Anderlecht’s Pursuit of Stability Could Lead to Another Coaching Misstep

According to La Dernière Heure (LDH), Anderlecht appear poised to retain Besnik Hasi as head coach for next season, with the primary motivation seemingly rooted in a desire for stability. However, this decision may not sit well with supporters who have watched their club fall behind Belgium’s leading sides in recent years. While Brian Riemer came close to closing that gap last season, his team ran out of steam in the play-offs. This season, they were significantly off the pace set by Genk, Club Brugge, and local rivals Union Saint-Gilloise.

In aiming for continuity, Anderlecht’s leadership may be walking into another managerial error. They previously turned to the inexperienced David Hubert to replace Riemer, after a moderately promising stint as interim coach. But once in the permanent role, Hubert faltered, clearly unprepared for the demands of managing a club of Anderlecht’s stature. Hasi was then brought in, but his impact has been limited. Although the club secured a fourth-place finish, they struggled in key play-off matches and lost the cup final to Club Brugge.

Since his appointment, Hasi has yet to demonstrate he can steer the club in a new direction. Some may argue that a full pre-season could help him implement his vision—yet a similar opportunity at KV Mechelen failed to produce results. After initially impressing with a mid-season turnaround there, his team regressed following a full summer under his leadership.

There’s no ill will toward Hasi, but if he is confirmed as permanent manager, he’ll need to make a strong start to win over the fans. Anything less could see pressure mount quickly on the board to make yet another change at the helm.