KRC Genk has placed Carl Hoefkens on its list of potential candidates to replace Jess Thorup as head coach.
The Belgian club is currently evaluating options during the international break following Thorup’s dismissal on November 10, according to a report by Voetbalkrant.
The decision to part ways with Thorup followed a disappointing start to the season, with the team collecting only 15 points from 11 matches. Alongside the head coach, assistant Imre Szabics also departed the club. For the time being, Peter Balette and Domenico Olivieri are managing training sessions as the board searches for a permanent successor.
While Hoefkens is under consideration, transfer Sacha Tavolieri noted on social media that discussions remain at an early stage, with no advanced negotiations currently underway. Hoefkens is presently without a club, having been dismissed by NAC Breda in September after a 75-match tenure.
His potential arrival at Genk would mark a return to the Belgian Pro League, a competition he knows well from his previous roles at Standard Liège and Club Brugge. At Club Brugge, Hoefkens served as an assistant before taking the lead in 2022, where he secured the Belgian Supercup and celebrated a league title, though his tenure eventually ended after a period of inconsistent results.
The search for a new manager highlights a broader period of instability at the club. According to an analysis by Sporza, Genk is now looking for its tenth coach since the departure of Philippe Clement in 2019. Analyst Stef Wijnants said that the club’s current performance remains far below its stated ambitions, especially given that Genk aims to compete for European qualification annually.
🔵🇧🇪 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
Wijnants pointed to a lack of tactical consistency as a recurring issue, noting that Thorup’s attempt to switch to a 3-5-2 system against Union did not produce the desired results.
“Genk is a team that must play in Europe every year,” Wijnants told Sporza, emphasizing that the current squad, despite being talented, has struggled to find form. The club is undergoing a transition phase, with a new, state-of-the-art training complex set to open soon, even as the search for a new permanent head coach continues.
The board at KRC Genk is expected to take its time in selecting a successor. As Wijnants observed, the club is not under immediate pressure to name a replacement for today, allowing the administration time to weigh the candidates on their list. The international break provides a window for the organization to evaluate its options thoroughly before the next competitive fixture.
Hoefkens remains one of the names linked to the vacancy as he looks to re-establish himself at the highest level of Belgian football. Further developments regarding the appointment are expected to follow as the club concludes its internal assessments.
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