Overmars would like to bring Van Bommel to Belgium. The former coach of PSV and VfL Wolfsburg has already been spotted several times in Antwerp and a two-year contract is ready for him. Van Bommel was also a top candidate to become a trainer of Racing Genk, but his preference seems to be for the adventure at Antwerp. Overmars is charmed by him as a trainer and with his presence, Van Bommel knows that he will receive the necessary backing from the management.
Antwerp qualified for the Belgian championship round in the play-offs this season, in which it will finish fourth and last. The ambitions of the oldest professional club in the country are sky-high. Antwerp is owned by Paul Gheysens, one of the richest Belgians. The Belgian cup was won in 2020, but the club wants to participate for the national title. To reinforce those ambitions, Overmars was brought in as technical person with ultimate responsibility, after he resigned from Ajax at the beginning of February due to cross-border behaviour.
The financial possibilities are therefore available in Antwerp, which is expected to say goodbye to current coach Brian Priske soon. Coming Sunday, the season will end with an away game at Union. Antwerp will play in the second heat of the Conference League next season.
For Van Bommel (45), it must be his third trainer job. He started at PSV in 2018 and eventually just missed the national title that season. A sporting dramatic streak in his second year proved fatal for him in December. At VfL Wolfsburg, Van Bommel was already fired at the end of October this season, despite an excellent start in the competition. His successor Florian Kohfeld has now also been fired.