The South African Football Association (SAFA) has fielded Belgian coach Hugo Broos as the latest candidate to attempt to re-invigorate morale inside Bafana Bafana’s locker room.
SAFA announces new Bafana Bafana coach
News of Broos’ acquisition follows a period of uncertainty where the vacant post was linked to a number of candidates, including Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane and legendary Carlos Queiroz.
However, in a move that has brought about positive cheers from supporters, SAFA acquired a well-experienced and decorated Broos whose exposure to African football may prove to be a turning point for the national football team that, over the years, has declined in quality and style.
Admittedly, it will be no easy ride to lift a low-morale national squad out of the rut. However, the move by a highly criticised football association has, surprisingly, been applauded.
Everything we know about Hugo Broos
Broos, though, is no stranger to tough tests. The Belgian national has manned manier dugouts and leading the pack at Bafana Bafana is yet another challenge under his notch that, from the onset, he appears to be up for.
We did a little bit of digging and this is what we found out about the 69-year-old.
His hometown
Broos was born on 10 April 1952, in Humbeek, a small town in Belgium with a population size of less than 4 000 inhabitants.
His managerial experience
Broos is a central defender by nature. He started out his playing career manning the backline for KFC Humbeek before he was recruited by RSC Anderlecht when he was 18 years old.
This is where he spent the majority of his football career, notching three European titles, three championships and four Belgian cups in his tenure.
For the Belgian national team, Broos earned 24 caps and led his country to fourth place at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
His coaching career started out at the last club he represented before he hung up his boots. Club Brugge signed Broos as manager, where he served from 1991 to 1998.
Here is a list of the other clubs and national teams Broos has coached:
- RSC Anderlecht: 2002 until 2005
- KRC Genk: 2005 until 2008
- Panserraikos: 2008
- Trabzonspor: 2009
- Zulte Waregem: 2009 until 2012
- Cameroon: 2016 until 2018
His trophy collection
Broos is a well-decorated coach and South Africans will be excited to know that the 69-year-old was crucial in leading Cameroon to African Cup of Nations victory in 2017, a trophy that has evaded Bafana Bafana for years.
Here is a list of Broos’ trophy collection as a football manager:
- Belgian Second Division: 1989–90 (RWD Molenbeek)
- Belgian First Division:1991–92, 1995–96 (Club Brugge)
- Belgian Cup: 1994–95, 1995–96 (Club Brugge)
- Belgian Supercup: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 (Club Brugge)
- Belgian First Division: 2003–04 (RSC Anderlecht)
- Plumber: 1999–2004 (RSC Anderlecht)
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2017 (Cameroon)