Belgium Eyeing Vincent Kompany As New Boss to Replace Martinez

Belgium Eyeing Vincent Kompany As New Boss to Replace Martinez

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:19 PM
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  • Vincent Kompany is reportedly lined up to be Belgium boss after Roberto Martinez's exit
  • The Spaniard left the role at the national team after a dreadful 2022 World Cup campaign
  • Kompany is enjoying life as manager of Burnley in England's second-tier Championship

Belgium's national team are reportedly looking to hire Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany as their new manager to replace Roberto Martinez.

This comes days after the Red Devils suffered a horrible exit from the 2022 World Cup campaign, which forced him to leave the role.

Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium, Burnley, 2022 World Cup
Vincent Kompany retired from international football in 2020 and could lead Belgium next. Photo by Isaac Parkin and Michael Steele.
Source: Getty Images

Martinez was hired in 2016, and his contract was set to end after the tournament in Qatar. They were lucky to beat an energetic Canadian side 1-0 in their opening match.

However, they were well beaten by Morocco and went into the Croatia match needing a win, which never came after Romelu Lukaku missed several chances to win the game.

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"That was my last game. It was emotional as you can imagine. The decision was taken just before the World Cup. I always work towards the long-term projects and they need to be set in advance," said Martinez, according to the BBC.

According to the Athletic, the team didn't travel together back home, but instead took separate routes to England and elsewhere. This wasn't the ideal ending that Martinez had envisioned.

The Spaniard had led the Red Devils to the semi-final of the 2018 tournament in Russia, for only the second time in their history.

Kompany new Belgium boss?

According to an exclusive from the Sun, current Burnley manager and Belgium legend Vincent Kompany is being lined up to replace Martinez.

The former Manchester City defender is working miracles at the Clarets after replacing Sean Dyche last season. His side currently sit top of the Championship, three points clear of Sheffield United, but he is reportedly looking for a swift return to the Premier League.

A poll in the country saw the Man City legend voted as the favourite to become the new boss.

Vincent Kompany, Belgium, Burnley, 2022 World Cup, Champiohsip
Vincent Kompany has led Burnley to a terrific start to the Championship season. Photo by Alex Livesey.
Source: Getty Images

However, getting the national team job may be considered a step too far for the 36-year-old, who is still earning his stripes in management.

Saudi Arabia boss Herve Renard, who masterminded a historic upset against Argentina, has also been tipped for the job.

Belgium squad reportedly fractured

Sports Brief earlier reported on Belgium stars flying home separately after their World Cup campaign ended last week.

Their capitulation in Qatar started with Kevin De Bruyne mentioning that the squad was too old to compete for the title. The comments didn't go down well with other squad members, with a clash reported in the dressing room after their loss to Morocco.

The team was supposed to use the same flight back home, but Axel Witsel, Thomas Meunier, Lois Openda, Jeremy Doku and Arthur Theate opted to go their separate ways.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.