-finals of UEFA Women's EURO 2022, she brings a wealth of international experience and expertise to the Belgian Red Flames.

With Kevin Bogemans and Irene Fuhrmann, we are strengthening our coaching staff with two highly qualified professionals. Thanks to his work with our national youth teams, Kevin knows our younger generation of players better than anyone. As we embark on a new cycle, that experience will be particularly valuable. Irene, meanwhile, brings a wealth of international experience from her time as head coach of Austria's women's national team. She also comes from a football association that is similar to ours in many respects. Together, they will bring considerable expertise to our new structure around the Red Flames. – Simon Mignolet