This former Dutch PSV coach previously served as Belgium’s national team coach.

Mark van Bommel makes his debut Friday evening as Belgium’s national team coach. It is not the first time that De Rode Duivels have had a former PSV coach as their national team coach.

In the autumn of 2009, Dick Advocaat was appointed by the KBVB as the new national team coach after Frank Vercauteren stepped down following a 2-0 defeat against Armenia. In April 2009, Vercauteren had still been promoted as a successor to the sacked René Vandereycken.

Advocaat made his debut as Belgium’s national team coach with a 2-0 victory over Turkey in the World Cup qualification for the 2010 World Cup, for which the Belgians ultimately failed to qualify. A few days later, De Rode Duivels lost to Estonia with the same scoreline.

The born Hageneer clearly showed his hand as national coach and, among other things, left then-PSV player Timmy Simons out of the squad for the match against Estonia. In addition, goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen was no longer sure of his place between the posts.

The period of Advocaat as head coach of our southern neighbors ultimately did not last long. Despite a contract running until 2012, the former PSV coach decided in April 2010 to embark on an adventure as head coach of Russia, which soon brought an end to the era of the former PSV trainer as head coach of the Red Devils.

With the Russians, Advocaat was then the successor to Guus Hiddink who still reached the semi-finals at the Euro 2008, but nevertheless failed to qualify for the World Cup 2010. With Russia, Advocaat reached the Euro 2012 in Poland & Ukraine where the Russians ultimately did not get beyond the group stage.

After the 2012 European Championship, Advocaat became PSV’s coach again and a year later the coach said goodbye in Eindhoven without winning the league title and without the cup. The current coach of Curaçao was succeeded by Phillip Cocu.