© BELGIUM
Even before Carl Hoefkens was officially dismissed, Club Brugge laid out lines to possible successors. The national champion also sounded out Roberto Martinez (49), but the former national coach currently prefers a foreign adventure.
Pieter-Jan Calcoen and David Van den Broeck
Roberto Martinez is a free trainer from January 1: his contract as national coach will not be extended after the disappointing World Cup. Bart Verhaeghe knows Martinez very well, the two worked closely together at the Belgian football association. Within football, the name of Martinez was quickly put forward as a potential successor to Carl Hoefkens, but it was unclear whether Club was actually thinking of the Spaniard. Until now: according to our information there has indeed been informal contact.
Club Brugge asked Martinez – without further ado – whether he was open to an adventure with blue-black. The Catalan has indicated that he currently prefers a job abroad. It remains to be seen whether Club will insist – Verhaeghe can be very convincing – but at the moment we have no indications that that will happen. In addition, it does not appear that Martinez will soon change his mind: Belgium seems to be a closed chapter for him.
