Nicky Hayen goes from caretaker to permanent Club Brugge head coach after winning Belgian title | OneFootball

Club Brugge have confirmed that Nicky Hayen will be the sides head coach next season. To start the 2023/2024 campaign, Hayen was in charge of the sides second team, Club NXT. The side play in the second tier of Belgian football, but after Ronny Deila was sacked following a defeat to Sint-Truiden to end the regular season, Hayen was drafted in as a caretaker. The Belgian had not been a head coach in Belgium since leaving Waasland-Beveren following relegation to the second tier of Belgian football back in 2021. He did have a spell in charge of Haverfordwest in Wales for the 2021/2022 season.

However, rather than just see the side through to the end of the season in order for a new man to take charge, Hayen led the side to their 19th Pro League title. Club started nine points behind Union but went unbeaten during the play-offs to overturn the deficit and win the league. It would have been surprising if Hayen had not been rewarded with the gig to start the next season, and the side have announced he has signed a contract for an indefinite period of time.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson