Belgium want proven coach to replace Wilmots

BRUSSELS: Belgium will look to appoint a coach with proven international experience, their Football Association said on Friday as they begin the search to replace Marc Wilmots.

Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has been linked with the job and Belgian FA president Francois de Keersmaecker said he would be a “potential candidate” if he chose to apply.

The world’s number-two ranked team began the task of searching for a new coach after Wilmots was sacked in the wake of Belgium’s Euro 2016 quarter-final exit to underdogs Wales.

An exacting criteria has been put in place by the Belgian FA (KBVB), whose technical director Chris van Puyvelde said on Friday they were looking for someone to get the most from a “special generation” of players. “It’s an open process; I expect my mailbox is going to be flooded,” said Puyvelde, who will oversee the selection process.

“We want a candidate to have experience and to have already achieved results in international football.”