Hans Cornelis has broken his silence two weeks after being dismissed as head coach of Sporting Charleroi, addressing the circumstances surrounding his departure and denying any personal relationship with sporting director Nicolas Frutos.
The Belgian coach spoke to La Dernière Heure Les Sports in his first public comments since his dismissal on April 7, 2026, following a three-month tenure at the helm of the Belgian Pro League club.
Cornelis revealed that club owner Mehdi Bayat informed him of the decision via telephone on Easter Monday, April 6, 2026. “Mehdi Bayat called me on Easter Monday. After this conversation, I immediately told my wife: he will call me back in twenty minutes to fire me. And that’s exactly what happened. The second call lasted three minutes. I simply said that I disagreed,” Cornelis stated.
The coach emphasized his belief in continued player support despite the dismissal. “As a head coach, you know what can happen, but I didn’t measure the extent of the situation. I felt that the group always supported me, and that’s the most important thing,” he said.
Regarding the team’s recent performance, Cornelis attributed part of the sporting decline to unrealistic expectations from club management. “We suddenly thought we were the best team in Belgium, and that played us a bad trick. We simply overperformed. In January and February, we almost concretized all our chances,” he explained.
Cornelis specifically addressed rumors about his relationship with Nicolas Frutos, the club’s new director of football appointed shortly before his dismissal. “Hans Cornelis never had a relationship with Nicolas Frutos at Charleroi,” he stated clearly, putting an end to speculation that had circulated following his departure.
The coach outlined his immediate plans following the dismissal, mentioning visits to fellow coaches for professional development. “I spent two days in Reims where I went to notice Karel Geraerts. Upon returning home, I directly analyzed everything and summarized it in 20 pages. This week, I visit Philippe Clement in Norwich. Before possibly going to see Pocognoli in Monaco,” Cornelis shared.
Sporting Charleroi confirmed Cornelis’ dismissal after three months in charge, with the club announcing the decision on April 7, 2026. The club stated that Nicolas Frutos would address the media in a press conference later that day to explain the decision.
The Belgian Pro League side had shown strong form earlier in the 2025-26 season, with Cornelis noting the team’s effectiveness in front of goal during specific periods. “In January and February, we almost concretized all our chances,” he recalled, highlighting a period of strong offensive performance before the downturn that contributed to his dismissal.
Cornelis maintained that the dressing room remained united behind him until the end of his tenure. “I don’t have the feeling that the group was no longer behind me. That’s what matters most,” he insisted, suggesting the dismissal came despite continued player support.
The coach’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about Sporting Charleroi’s managerial stability and the club’s direction under its current leadership structure.
As Sporting Charleroi prepares for its upcoming fixtures in the Belgian Pro League, the club will look to stabilize under new leadership following the recent coaching change.
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