Club Brugge players caught off guard by coach’s dismissal

written by Osmond OMOLU December 9, 2025

Nicky Hayen was sacked by Club Brugge on Monday — just two days before their crucial Champions League match against Arsenal.

His dismissal came after a league defeat to Sint‑Truiden, which dropped Brugge to third place in the Belgian league.
He was immediately replaced by Ivan Leko — a former Brugge coach — who left his previous club with little public warning.

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Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken admitted the squad was taken completely by surprise by the decision. He said the players only found out after Monday’s training session.
Vanaken expressed that none of the players saw it coming and suggested they believed the team had potential to improve under Hayen.
When asked whether the board and players were on the same page, Vanaken hesitated — indicating a possible disconnect between management’s decision and the dressing-room’s view.

The managerial shake-up comes at a particularly precarious moment: Brugge currently sits outside the qualifying spots in their Champions League group. They must now face Arsenal under new leadership — a high-pressure environment for Leko’s return.
The abrupt change risks destabilising the squad — especially mentally — given players were not given notice and may still be adjusting to the shock. The timing and manner of the firing have led to visible unrest.
It remains to be seen whether Leko’s appointment will galvanise a turnaround or further unsettle a side already struggling domestically and in Europe.