Nicolas Lombaerts returns to AA Gent as assistant to Hein Vanhaezebrouck | Belgian Football

Not during the press presentation of Emilio Ferrera, yesterday morning in the Ghelamco Arena, when there was yet another shift with names and functions. Nor a day earlier, when AA Gent internally announced its youth coaches for next season. Bizarre.

Because the original plan was that Nicolas Lombaerts would train the U16 of the Buffalos. In order to develop as a coach – Lombaerts is working on obtaining a UEFA A and B diploma, through a shortened program that (former) Red Devils can follow.

But because Peter Balette will take on the role of team manager from next season – after he was appointed technical director a year ago, only to become T2 again three months later – AA Gent has been looking for a new assistant coach in recent weeks. Karim Belhocine’s name soon fell. Logical. The former T1 of Charleroi and KV Kortrijk is a trusted man of Hein Vanhaezebrouck. Belhocine was – in the latter days of his playing career – part of the dressing room when AA Gent won its first national title in 2015. Not so much the interest of Mouscron – where he can become head coach again – but the lack of unanimity within the board of the Buffalos meant that Belhocine was not an option.

Enter Nicolas Lombaerts. Grown up in the Jules Otten Stadium at the time, after he was taken away from Club Brugge as a 19-year-old. Lombaerts became a favorite of the public in Ghent and also helped the club a lot financially by moving to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2007 for 4 million euros. Since then he has never failed to express his appreciation for Ghent. Especially when a bar was named after him in the brand new Ghelamco Arena on the second floor. Lombaerts would later be the first to congratulate Ghent with the title and with the winter in the Champions League – after that 2-1 against… Zenit.

AA Gent’s attempt to separate the former central defender in Russia a year later, however, failed – he ultimately chose KV Oostende. What a difficult and ultimately painful story would turn out. Lombaerts ended his career in the B team there in April last year. When asked what his future looked like, it sounded: “I have some projects and investments running… and I am also taking the trainer course. For now it’s all good as it is. And then I’ll see what I’m looking forward to. ”

But in recent months, Lombaerts has started itching harder to get back to work in football. Then Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s right to become T2 is a great opportunity. Moreover, at AA Gent, where he is welcome at all levels. Isn’t it, chairman?

So it is up to Vanhaezebrouck and Lombaerts to guide the Buffalos to the Champions’ Play-offs next season. Although there will still have to be a few things to do in this summer mercato. Fortunately, they realize that two floors above Nicolas Lombaerts’ bar.