The technician Flandrien, 58, left his post at the head of the national women’s basketball team “by mutual agreement”, announced the Belgian federation on Saturday. After 89 matches, the longest reign for a Belgian Cats coach, ended with 61 wins and 28 defeats (47 in official matches, for 33 wins and 14 defeats), Philip Mestdagh guided the Belgians to their finest winners i.e. two bronze medals at Euro in 2017 in Prague and in 2021 in Valencia, a 4th place at the 2018 World Cup for the first participation of Belgium, a 5th place at Euro 2019 in Belgrade and a 7th place at the Tokyo Olympics where the cruel defeat in the quarterfinals against Japan (86-85) was ultimately the last match of Philip Mestdagh on August 4 in Saitama. To win this historic place at the Olympics, Belgium went through a qualifying tournament in Ostend in February 2020 in front of 5,000 spectators. The highlight of this Mestdagh period is undoubtedly.
Coach of Blue Cats Ypres, where he comes from, with whom he achieved the Cup-Championship double in 2012 with Emma Meesseman, Philip Mestdagh started in 2013 in the national team, as assistant to Daniel Goethals taking over from coach carolo in August 2015. The man is known to be a trainer. It is he who trained Emma Meesseman, Kim and Hanne Mestdagh, his daughters, Julie Vanloo, in particular and a good number of players of the Belgian elite female. He was also the one who managed to bring Ann Wauters back into the fold of the national team, associating her for the first time with Emma Meesseman, then one of the best European pairs. The results followed with a qualification for Euro 2017 ten years after the last appearance in the final phase of a European championship, in 2007 in Chieti (7th) and an accession to all major international meetings afterwards (6 ).
In a club, Philip Mestdagh coached Castors Braine after his episode in Yprois and then Namur before attempting, this season, his first experience as a coach of a foreign championship, near his home, in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux.
The new mentor of the Belgian Cats, whose name should be announced in the coming days, will immediately be in the qualifying bath for Euro 2023 in November with two matches in Bosnia-Herzegovina (on the 11th) and against Germany. (the 14th) then with the qualifying tournament, scheduled for February 2022, for the World Cup later in the year from September 22 to October 1 in Australia. It will remain to be seen with what workforce.
“The band needs a new voice”
“The group needs a new voice,” Mestdagh reacted in the federation’s statement. “I am extremely grateful and proud of the journey I have taken with the group of players,” said the coach yprois, 58 years old. “It’s not easy to say goodbye now, but I think the group needs a new voice to take it to the next level. I want to thank the players and the federation for our cooperation over the last few years. Belgian Cats are forever in my heart: thank you ladies, thank you the staff, we have had a fantastic journey together. I am now focusing entirely on my club in the French league (in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, editor’s note). “
“We felt on both sides that it was time to breathe new life into the air,” said Koen Umans, general manager of the Cats. “With all the staff, Philip brought the Belgian Cats to the world level: 89 international matches on the clock with a 6th place in the world ranking. The most beautiful pages in the history of Belgian basketball bear his mark. We would like to thank expressly Philip for his investment during these many years. “
