RSC Anderlecht announced on Monday the departure of Olivier Renard and interim head coach Edward Still. In the afternoon, CEO Kenneth Bornauw addressed the press and provided an update on the search for a new head coach and a new sporting director. “Finding a coach is now the most urgent priority,” the RSCA CEO stated clearly.
The announcement of the double departure comes one day after the defeat away at Genk. “We now want to seize this momentum to prepare for the future,” Bornauw began. “We have thought a lot about the right profile for a sporting director. Olivier Renard has many qualities, but to build for the long term, we may need a different profile.”
According to Bornauw, the timing of the decision is logical. “We are one week past the winter transfer window. There is now time to build towards the summer. We want to create momentum for ourselves to start building for the future. We therefore see this as an opportunity to put someone else in charge of the sporting direction.”
Strong leadership
The search for a new sporting director is ongoing and will not delay the appointment of a new head coach. “Ideally, you would do things in a different order, but the situation is what it is. Finding a coach is the most urgent matter right now. You play a match every week and you need someone in front of the group who can revive the team.” The play-offs are approaching, along with several important matches before the end of the regular season, starting with Thursday’s cup match at Antwerp.
“The plan was always for the Antwerp, KRC Genk and Antwerp matches to be managed by Edward Still. He chose to leave himself. That is unfortunate and was not anticipated. Thursday’s match will be led by Jérémy Taravel, and he will likely also be on the bench on Sunday. I don’t want to pin myself down to an exact timeline, but the ambition is to reach an agreement with the final candidate for the head coach position by the end of the week,” said Bornauw.
While it remains to be seen who will take over the team, the profile of the next head coach is clear. “We need strong leadership and someone who can restore confidence within the squad. Of course, the coach must fit the club philosophy and have the team play accordingly.”
European football remains the ambition
“Our ambition remains to play European football next season. The shortest way is through the cup, another option is finishing in the top four of the league.” To achieve that, RSC Anderlecht will need to be more consistent. “If you look at our season, we alternate between good and less good periods. At the end of last year, we had a fantastic run in which we beat Club Brugge, Union and Genk. That team has not changed. I see no reason why we couldn’t find that form again.”
The CEO therefore looks ahead with optimism. “We are still in fourth place, which qualifies for European football. And I just told the players that we are two matches away from winning the cup. I know there is a perception outside the club that RSC Anderlecht is very vulnerable at the moment, but that’s not how I feel. I believe that with this decision, we have created momentum to build for the future.”