Mark Van Bommel is no longer the coach of Royal Antwerp FC. After two great seasons, he announced that he would stop at number 1. And so the search for the successor has been going on for a while. Jonas De Roeck was seen as the big contender.
Jonas De Roeck has already completed episodes at STVV and Westerlo, among others, and was already an assistant at RSC Anderlecht. Now the ex-player of The Great Old is on his way to the Bosuil. The conversations started a while ago.
There was never any reason to assume that a marriage would not occur between Antwerp and De Roeck. It has been mentioned quite specifically for a while and on Tuesday evening there was finally the liberating answer.
The analysts of MidMid talked about the matter a while ago: “I don’t think Antwerp is necessarily looking for a big name, but is looking for continuity. And so they are looking for someone who can stay for at least two years.”
“Someone with whom they can build something, not someone who will be gone next year,” says Yanko Beeckman. “A lot will certainly happen at Antwerp in terms of transfers next summer. That he is not an expensive option? That could also play a role.”
Winkelmans has entered a reservation
Evert Winkelmans does make some reservations: “I think Antwerp is a big step. It is and remains a special club. Maybe I forget his first year at Westerlo a bit, but the collaboration with Overmars and so on…”
“It would not be as equal as with Mark van Bommel. With all due respect to De Roeck, but then it will be Overmars who makes the selection. The step from a dismissal at Westerlo to Antwerp, which is still a top club… The expectations of the fans will be there, falling outside the top 5 will not be accepted.”
