Vincent Mannaert to step down as Club Brugge CEO after this season

Vincent Mannaert will step down as CEO of Club Brugge at the end of the current season, the club announced on Tuesday. Mannaert, 49, was appointed CEO of the club in 2011.

With chair Bart Verhaeghe, Mannaert led the club to five national titles, one Belgian Cup and four Belgian Super Cups. Under his stewardship, Club Brugge also reached the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

However, fortunes changed in 2023. Club Brugge finished a disappointing fourth last season and are currently in seventh place. Employees have complained about Mannaert's behaviour, while his relationship with owner Bart Verhaeghe, who put the club up for sale in May, also appears to have deteriorated.

"The last 12 years have been the most intense of my life," Mannaert said in the club's press release. "It has been an absolute honour to lead this wonderful club with Bart. I have thought long and hard about this decision. I will remain involved as a shareholder, but I am passing on the torch as CEO." Mannaert owns 17.5 per cent of the club's shares.

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