Belgian Presentation

History of KBVB

1885-2016

2016 International Workshop

2016 International WorkshopHistory of KBVB

Founded in Sept 1st 1985

A history of 121 years of football , 121 years of passion , joy , drama and emotion a memorable road to become #1 in FIFA rankings

High standards for a small country

Michel Sablon : Project 2016-2009

1. Vision of Youth Development – winning vs developing 2. National team 3. Coaching education

Vision of Royal Belgian Football Association 2012-2016 “ To grow and win “


UEFA 1954 ❧ UEFA Runner up 1980 Lost in final vs West Germany ❧ UEFA Champion U18 – 1977❧ UEFA European U21 – lost in semifinal 2007❧ 2000 UEFA European Tournament host with Netherland

FIFA – 1904❧ 1904 First International friendly game vs France 3-3❧ 1982-2002 - 6 consecutive appearance in FIFA World Cup❧ 1986 Lost in semifinal vs Argentina ❧ FIFA Ranking 2016 – Red Devils #1 Men = Red Flames #28 Women team❧ FIFA Fair Play Trophy 1992 Casa Hagar

Olympic Games ❧ Gold 1920 - Antwerp


Red Devils:Belgium Men Team Ranking #1 FIFA


“To Grow and Win”Vision of Belgium Football

2012-2016

History of Men’s National Team

2016 International WorkshopMen’s National Team History

• May 1, 1904 Belgian team plays first official game vs France - tied 3 to 3.• The team’s nickname is the Red Devils because of the team’s colors and

aggressive style of play• Played in the first WC in 1930• Has participated in twelve World Cups and four European Championships• Best finish in a WC was 4th place in 1986• Best finish in a European Championship was 2nd - 1980 in Italy (lost to

Germany 2 to 1)• The 1980’s to early 1990’s is considered the first golden age for the

Belgium National Team• The current national team is considered new golden age

2016 International Workshop Men’s National Team History

• In November 2015, Belgium National Team ranked #1 in the world for first time• Bernard Voorhoof and Paul van Himst: Belgium’s all-time leading scorers with 30

each • Jan Ceulemans: played the most games for the Belgium National Team

• Marc Wilmots is the current coach of the Belgium National Team

• Finished first in qualifying group for Euro Championships in France

Youth National Teams

2016 International WorkshopBelgium Youth National Teams

As part of the Belgian Federations’ “1 Plan, 1 Vision, 1 Mission” philosophy, the RBFA adopted the following ideas in regards to its Youth National teams:• Individual Development > Results in tournaments• Preparing Players for the A Team > Results with youth teams• To Progress > To Win• At the youth international level, the most promising players are moved up to the next level as

quickly as possibly, even when it means weakening the chances of qualification for European Championships.

• U15’s: Instead of a team, there is a revolving pool of 65-70 players.

More recently there has been a shift in their philosophy regarding U17’s and above. In examining successful national teams like Spain, the RBFA concluded that winning is a learned habit that needed to be instilled in its players. As a result, for U17 and above, the focus has now shifted to winning.

The U17’s had their best finish ever at a Youth World Cup in 2015, finishing third in Chile.


Topsport Schools

• Topsport Schools were introduced between 1998 and 2002. The aim was to provide the most talented boys and girls additional training during the school day.

• 4 mornings a week.

• 100% focus on individual development.

• All U15-18 youth national teams players get to attend.

• Seven members of the World Cup squad came through the system (Courtois, Mertens, de Bruyne, Dembele, Defour, Qitser, Chadli).

“Futures”• At each age group, there is a second national team (futures) made up of players that show promise but may

need more time to develop in certain areas.

• These players are typically late birth year players and less physically mature than their same birth year counterparts.


U17 National Team• Head Coach: Thierry Siquet

• 2 World Cup appearances (2007, 2015)

• 3 European Championship appearances (2006, 2007, 2015)

U19 National Team• Head Coach: Gert Verheyen

• 1 World Cup appearance (1997)

• 3 European Championship appearances (2002, 2004, 2006)

U21 National Team• Head Coach: Enzo Scifo

• 2 European Championship appearances (2002, 2007)

2016 International WorkshopU17 Team in Chile

Women’s Program

2016 International WorkshopWomen’s Program

Future goals in the next 1-5 years is to put resources into the Women's side

Fact is all girls play with boys until age 15

Currently:There is a first division, but the level is low and everyone leaves

Most Recently:Teams competed in BeNe League until it folded in 2014. The only way the

clubs had into the European Championships


Started in 1976

Have not been to the World Cup or European Championship

Currently second in qualifying for 2017 European Championships


No women’s youth program on the horizon

Clubs are not shy in saying, there is no money in selling these players and this is still a business.

Until a market is created, there will probably not be a push by the big clubs to have a full system.

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Small Sided to Full Sided

2016 International WorkshopSmall Sided to Full Sided

● 300KM is the longest distance

● U6 2 vs. 2, “The Duel”

● U12-U13 8 vs. 8 (no tables)

● 5-7 Exploration

● 7-17 Individual Development

● 17+ Completion


• Fun to Formation

• Street Soccer

• Reality based learning

• Transfer of training to game

• Tailor made coaching

• Player as the actor


Zone and Building“Zone puts brains in the youth player’s muscles”

• Reading of the game

• Increased decisions

• Collective defending and attacking

• Communication

• Concentration

Coaching Education

2016 International WorkshopCoaching Education

Coaching Education: one plan, one mission, one vision• Three target groups: clubs, national youth teams, coaches of the schools• Year 2000: Belgium created a unifying and consistent identity and player development model

– Two “main” pillars: FUN and Formation• Four main focal points

– Zonal play: no more man-marking, broke play into 3rds (attacking and defending) and transitional phases– Learning plan: coaches need to come up with purposeful/thought-out session plans to stimulate development

• Consists of 50 team tactics – point of reference within 4-3-3– In possession, out of possession, transition to attack, transition to defend

• 10 National Team tactics (meet just 20X/year)– Methodology: multi-movement at U4/5 (no soccer), focus on 1v1 duel, diagonal passes and combination play, use same terms (i.

e. “Villa run”), dominate possession (“progressive” through direct/quick combo play, conducive to stimulating development, more touches…), build out of the back, pressing, inside/outside infiltrations, focus on efficiency in final 3rd

– Player is the focus: not the team (at youth level) *took 5-6 yrs. for buy-in/change in thought process• Play multiple positions (2 or 3) – new one every quarter (games are split into 4 quarters until 11v11 format at U13), subs

must come into next quarter• Playing format: 2v2, 5v5, 8v8 and 11v11 (beginning U13)• 50% play time for players until U17

• Commit to playing a certain way until U18 – progress of player takes precedence over winning trophies


License breakdownsC License• 60 hrs: meet once/week for 15 weeks (Sept. – Dec.) *cannot change a coach in a week• Focus on 2v2 and 5v5 concepts and playing style

B License• No min. wait time between taking C License and B License• 1-year, 240 hrs: Jan.-May (following year) and broken into two segments

– Meet once/week• B1 – covers 8v8 concepts and playing style• B2 – covers 11v11 concepts and playing style

A License• Must wait min. of 1 year after taking B License• 2-year course: Sept. through May each of two years

– Meet once/week– Must wait min. of 2 yrs. before taking Pro License


License breakdowns continued

Renewing• B & A Licenses: every 3 yrs. (30 hours needed)

License levels needed to coach• Level 1 – none• Level 2 – 50% min. with C License• Level 3 – 100% with min. of C License


Challenges within Belgian Coaching Education• Affordability attracts many other nationalities (esp. Dutch)• Don’t allow cross-over between other federations (cannot be “tourists” within the coaching world)

– Want to have consistency and create “DNA” within the coaching culture

Reasons for success• Clear and consistent communication: courses offered in both Dutch (VFV) and French (ACFF)

– Use of 4-3-3, profiles of players and creativity are key topics within all license levels– “6 basic competencies” evaluated DURING games, not trainings– Balance and Involvement/Representation: Have reps from top academies and also less competitive clubs

• Small geography allows accessibility and ability to communicate quickly and effectively– Top “sports school” in each region

• Meet in mornings (or afternoons if needed) and training provided by FA licensed coaches• Focus on individual development

• Academy directors meet the first Monday of each month to discuss/present topics of their choice• Government and the Belgian FA value and are willing to subsidize coaching education at C level

– B and A levels are also “cheap” (400€ and 800€ respectively)

Player Development

National Perspective

2016 International WorkshopPlayer Development

• The RBFA knew they had to change and as the focus shifted to individual technical development of its players they adjusted the match structure and added individual and small group technical training into its curriculum.

• They shifted matches to 2v2, 5v5, and 8v8 which helped encourage young players to practice dribbling and diagonal passing, essential to playing in the 4-3-3, the formation chosen by the RBFA for all of its national teams.

• They also formed programs such as the TOP Sports school program, which provided the top players in Belgium with technical training during their school to go along with their collective team training in the evening at their clubs.

• All of the major clubs adopted individual and small group technical training into their curriculum for the players who weren’t in the Top Sports program

• Overall the program has been successful, with Belgium producing some of the most technically sound players in the world over the past 10 years.

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Belgian Interpretation

2016 International Workshop Belgium 1-4-3-3

• 1998 Belgium eliminated from World Cup in group stages• National Team formations of the 90s, 1-4-4-2 or 1-3-5-2• 2001 Michel Sablon becomes Technical Director of KBVB• Inspiration drawn from club and National Team soccer (Ajax, Barcelona, France and Netherlands)• Shifted commitment to 1-4-3-3 (Bob Browaeys et al)• Player development based on the 1v1 “duel”• 2v2 to 5v5 to 8v8 to 11v11• Technical basis: dribbling and diagonal passing


• Single Diamond 5v5, becomes Double Diamond 8v8 leads to 11v11• Midfield triangle is inverted: one deep, two high• Inverted triangle allows for higher pressing• #6 position frees full backs• #10 and #8 must be prepared to run “beyond” #9• Relationship between #2 and #7 and #3 and #11 is critical• Ability of #4 and #5 (and #1) to “construct” is critical• Ability of wide pairs and #8 and #10 to “infiltrate” through middle is critical• Ability of #9 as a goal scorer is critical


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Player Development in the RBFA

• The RBFA changed its philosophy in 2000, shifting their focus to individual player development, specifically technical development.

• They used the University of Louvrain to do a study on youth football in Belgium, filming over 1,500 youth matches in different age groups.

• What they found is that players weren’t touching the ball nearly enough and they needed to change their focus.

• The main technical focus became dribbling and winning 1v1 duels.

• They wanted players to play freely and began to encourage creativity much more than they had in the past.

• They also found that there was far too much emphasis on winning and not enough on individual player development at the younger ages.


Royal Belgian Football Federation

● Jimmy Obleda● Nicholas Gumpert● Octavian Muresan● Ian Barker ● Oscar Munoz● Bryan Blitz● Kevin Sakuda● Todd Stauber ● Michael Arango

Belgian Presentation

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