The finalists for the Raymond Goethals trophy have been announced. Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany, Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen and former Union St Gilloise man Sebastien Pocognoli are the candidates for this years award. The trophy is given to the best Belgian head coach from the last calendar year. While Hayen has won it in the past, his Champions League exploits with Club Brugge and the domestic cup win may not be enough to beat the likes of Kompany and Pocognoli, who has since left Union to join Ligue 1 side Monaco.
Kompany was a surprise appointment by Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024. After decent spels with both Anderlecht and Burnley, Kompany took the biggest job in German football and has excelled. Kompany’s Bayern side won the league for the 24th time and look set to make it 35 having begun the Bundesliga campaign unbeaten. Kompany also has his side looking like serious contenders for the Champions League this season.
Pocognoli delivered Union St Gilloise their first title since 1935. The historic moment came in his first season as a head coach, having taken over from Alexander Blessin last summer. He has now guided the side to their debut Champions League campaign and was rewarded with a lucrative job in Ligue 1 at Monaco. It is likely to be a straight fight between Pocognoli and Kompany for the trophy this year.
