AA Gent and Racing Genk have reached a verbal agreement on the transfer of Wouter Vrancken (45). The coach was still on the training field at Genk today, but will no longer be on the bench in Anderlecht next weekend. The intention is that assistants Kevin Van Dessel and Glenn Vanryckeghem will accompany Vrancken, but the details have yet to be finalized.
Vrancken’s departure from Racing Genk had been in the air for some time. Even before the start of the play-offs, this newspaper reported about noise on the line between the coach and the Genk board. The club management felt that Vrancken did not get everything out of the core, while he and his staff saw it differently. They pointed out, among other things, the many outgoing transfers in the past two years. The distance between the two sides gradually became greater during the play-offs – even when Genk experienced a revival in its new 3-4-2-1 system.
Antwerp and AA Gent had become aware of the more difficult relationship between Vrancken and Genk and had gathered information in recent months. And the Buffalos now also found an agreement with Genk. There was a buyout sum of around 2 million euros in Vrancken’s contract, but the sum that AA Gent pays will probably be slightly lower.
Sour ending
Remarkable: Vrancken still led the training at Genk this morning. But that was his last, because both parties are parting ways immediately. Vrancken will no longer be at the helm in the league match against Anderlecht on Saturday. A pretty sour end to a marriage that started so successfully two years ago.
At the Buffalos, Vrancken had been in the top echelon of the board for a while, and in particular owner Sam Baro. They see him as the suitable successor to Hein Vanhaezebrouck, whose contract will not be extended.
Vrancken was appointed trainer of Racing Genk in the summer of 2022. In his first season he was just a few seconds shy of the title and won the Trainer of the Year award. This season was mixed, with early eliminations from the cup and Europe. Genk qualified for the Champions’ Play-offs on the final day. After a strong start, 10 out of 12, Genk fell back and made it 0 out of 9.
READ ALSO.
Why Wouter Vrancken may no longer be coach of Genk next season (+)
How Racing Genk completely lost its flow: “Some boys were angry at halftime”
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Tags: Gent reaches verbal agreement Genk trainer Wouter Vrancken leaving Limburgers effect Sport
