Belgium national football team logo

The Belgium national football team (Dutch: Het Belgisch voetbalelftal; French: L’équipe de Belgique de football; German: Die Belgische Fußballnationalmannschaft) has represented Belgium in association football since 1904. It is controlled by the Royal Belgian Football Association, the governing body for football in Belgium and the oldest football association in continental Europe (founded in 1895). Belgium’s home stadium is the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels and Marc Wilmots is their national manager. He started as an assistant, but took over in May 2012 when Georges Leekens took the managerial position in Club Brugge. They are nicknamed the Red Devils (Dutch: Rode Duivels; French: Diables Rouges; German: Rote Teufel).

The best achievements from Belgium in international tournaments so far were the qualification for six successive FIFA World Cups between 1982 and 2002 with as summum the fourth place in 1986, the title of European vice-champions in 1980 and the 1920 Olympic Football Gold Medal on home ground. Other notable prestations are their four victories over reigning world champions: 2–0 against West Germany in 1954, 5–1 against Brazil in 1963, 1–0 against Argentina in 1982 and 2–1 against France in 2002. ^{As of September 2013, Belgium is the leader in its 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification group and has a good chance to reappear at the end stages of a major tournament after twelve years of absence.}

Belgium’s most successful period started when they finished second in the UEFA Euro 1980. The 1980s and early 1990s are generally considered the golden age of the national team. Under the lead of Guy Thys, who coached more than 100 official games, Belgium established a reputation of being a physical, well-organized team that was difficult to play against.

At that time (1982-2002), Belgium qualified for every FIFA World Cup, and in most World Cups they also made it to the second round. Apart from FIFA recognitions for individual players, the team as a collective reached the semifinals in 1986, where they were stopped by eventual world champions Argentina. While the World Cups of 1990 and 1994 were reached directly, Belgium had to go through play-off rounds to qualify for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

The team’s rigorous organization was reinforced by several world-class players such as goalkeepers Jean-Marie Pfaff and Michel Preud’homme, right-back Eric Gerets, midfielder Jan Ceulemans, playmaker Enzo Scifo and striker Luc Nilis. After the 2002 World Cup, several valuable players in their thirties retired from international football, such as Marc Wilmots and Gert Verheyen.

belgium national football team logo

After failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1978, the contract of national coach Aimé Anthuenis was not renewed beyond 2005, and it was decided on December 22, 2005 that René Vandereycken would replace Anthuenis on January 1, 2006. The performances of the team did not improve and Belgium slipped to an all-time low 71st position in the FIFA World Rankings in June 2007. After failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and a generally poor performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which ended with Belgium getting knocked out, coach René Vandereycken was sacked on the 7th of April 2009. After a 2–1 loss against Armenia on 9 September 2009, interim-coach Franky Vercauteren resigned and made way for new coach Dick Advocaat. However, on 15 April 2010, after only six months at the helm, Advocaat resigned as manager of the Belgian national team amid speculation that he was to become coach of the Russian national team. Georges Leekens was announced as the next manager of the Belgian national team on 11 May 2010, signing a contract until 2012. ^{Under Leekens, who was having his second stint as national manager, having previously managed the Red Devils from 1997 to 1999, the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Euro 2012. Leekens surprised in May 2012 when he left and signed for Club Brugge, stating his work was 90% completed. Marc Wilmots was asked to replace Leekens and under his reign, the team performed better, rising to an all-time high of sixth on the FIFA World Rankings in September 2013.}

To download transparent .png file follow instructions below:

1) Open the image from above

2) Right click > Save image as…

3) Choose the destination place on your computer to save picture.

Belgium national football team logo

To download the vector .eps  file press the download button below.

There is no download file for this post.

 

Belgium national football team logo