After exceeding all expectations last season, Sint-Truiden have paid a heavy price for their success. So far this summer they have lost their head coach and two key players to rivals Genk, while also seeing a number of other first team players depart. In place of Thorsten Fink comes Christian Lattanzio. Last season, Fink looked set for a difficult season with a squad that many thought would be in a relegation scrap. It appears that Lattanzio is in the same position this time around.
Last seasons finish: 9th
Transfers in: Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger), Shogo Taniguchi (Al-Rayyan SC), Leo Kokubo (Benfica), Rihito Yamamoto (Gamba Osaka), Ryoya Ogawa (FC Tokyo)
Transfers out: Zion Suzuki (Parma), Aboubakary Koita (AEK Athens), Matte Smets (Genk), Eric Bocat (Stoke City), Jarne Steuckers (Genk), Fatih Kaya (Wehen Wiesbaden), Siemen Buve (Endracht Terien), Daichi Hayashi (Gamba Osaka), Shinji Okazaki (retired)
Overview:
Lattanzio will certainly be in with a shout of coach of the year if he can replicate the success Fink had. They are yet to replace the creativity lost with Jarne Steuckers, and the goals with Aboubakary Koita. Fans will hope that January acquisition Adriano Bertaccini will be given the chance to lead the line and prove himself at the Pro League level. The 23-year-old striker was on fire for RFC Liege in the second tier before signing for Sint-Truiden.
There is hope that Leo Kokubo will be able to replace Zion Suzuki, who impressed greatly in goal. There is still plenty of work to be done in the transfer window for the club, as well as a few that still might leave. Mathias Delorge has been heavily linked with a move to Gent and would be another big loss. The side are currently expected to be flirting with the bottom four and relegation this season.
