KRC Genk has identified Carl Hoefkens as a potential candidate to fill its vacant head coaching position, according to a report from VoetbalPrimeur.be.
The Limburg club is currently evaluating options to replace Jess Thorup following his departure on November 10.
The club parted ways with Thorup after a volatile four-month tenure, citing a performance level that failed to meet internal expectations. “This is not the level that KRC Genk expects of itself,” the club said in a press release reported by Sporza. The decision followed a run of poor results, including a 0-6 points return in the final two matches under the Dane’s leadership.
Hoefkens is currently without a club following his departure from NAC Breda in September after 75 matches in charge. His managerial resume includes previous spells at Standard Liège and Club Brugge. During his time at Club Brugge, he served as an assistant during their 2022 title-winning campaign before stepping into the head coach role, where he secured the Belgian Supercup, according to VoetbalPrimeur.be.
🔵🇧🇪 KRC Genk are considering Carl Hoefkens as one of the options to replace Jess Thorup. Talks at early stages as no advanced negotiations has already taken place yet. ⏳ More to follow. #JPL pic.twitter.com/nr5ZCHpojR
Genk’s search for a permanent successor comes during the current international break, providing the board with time to finalize their decision. The club confirmed that assistant Imre Szabics also left the organization alongside Thorup.
While the search for a new manager continues, Peter Balette and Domenico Olivieri have been tasked with overseeing training sessions. The club indicated that it chose to exhaust internal discussions rather than engage in media speculation during the final weeks of Thorup’s tenure, but ultimately determined that a “new impulse” was necessary to turn the season around.
KRC Genk currently sits in 7th place in the Jupiler Pro League. The club’s leadership emphasized that the decision to remove Thorup was made after a thorough evaluation of both the team’s results and the lack of visible progress in their style of play.
The next confirmed step for the club is the appointment of a new head coach, with training continuing under the direction of Balette and Olivieri until a permanent successor is named.
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