Belgian football needs a unified youth development framework that bridges regional divides between Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia while integrating amateur clubs into the national structure, according to Belgian football association CEO Vincent Mannaert.
Unified Training Across Regional Divides
Speaking during a press briefing in Tubeke, Mannaert outlined his blueprint for stabilizing the Belgian game by overhauling how young players are coached, VoetbalFocus reported. The chief executive emphasized that the current disparities in methodology across Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia must be gradually narrowed through a shared national vision. Rather than imposing abrupt structural changes, the federation aims to harmonize coaching philosophies step by step.
To build this foundation, Mannaert pointed to Spain as a primary reference point for success. In Spain, a cohesive blueprint connects youth instructors all the way through to the senior players who reach the professional ranks. You feel a unity in their football. But that happens not just like that,
Mannaert said, as cited by RTBF, noting that Spanish youth trainers operate under a single, nationwide philosophy.
Integrating Amateur Clubs Into the National Pipeline
The modernization plan extends well beyond elite professional academies and national selections. Mannaert stressed that amateur clubs must play a central role in the strategy, as grassroots teams handle the formative early years for the vast majority of players.
To illustrate the importance of the grassroots level, the CEO highlighted Kevin De Bruyne’s beginnings at Drongen and Thibaut Courtois starting out at Bilzen. These examples demonstrate that local clubs and the professional leagues cannot operate in silos. The idea is thus to unite the country, from north to south and from west to east, and to bring amateur football together with the cooperation of the professional competition. Unity is strength,
Mannaert stated.
Broader Context Within the National Association
Mannaert’s policy address in Tubeke also touched upon other key federation dossiers, including the arrival of national team coach Mark van Bommel and the ongoing development of the Red Flames. By framing youth reform as a unifying force, the leadership aims to establish long-term institutional stability within the Belgian governing body, linking regional authorities, amateur organizations, and professional clubs under one overarching technical umbrella.
