Club Brugge sacks coach despite Champions League run / Photo: KURT DESPLENTER - BELGA/AFP/File
-
Aston Villa Defy History With Rare Victory at Old Trafford
-
Brussels Education Unions Schedule Major November Protest Over Funding and Reforms
-
Crowds Gather at San Francisco Park for Elizabeth Holmes Lookalike Tournament
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - November 09
-
Making Your Home Safer for Aging Parents: Accessibility Renovations That Add Value
-
New 401k Gold IRA Investment Guide Explains the Best Way to Invest in Gold for Retirement (2026 Update)
-
iPS Cell Research Accelerates Drug Discovery for ALS and Spinal Cord Injury
-
Central Tokyo Apartment Rents Forecast to Rise 11% by 2030
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
-
Dana White Confirms Flight to Washington for Trump Meeting on Press Secretary Role
-
NASA Awards $10B Lunar Contract Framework to SpaceX, Blue Origin
-
Dengue Fever Expands Into High Himalayas as Climate Change Warms Nepal
Club Brugge sacks coach despite Champions League run
Belgian side Club Brugge on Wednesday sacked its coach Carl Hoefkens due to disappointing domestic results, despite him guiding the outsiders to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
CEO Vincent Mannaert praised the former Belgium international defender as a "club man through and through".
"His role in the successful Champions League campaign this season should not be underestimated," a statement said.
But Mannaert said "our choices last summer did not bring the desired level of play and results in the league and the Belgian Cup".
Hoefkens, 44, was a surprise choice when he was appointed as head coach in May after three seasons as assistant manager.
He led Club Brugge through to the round of 16 in the Champions League for the first time in its history during his brief tenure.
The team qualified second in its group after impressive wins over Bayer Leverkusen, Porto and Atletico Madrid.
But disappointing performances in Belgium's top flight have left the reigning champions 12 points off leaders Genk in fourth place.
The team was also knocked out of the Belgian Cup last week by Sint-Truiden in a 4-1 thrashing.
Club Brugge said they are "now working on the best possible succession".
The club will have a new coach installed before their Champions League campaign restarts with a tie against Portugal's Benfica on 15 February.
Club Brugge have enjoyed major domestic success and growing financial clout in recent years, winning the Belgian Pro League in five of the last seven seasons.
O.Johnson--AMWN
