Vincent Mannaert secures a contract through 2030 as the new CEO of the Royal Belgian Football Association
Vincent Mannaert took over as the new CEO of the Royal Belgian Football Association in late September, securing his position after insisting on a contract extension through 2030. Mannaert stepped into the role following the departure of Peter Willems, who was dismissed from the post on September 15 following significant disagreements with federation president Pascale Van Damme. Having served as the federation’s sports director since December 2024, Mannaert entered the vacancy as the primary candidate.
The negotiating terms behind the appointment
While Mannaert held a previous agreement running until 2028—signed ahead of the World Cup in the United States—he made a longer commitment a non-negotiable prerequisite before accepting the chief executive position. Van Damme ultimately accepted the condition, allowing the former Club de Bruges and Zulte Waregem executive to secure a timeline matching his preference for long-term sporting governance.
“I initially had a contract until 2028,” Mannaert explained in an interview with the Dutch-language publication Het Laatste Nieuws.
Establishing long-term stability at the federation
Mannaert pointed to his historical working relationships as the primary rationale for demanding a mandate stretching to the end of the decade. During his tenure at Zulte Waregem spanning more than four years, he worked exclusively under president Willy Naessens. That stint was followed by a 13-year collaboration with Bart Verhaeghe at Club de Bruges, a period whose sporting management structure continues to yield results for the club today. By insisting on terms reaching 2030, the new CEO aims to replicate that stability within the national governing body and the setup surrounding the national team.
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