Peter Bosz is one of the leading candidates to take over as manager of the Belgium national team after holding talks with Premier League duo Wolves and Aston Villa before Christmas, according to Sporza.
With Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier the wrong side of 30, whoever takes Roberto Martinez’s place on the Rote Duivels bench will be inheriting one of the most challenging jobs in European football.
Belgium’s new boss will find himself under pressure to knock down the house Martinez built and construct an all-new one out of the rubble. Out goes the ‘Golden’ (or should that be ‘Olden’?) Generation, in comes an influx of new, young talent to take their place.
Did we mention the crushing pressure of almost immediate silverware?
Bosz’s track record when it comes to developing young players is likely one of the major reasons why he is so high on Belgium’s managerial wishlist. Bosz’s Ajax were the youngest ever to reach a major European final when taking on Manchester United in 2017; 17-year-old Matthijs de Ligt among a squad with an average age of just 22.
Peter Bosz could replace Roberto Martinez as Belgium manager
Bosz also prides himself upon what he describes as ‘beautiful attacking football’. A stylish, free-flowing style capable of getting the best out of Belgium’s up-and-coming whizzkids; Anass Zaroury, Nicolas Raskin, Charles de Ketelaere, Aster Vranckx and Johan Bakayoko the potential headliners.
Bosz, formerly of Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, has been out of work since October; fired by Lyon after failing to strike the balance between a formidable attack and a rock-solid defence. Bosz’s Lyon tended to concede as many goals as they scored. And that means a lot, at both ends of the pitch.
“I spoke to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa,” Bosz admitted in December. “But those clubs chose a different manager.”
Wolves eventually handed the reigns to Julen Lopetegui. Aston Villa, meanwhile, replaced Steven Gerrard with Unai Emery. Lopetegui and Emery, both Europa League winners with Sevilla, are coaches renowned for building organised, well-drilled teams. Teams capable of carving out results against more technical opposition.
With Wolves and Aston Villa in a relegation battle at their time, perhaps they felt Bosz’s thrilling-yet-reckless blueprint was a risk not worth taking.
According to Sporza, ex-Schalke and RB Leipzig boss Domenico Tedesco is another under consideration by Belgium. The 37-year-old was sacked by Leipzig in September.
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