INJURIES Anderlecht has undergone a complete metamorphosis this summer. With Antoine Sibierski as sporting director and Vitor Bruno as coach, a largely new structure is set to guide the purple and white back to success. If you compare Anderlecht with the side of a year ago, there is hardly anything left that looks familiar. Not only on the pitch, but especially behind the scenes, much has changed.
Michael Verschueren is chairman, Kenneth Bornauw has become the sole CEO and Antoine Sibierski has taken charge of the sporting side. The scouting department also has a new head in David Verwilghen. On top of that, Jean Kindermans has returned as academy director. Only owner Marc Coucke has remained in place. Even so, this sweeping renovation is not causing chaos, at least not for now. On the contrary. Inside the club, there appears to be more clarity again about who takes which decisions. Bornauw was tasked with rebuilding the organisation and shortening the lines of communication. Sibierski is now the undisputed sporting boss.
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Continue reading Sibierski opts for clarity The 51-year-old Frenchman, who previously played for Manchester City, arrived in Brussels after two strong years at Troyes. He does not yet know Belgian football inside out, but makes up for that with an enormous work ethic. Sibierski prefers to stay in the background and wants above all to remain close to his players and staff. For away matches, he even sits on the bench. At Lotto Park, he chooses a solitary spot in the stands, level with the halfway line, where he can watch the game without distraction. There is also a clear philosophy when it comes to transfers. With Giulian Biancone, Léo Pétrot and Lukas Ambros, Sibierski has so far brought in three players who are expected to fit his intended 4-2-3-1 system.
Technical quality is not the only factor. Running power, speed and physical strength are also assessed carefully. The message is clear: Anderlecht wants to play attractive football, but above all, it has to be earned through hard work. Sibierski also tries to build personal contact with his players. He wants to speak to them individually on a regular basis and even went to Nathan De Cat's home to convince the young midfielder to stay in Brussels. Vitor Bruno brings Portuguese discipline For the coaching job, Sibierski deliberately looked for someone with the same work ethic. His choice fell on Vitor Bruno. The 43-year-old Portuguese convinced him during a meeting in Lisbon. It was above all his tactical knowledge, intensity and attention to discipline that sealed the deal. Bruno did not come alone, though. He brought four countrymen with him: Vitor Gouveia and Nuno Piloto as assistants, Pedro Oliveira as physical coach and Luis Ferreira as goalkeeping coach.
That was a condition for Bruno to move to Brussels. For its part, Anderlecht wanted to keep a few familiar faces on board. Jérémy Taravel, Dries Bloemen and Justin Verlinden all stayed. In the end, a compromise was found. During his first matches and training sessions, Bruno immediately showed that he is not the kind of coach who stands calmly on the touchline. In Stockholm, where Anderlecht drew 1-1 with Hammarby, his temperament was clearly on display. At Neerpede, he brings the same intensity. Details matter to him. Players are required to wear shin guards. He also wanted the training pitches to be fully shielded to keep prying eyes out. Not all of his ideas were given the green light, however. The club rejected his proposal to place screens around the training grounds.
Bruno even thought about the clothing of the staff and goalkeepers. When it emerged that Adidas had provided black K-Ways for everyone, he wanted white ones for the keepers. Confusion had to be avoided at all times. English language binds the new staff together After a few weeks of preparation, cooperation within the new structure seems to be going well. English is the working language and communication between the Portuguese staff and the squad does not appear to be a problem for now. Bruno is still working with a large group and is giving youngsters the chance to prove themselves. Jayden Onia Seke and Joshua Nga Kana are benefiting from that. At the same time, players who were established names last season, such as Mario Stroeykens, Tristan Degreef and Adriano Bertaccini, now have to fight for their place. Bruno has made little secret of that.
Anyone unwilling to give everything, he says, should be prepared for another solution. That may well be the common thread running through Anderlecht's new approach: discipline, intensity and clarity. Five Portuguese staff members and one Frenchman are meant to steer the purple and white back towards success. Whether the new approach will also deliver trophies remains to be seen. The past nine trophyless years have shown, after all, that unity within the club is no guarantee of success.
