Marc Wilmots
Wilmots in 2019
Senator
In office
5 June 2003 – 12 July 2007
ConstituencyFrench-speaking electoral college
Personal details
Born
Marc Robert Wilmots

(1969-02-22) 22 February 1969 (age 54)
Jodoigne, Belgium
Political partyMouvement Réformateur
Association football career
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1980–1985 CS Jodoigne
1985–1987 Sint-Truiden
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1988 Sint-Truiden 30 (9)
1988–1991 Mechelen 87 (22)
1991–1996 Standard Liège 136 (67)
1996–2000 Schalke 04 104 (21)
2000–2001 Bordeaux 30 (8)
2001–2003 Schalke 04 34 (6)
Total 421 (133)
International career
1986–1987 Belgium U19 9 (3)
1987–1989 Belgium U21 9 (6)
1990–2002 Belgium 70 (28)
Managerial career
2003 Schalke 04 (interim)
2004–2005 Sint-Truiden
2009–2012 Belgium (assistant)
2012–2016 Belgium
2017 Ivory Coast
2019 Iran
2021–2022 Raja CA
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marc Robert Wilmots (born 22 February 1969) is a Belgian professional football manager and former player who is the sporting director of Schalke 04.

During his club career as an attacking midfielder, he won trophies with KV Mechelen, Standard Liège and Schalke 04. He represented the Belgium national team, earning 70 caps. He was in the Belgium squad for the 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as the 2000 Euro which Belgium hosted jointly with the Netherlands.

Wilmots has also been a politician, having sat in the Senate for four years for the Mouvement Réformateur party.[1]

Club career

In his club career, which started in 1987, Wilmots played for Sint-Truiden, Mechelen, Standard Liège, Schalke 04, and Bordeaux. At Schalke, he helped them to the 1997 UEFA Cup final. His goal in the first leg[2] was cancelled out by Internazionale in the second leg, but Schalke went on to win the game on penalties,[3] with Wilmots scoring the decisive goal. He retired in 2003, after his second stint with Schalke. During his time with Schalke, the fans there gave him the affectionate nickname "Das Kampfschwein" (The War Pig),[4] which has been picked up by some English language journalists.[5] In Belgium he is known under the nickname the Bull of Dongelberg, an allusion to his birthplace.[6]

International career

For Belgium, Wilmots scored 28 goals in 70 caps, his first coming in May 1990. He went to four World Cups, playing in three. After being an unused substitute in 1990, he played 54 minutes in 1994 without scoring, but scored two goals in 1998 and three in 2002,[7] making him Belgium's leading goal scorer in World Cup history. He also scored a goal against Brazil in the last 16 match of the 2002 World Cup which was disallowed because of a "phantom foul" on Roque Júnior.[8] According to Wilmots, the referee Peter Prendergast apologized for the error to him at half time.[9] Wilmots was named as one of the seven reserves in the 2002 World Cup All-Star Team.[10]

Wilmots also played in Euro 2000,[11] when Belgium co-hosted the tournament.[12]

Managerial career

Wilmots became a football manager in summer 2004 for Sint-Truiden, but was sacked in February 2005. Between 2009 and 2012, he served as assistant manager of the Belgium national team under Dick Advocaat and later Georges Leekens.[13] On 15 May 2012, following the exit of Leekens, Wilmots assumed the Belgium reins on an interim basis before going onto become permanent coach, signing a contract until June 2014.

On 11 October 2013, Belgium qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[14] Wilmots is credited with "not only giving the young group confidence in themselves as well as enjoying a close relationship with his players but also at the same time being capable of instilling discipline to the squad."[15] During the group stage, Belgium topped the group with all three wins, before exiting the tournament at the quarter-final stage.

On 13 October 2015, Belgium won the group to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2016 in the last game of the stage against Israel.[16] After a disappointing European Championship, Wilmots was fired by the Royal Belgian Football Association on 15 July 2016.[17]

In March 2017 Wilmots was appointed as the manager of Ivory Coast national team.[18] However he was sacked from his position six months later after failing to qualify for the World Cup.[19]

On 15 May 2019, Wilmots agreed a three years contract to become the manager of the Iranian national team, after Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz left the team after eight years in charge following Iran's semifinal exit in the Asian Cup.[20][21] He officially signed his contract on 29 May, effective from 1 June 2019. On 4 December 2019, following shock defeats to both Iraq and Bahrain he left his role as Iran coach after six games in charge.[22]

On 11 November 2021, Moroccan team Raja CA announced that Wilmots would be their new head coach until 2024, succeeding Lassaad Chabbi.[23] Wilmots was sacked three months later by Raja on 21 February 2022.

On 3 January 2024, Schalke 04 announced that Wilmots became the sporting director of the club.[24]

Political career

After retiring as a footballer, Wilmots went into politics. He was elected to the Senate for the French-speaking conservative party, the Reformist Movement (Mouvement Réformateur or MR) in the 2003 federal election.[25] He received 79,437 votes, a number surpassed only by 17 other candidates in the whole country during the elections.[26]

In 2005, he announced that he wanted to resign as a senator, a rather unconventional and criticized constitutional move.[27]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[28]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sint-Truiden 1987–88 30 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 9
Mechelen 1988–89 30 4 0 0 0 0 6 2 36 6
1989–90 25 10 0 0 0 0 4 0 29 10
1990–91 32 8 0 0 0 0 2 0 34 8
Total 87 22 0 0 0 0 12 2 99 24
Standard Liège 1991–92 33 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 10
1992–93 25 22 0 0 0 0 6 2 31 24
1993–94 28 11 0 0 0 0 4 3 32 14
1994–95 24 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 10
1995–96 26 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 14
Total 136 67 0 0 0 0 10 5 146 72
Schalke 04 1996–97 29 6 2 1 0 0 11 6 42 13
1997–98 31 7 2 1 0 0 7 2 40 10
1998–99 12 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 15 2
1999–2000 32 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 7
Total 104 21 7 2 0 0 20 9 131 32
Bordeaux 2000–01 30 8 2 1 1 0 5 2 38 11
Schalke 04 2001–02 24 6 6 0 0 0 3 0 33 6
2002–03 10 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 14 1
Total 34 6 7 0 0 0 6 1 47 7
Career total 421 133 16 3 1 0 54 19 492 155

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[29]
National team Year Apps Goals
Belgium 1990 4 0
1991 6 0
1992 7 4
1993 3 4
1994 4 0
1995 0 0
1996 1 0
1997 3 1
1998 9 4
1999 6 3
2000 9 2
2001 9 6
2002 9 4
Total 70 28
Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wilmots goal.
List of international goals scored by Marc Wilmots[30]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 25 March 1992 Parc des Princes, Paris, France  France 3–2 3–3 Friendly
2 22 April 1992 Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Cyprus 1–0 1–0 1994 World Cup qualification
3 3 June 1992 Svangaskarð, Toftir, Iceland  Faroe Islands 2–0 3–0 1994 World Cup qualification
4 3–0
5 22 May 1993 Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Faroe Islands 1–0 3–0 1994 World Cup qualification
6 3–0
7 6 October 1993 Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Gabon 1–1 2–1 Friendly
8 2–1
9 11 October 1997 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Wales 3–0 3–2 1998 World Cup qualification
10 25 March 1998 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Norway 2–1 2–2 Friendly
11 3 June 1998 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Colombia 2–0 2–0 Friendly
12 20 June 1998 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France  Mexico 1–0 2–2 1998 World Cup
13 2–0
14 18 August 1999 Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium  Finland 2–3 3–4 Friendly
15 4 September 1999 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands  Netherlands 4–3 5–5 Friendly
16 13 November 1999 Stadio Via del Mare, Lecce, Italy  Italy 2–1 3–1 Friendly
17 3 June 2000 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark  Denmark 2–2 2–2 Friendly
18 7 October 2000 Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia  Latvia 1–0 4–0 2002 World Cup qualification
19 28 February 2001 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  San Marino 7–0 10–1 2002 World Cup qualification
20 24 March 2001 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  Scotland 1–2 2–2 2002 World Cup qualification
21 2 June 2001 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Latvia 1–0 3–1 2002 World Cup qualification
22 6 June 2001 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino  San Marino 1–0 4–1 2002 World Cup qualification
23 4–1
24 14 November 2001 Letna Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic  Czech Republic 1–0 1–0 2002 World Cup qualification
25 18 May 2002 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  France 2–1 2–1 Friendly
26 4 June 2002 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan  Japan 1–0 2–2 2002 World Cup
27 10 June 2002 Ōita Big Eye Stadium, Ōita, Japan  Tunisia 1–0 1–1 2002 World Cup
28 14 June 2002 Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan  Russia 3–1 3–2 2002 World Cup

Managerial statistics

As of match played 18 February 2022
Team From To Competition Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Schalke 04 26 March 2003 30 June 2003 Bundesliga 8 3 1 4 10 10 +0 037.50
Total 8 3 1 4 10 10 +0 037.50
Sint-Truiden 1 July 2004 20 February 2005 Belgian Pro League 20 5 5 10 23 35 −12 025.00
Belgian Cup 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 000.00
Total 22 5 6 11 25 38 −13 022.73
Belgium 15 May 2012 15 July 2016 Competitive 30 22 4 4 57 17 +40 073.33
Friendlies 20 10 4 6 37 29 +8 050.00
Total 50 32 8 10 94 46 +48 064.00
Ivory Coast 21 March 2017 15 November 2017 Competitive 4 1 1 2 4 4 +0 025.00
Friendlies 2 0 1 1 1 6 −5 000.00
Total 6 1 2 3 5 10 −5 016.67
Iran 1 June 2019 6 December 2019 Competitive 4 2 0 2 17 3 +14 050.00
Friendlies 2 1 1 0 6 1 +5 050.00
Total 6 3 1 2 23 4 +19 050.00
Raja CA 11 November 2021 21 February 2022 Botola 7 2 4 1 8 7 +1 028.57
CAF Champions League 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00
CAF Super Cup 1 0 1 0 1 1 +0 000.00
Total 10 4 5 1 11 8 +3 040.00
Career totals League 35 10 10 15 41 52 −11 028.57
Cup 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 000.00
Continental 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2 066.67
Competitive 38 25 5 8 78 24 +54 065.79
Friendlies 24 11 6 7 44 36 +8 045.83
Total 102 48 23 31 168 116 +52 047.06

Honours

Player

KV Mechelen[31]

Standard Liège[35]

Schalke 04[37]

Belgium

Individual

References

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  3. ^ "Football: Ince and Hodgson suffer as Schalke lift Uefa Cup". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 22 May 1997. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Belgien-Coach Wilmots: "Ich wollte nie Nationaltrainer werden"". SpiegelOnline (in German). Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  5. ^ "England face a Belgium team rich in talent and hell-bent on victory". The Guardian. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
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  12. ^ "The host countries". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 May 2000. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
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    "Marc Wilmots – MR" (in Dutch). senaat.be. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
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Bibliography

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