Rik De Mil

Rik De Mil (born 15 September 1981) is a Belgian professional football manager and former player. As a player, he was a goalkeeper.

Rik De Mil

Personal information
Date of birth	(1981-09-15) 15 September 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Eeklo, Belgium
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Sporting Charleroi (manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Oostkamp [nl]
	FC Veldegem
Managerial career
2012–2015	Oostkamp [nl]
2015–2018	Club Brugge (youth)
2018–2022	Club NXT
2022–2023	Club Brugge (assistant)
2023	Club Brugge (caretaker)
2023	Club Brugge (assistant)
2023–2024	Westerlo
2024–	Sporting Charleroi
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Coaching career

Club Brugge

In 2015, De Mil received an offer from Club Brugge to become a youth coach, following the departure of Sven Vermant.^[1] He coached Club NXT, the reserve team of Club Brugge, during the side's 2020–21 season in the Belgian First Division B. On 18 February 2021, he replaced Philippe Clement as head coach of Club Brugge in the Europa League round of 32 match against Dynamo Kyiv which ended in a 1–1 draw, during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] In June 2022, he was replaced as Club NXT coach by Nicky Hayen.^[3] Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Club Brugge announced that De Mil would be promoted to the first team, where he became assistant to Carl Hoefkens.^[4] After the latter's dismissal in December 2022, De Mil also served under Scott Parker.^[5] In March 2023, he obtained his UEFA Pro License trainer's diploma.^[6]

Westerlo

On 12 December 2023, De Mil signed a contract with Westerlo, where he succeeded Jonas De Roeck as head coach.^[7] He achieved better results, which saved the club from relegation, but was still dismissed on 19 March 2024, following the controversial 1–1 draw in the last match of the regular competition against Genk.^[8]

Charleroi

On 22 March 2024, Sporting Charleroi announced the signing of a 2-year contract with De Mil, replacing Felice Mazzu.^[9] De Mil helped Charleroi win all their games in the relegation play-off series to stay up.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Club Brugge vindt oplossing voor beloften in eigen huis na vertrek van Sven Vermant" (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 8 January 2018.
2. "'Invaller' Rik De Mil ontspannen aan vooravond van clash met Dinamo Kiev: "Ik heb héél goed geslapen"" (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 17 February 2021.
3. "Nicky Hayen is the new head coach of Club NXT". Club Brugge KV. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
4. "Officieel: Club Brugge kiest voor Carl Hoefkens als nieuwe hoofdcoach" (in Dutch). Sporza. 25 May 2022.
5. "Tussenpaus spelen is niet de bedoeling: Scott Parker tekende voor 2,5 jaar bij Club Brugge, enkel Rik De Mil blijft als assistent" (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 2 January 2023.
6. "Van Karel Geraerts tot Vincent Kompany: nieuwe reeks trainers heeft Pro License-diploma officieel beet" (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 27 March 2023.
7. "Eerste grote uitdaging als hoofdcoach: Club-assistent Rik De Mil moet Westerlo uit het slop halen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 12 December 2023.
8. "Westerlo sack Rik De Mil after club's 'values and norms' brought into question amid investigation into match fixing". Get Belgian & Dutch Football News. 19 March 2024.
9. "Communiqué officiel : Rik De Mil" (in French). Sporting Charleroi. 22 March 2024.

External links

• Rik De Mil at Club Brugge