Anderlecht appoint Van Holsbeeck

RSC Anderlecht have announced that K. Lierse SK coach Herman van Holsbeeck will take over as general manager from Michel Verschueren.

Date not set
With the deal done, the one remaining detail to be confirmed is whether Von Holsbeeck joins in July, August or September. The 72-year old Verschueren revealed last week that he would not continue to work beyond January of next year, and it is thought he will remain at the club to supervise the first six months of Van Holsbeeck’s tenure before finally retiring.

‘Very proud’
Van Holsbeeck is famed as a man of few words and his response to the announcement was typically understated. “I am very proud of the interest from Anderlecht,” said Van Holsbeeck.  “But it is too early to speak about my next job. We still have so much to do with Lierse this season.”

Lierse success
Van Holsbeeck had a modest playing career with Dendermonde, Racing Jet, Union St Gilloise, VG Ostende and Stade Leuven. He then went on to coach RC Jet and Londerzeel, before joining RWD Molenbeek as an assistant coach. He eventually rose to be coach of the Brussels club, before joining Lierse in 1999. Under Van Holsbeeck, Lierse emerged as a successful club, establishing themselves in the Belgian First Division.

Second offer
A fluent French and Flemish speaker, Van Holsbeeck had already been contacted by Anderlecht last autumn, but he rejected the approach. Lierse president Gaston Vets said: “Herman is a real professional, it will be very hard without him. He has become a friend to me as well. But one cannot reject two offers from Anderlecht.”

Ferrara doubts
The confirmation of the move has caused Lierse’s much-praised coach Emilio Ferrara to stall over signing a new deal with the club. Ferrara has been credited as being an integral part of Lierse’s recent success, but his future is now unclear as contract talks have been put on hold.