AA Gent will once again have to secure a European ticket through the Europe Play-Offs. That will probably be Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s last trick as a sporting chief. It appears that the Buffaloes will be working with a new head coach.
After doing a good job as head coach of KV Kortrijk and despite a failed adventure at KRC Genk, Vanhaezebrouck was appointed T1 of the Buffalos for the first time in 2014. That turned out to be a good move. Under his reign, the first, and so far only, national title in club history was won in 2015.
The following year, Ghent also showed great things in the Champions League. But over time, the collaboration became rusty. In the autumn of 2017, the trainer opted to leave for RSC Anderlecht. However, that passage was not a success and in the meantime Ghent itself had difficulty finding a suitable head coach.
Frictions with management
At the end of 2020, both parties decided to do business with each other again. This led, among other things, to a cup win, three final victories in the Europe Play-Offs and a number of European highlights. However, there was also increasing internal friction. And Vanhaezebrouck’s open lashings, including towards the board, did not help matters.
His relationship with new owner Sam Baro would therefore not be exactly good. Moreover, Vanhaezebrouck’s expiring contract has still not been extended. Many observers expect that the collaboration with the 60-year-old trainer will come to an end after the current season.
Geraerts as successor?
In that case, Ghent will have to look for a suitable successor. Analyst Jan Mulder contributes in his column Humo a suitable candidate has already been put forward: Karel Geraerts, the current T1 of Schalke 04. “I immediately propose a Vanhaezebrouck – Geraerts exchange. Hein seems ideal for the Bundesliga, with his solid iron hand he is able to move from the Schalke mess to make something decent again. Karel is his worthy successor at KAA Gent, which will certainly remember Geraerts’ performances at Union Saint-Gilloise,” said Mulder.
