Luc Eymael
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Luc Eymael (born 20 September 1959) is a Belgian
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
manager and former player, and married to Patricia Abbruzzese.


Playing career

Luc began his professional footballing career in 1975 with the
Fléron Fléron (; ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On January 1, 2006, Fléron had a total population of 16,088. The total area is which gives a population density of 1,172 inhabitants per km2. Fléron is ea ...
-based Royal Star Fléron Football Club, with whom he participated in the
Belgian Fourth Division The Belgian Fourth Division was the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. The division was split into four separate leagues, A, B, C and D. The team with the most points in the four leagues together was declared the overall winner ...
and later helped in promotion to the
Belgian Third Division The Belgian Third Division (, ) was the third highest level in Football in Belgium, Belgian football. It had two leagues of 18 teams each (Belgian Third Division A, A and Belgian Third Division B, B) at the same level. This competition, originall ...
. In 1981, he moved to Ferrières where he signed a one-year contract with Belgian Third Division club, Royale Union Sportive Ferrières. He first moved out of
Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
in 1983 to
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
where he signed a two-year contract with
Heerlen Heerlen (; ) is a city and a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is the third largest settlement proper in the province of Limburg (Netherlands), Limburg. Measured as municipality, it is the f ...
-based,
Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie (; ) is the second-highest tier of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via promotion/relegation systems. It is also known as the Keuken Kampioen Divisie due to sponsorship reasons, while ...
club, Sporting Heerlen. In 1985, he moved back to Belgium to Vaux-sous-Chèvremont where he signed a long-term contract with, along with Belgian Fifth Division club, Racing Club Vaux. In a five-year spell with the club, he helped them in promotion to the Belgian Fourth Division. In 1990, he signed a two-year contract with
Huy Huy ( ; ; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the '' sillon industriel'', the former industrial backbone of Wall ...
-based Belgian Third Division club, Royal Football Club Huy. In 1992, he moved to
Virton Virton (; Gaumais: ''Viertån''; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium. It is also the administrative centre of the district (''arrondissement'') of the same name, as well as the principal town ...
where he signed a long-term contract with Belgian Fourth Division club,
R.E. Virton Royal Excelsior Virton is a Belgian football club, based in the city of Virton, in Luxembourg province. The club will participate in Belgian National Division 1 from 2023 to 2024 after relegation from Challenger Pro League in 2022–23. They w ...
. He first helped his team in promotion to the Belgian Third Division and later in promotion to the
Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division was the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system, one level below the Belgian Pro League. It was founded by the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1909 and folded in 2016, when it was replace ...
. He then moved to
Hasselt Hasselt (, , ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Limburg (Belgium), Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. As of 1 August 2023, Hasselt had a total population of 80,846. The old ...
where in 1995, he signed a one-year contract with Belgian Second Division club,
K.S.C. Hasselt Koninklijke Sporting Club Hasselt was a Belgian football club. The matricule No. 37 was erased in 2001 after the merge with K.S.K. Kermt to become K.S.K. Kermt-Hasselt. The club played one season in the first division in 1979–80. Excelsior ...
. Later, in 1996, he signed a one-year contract with
Union Royale Namur Fosses-La-Ville Union Namur, formerly known as Union Royale Namur, is a Belgian football club based in Namur, capital of Namur Province. The team currently play in the National Division 1, the third tier of Belgian football. They are often nicknamed ''Les Merl ...
and helped the club win the 1996–97 Belgian Third Division, earning a promotion to the Belgian Second Division. In 1998, he moved to
Athus Athus (, , ) is a part of Aubange city Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Aubange, located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium. It is located in the far south of the country, just near the borders with France and Luxembourg. It i ...
where he signed a one-year contract with Belgian Fourth Division club, Royal Sporting Club Athusien. Finally, he ended his career as a footballer in the year 2000, playing for a season with another Belgian Fourth Division club, Royal Football Club Aubel. He has also participated in various international tournaments with the Belgium U-14 side, the
Belgium national under-16 football team The Belgium national under-17 football team is the national under-17 Association football, football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the ...
and the Belgium national Military football team. After a 9-month break, Luc Eymael is back, and it is with the Libyan club, ittihad misrata premier league, that he signs a new contract on 23 August 2022 for a new challenge whose objective is to participate in the final round of this season to qualify for an African Cup. Luc Eymael returned to Africa on January 28, 2024, to sign with the new club AIGLES DU CONGO based in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The club is currently in 4th place in the Champions League and aims to move up to 3rd or 2nd position. On September 27, 2024, Luc Eymael, with 14 years of international experience, was appointed head of FC Saint Eloi Lupopo, a top club based in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He takes charge of the team, replacing Malian Mohamed Magassouba, now the club's technical director. This new challenge in the African Ligue 1 marks an important step in his career.


Managerial career

Luc holds the
UEFA Pro Licence The UEFA coaching licences are documents testifying credentials of manager (association football), managers/ coach (sport), coaches among members of UEFA. The governing body for association football, football in Europe mandates several licences, e ...
, the highest football coaching qualification. He received the UEFA Pro Licence in 2007 and the UEFA A License on 10 September 2002, from the
Royal Belgian Football Association The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA; ; ; ) is the governing body of football in Belgium. It was a founding member of FIFA in 1904 and UEFA in 1954 and was based in Brussels, not far from the King Baudouin Stadium. Since October 2021, th ...
. He is also a graduate from the Federal School of football coaching of Union Royale Belge Des Sociétés de Football Association (URBSFA). He also holds the CAF A License which he received from the
Tunisian Football Federation The Tunisian Football Federation (, ) is the governing body of association football, football in Tunisia. It established on 29 March 1957. It became a member in the FIFA in 1960, and in the same year it also became a member of Confederation of Af ...
on 5 February 2015. He has worked with many of
Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
's current and former footballing stars including
Eden Hazard Eden Michael Walter Hazard (born 7 January 1991) is a Belgian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Winger (association football), winger or attacking midfielder for Lille OSC, Lille, Chelsea F.C., Chelsea, Real ...
,
Axel Witsel Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel (born 12 January 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for club Atlético Madrid and the Belgium national team. He originally also played in more offensiv ...
,
Logan Bailly Logan Bailly (born 27 December 1985) is a Belgian retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Having started his career at Genk, Bailly has had spells at German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach, Scottish Premiership clu ...
, Guillaume Gillet,
Christian Benteke Christian Benteke Liolo (born 3 December 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club D.C. United. Benteke began his career at Standard Liège, playing a part in their 2008–09 Belgian Firs ...
and
François Sterchele François Sterchele (14 March 1982 – 8 May 2008) was a Belgian professional footballer who played for Germinal Beerschot and Club Brugge. The striker was the top scorer of the Jupiler League in 2006–07. Sterchele died in a single-per ...
.


Belgium

He began his managerial career in 1999 with
Lierneux Lierneux (; ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On January 1, 2006, Lierneux had a total population of 3,367. The total area is 92.08 km2 which gives a population density of 37 inhabitants per km2. L ...
-based Belgian Fifth Division club, RUS Sartoise. In 2003, he was appointed as the head coach of another Belgian Fifth Division club, Weywertz-based, FC Weywertz. In 2004, he moved to
Arlon Arlon (; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Luxembourg (Belgium), province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes, Belgium. With a population of just over 28,000, it ...
where he signed a three-year contract with Football Club Jeunesse Lorraine Arlonaise with whom he participated in the
Belgian Fourth Division The Belgian Fourth Division was the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. The division was split into four separate leagues, A, B, C and D. The team with the most points in the four leagues together was declared the overall winner ...
and later helped them get promoted to the
Belgian Third Division The Belgian Third Division (, ) was the third highest level in Football in Belgium, Belgian football. It had two leagues of 18 teams each (Belgian Third Division A, A and Belgian Third Division B, B) at the same level. This competition, originall ...
. Later, in 2007, he moved to
Spy Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence). A person who commits espionage on a mission-specific contract is called an ''e ...
where he was appointed as the head coach of Belgian Fourth Division club, RFC Spy on a two-year contract. In 2009, he moved to Hamoir where he worked as the head coach of Belgian Third Division club, Royal Racing Club Hamoir and thus ending his eleven-year long-spell in Belgium as a football manager.


AS Vita

Eymael first moved out of Belgium as a football manager in 2010 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where on 26 August 2010 he was appointed as the head coach of the Linafoot club AS Vita Club, AS Vita. In his very first season as the head coach of the Kinshasa-based club, he helped them win the 2010 Linafoot. The team finished at the top just above their archrivals, TP Mazembe. Eymael also helped his club win the 2011 Super Coupe du Congo. The Congolese club also reached the Second Round of the 2011 CAF Champions League under his leadership. He maintained an unbeaten 23-games record with the Kinshasa-based club and later resigned from his position by April 2011.


Missile

In May 2011, he moved to Gabon where on 1 July 2011 he was appointed as the head coach of Gabon Championnat National D1 club, Missile FC, Missile. He helped the Libreville-based club win the 2010–11 Gabon Championnat National D1, which was the first national title won in the history of the club, thus helping them qualify for the 2012 CAF Champions League. He also helped the club reach the First Round of the Round of 16 of the 2011 CAF Confederation Cup where they narrowly lost 0–3 on penalties to Algeria's JS Kabylie after the tie had ended 3–3 on aggregate. In the 2011–12 Gabon Championnat National D1, he helped his team secure the fourth position, thus ending his one-year spell with the Gabonese club. He also helped a number of players from his squad earn caps for the Gabon national football team, one of whom later signed a two-year contract with Russian Football Premier League club, FC Rostov.


MC Oran

In June 2012, he moved to Algeria where he was appointed as the head coach of Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club, MC Oran on a one-year-term contract. Later, in September 2012, due to some financial delays he decided to part ways with the Oran-based club.


A.F.C. Leopards

In April 2013, he moved to Kenya where he signed a short-term contract with Kenyan Premier League club, A.F.C. Leopards. He took charge of the club in April 2013 when the club was struggling at the bottom of the table to avoid relegation to the Kenyan National Super League. By August 2014, he had helped the Nairobi-based club secure the second position in the 2013 Kenyan Premier League, thus helping them qualify for the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup. He also helped them win the 2013 FKF President's Cup.


Rayon Sports

In September 2013, South African club, Orlando Pirates reached an agreement with Eymael, but later the deal failed to materialize. In January 2014, he moved to Rwanda where he was appointed as the head coach of Rwanda National Football League club, Rayon Sports F.C. During his short time with the club, the team participated in the 2014 CAF Champions League where they lost on away goals rule to the Republic of the Congo's AC Léopards. He was praised for his impressive work in Rwanda as he helped his side secure 34 points out of 39 in the second leg of the 2013–14 Rwanda National Football League. He resigned as the club's head coach on 30 June 2014, having helped the team secure the second position in the 2013–14 Rwanda National League.


JS Kairouan

In July 2014, Eymael moved to Tunisia where he was appointed as the head coach of Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club, JS Kairouan. He helped the club secure the eighth position in the 2013–14 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1, which was the club's best ever performance in the top division of the
Tunisian Football Federation The Tunisian Football Federation (, ) is the governing body of association football, football in Tunisia. It established on 29 March 1957. It became a member in the FIFA in 1960, and in the same year it also became a member of Confederation of Af ...
in the past ten years.


Al-Nasr

In November he became the manager of the Oman football club Al-Nasr SC (Salalah), Al-Nasr SC.


Al-Merrikh

On 21 December 2015, he moved to Sudan where, on 23 December 2015, he signed a one-year contract with Al-Merrikh SC. He began his 2016 Sudan Premier League campaign on 27 January 2016 with a 2–0 win over Merrikh Kosti at the Al-Merrikh Stadium. He helped the Sudanese side qualify for the second round of the 2016 CAF Champions League, where they narrowly lost on aggregate to Algerian side, ES Sétif. His side was narrowly eliminated on a 2-1 aggregate in the playoff round of the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup by Morocco, Moroccan side, Kawkab Marrakech. In all the competitions played by the Sudanese club under Eymael, they managed to win 17 games and played out 3 draws in a total of 22 ties.


Polokwane City

Eymael spent eight months working at Polokwane City F.C., Polokwane City. He found the team struggling and ending every year at the bottom half of the league rankings (precisely between position 16 and 14) fighting relegation battles. Eymael joined the club at the start of the 2016–2017 season and helped them end the first half of the campaign in fifth position in the league. This was the first time the club has reached such a high position, which made them title hopefuls. He then resigned amidst rumours he was going to join Bloemfontein Celtic F.C., Bloemfontein Celtic.


Free State Stars

On 24 August 2017, Eymael joined South African Premier Soccer League club Free State Stars, taking over from Sammy Troughton. In 2018, Eymael guided them to their first cup final in 24 years after they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2–0 in the Nedbank Cup semifinal on 21 April 2018. He then took them to their first title, winning the final 1–0 against Maritzburg United. On 12 November 2018, Eymael resigned from his position as the manager of Free State Stars following a second straight loss in the league with a 1–0 defeat at home against SuperSport United F.C.


Tala el Geish

On 22 November, Eymael signed a new contract in the Egyptian Premier League with Tala'ea El Gaish SC, Tala'ea El Gaish. On 1 June he finished his contract with Tala El Geish, finishing the season with the club in rank eight, the best position the club had achieved in the past seven years. He managed 20 games, winning eight, finishing six in a draw, and losing six.


Black Leopards

On 1 October 2019, Eymael signed with the Black Leopards F.C., Black Leopards in the Premier Soccer League in South Africa. Eymael resigned from his position with the Black Leopards of South Africa, citing personal reasons, after having helped bring them to the top eight. He took the team at position number 6 in January and succeeded to finish the season on 26 July 2020 at position number 2 and qualified Yanga for the champions league. He was then relieved from his duties after he racially insulted fans in an explosive interview calling them "monkeys" and "dogs". He managed the Tanzanian Premier League club Young Africans S.C. until July 2020. In July 2021 he was appointed as new manager of Stade Tunisien, but was sacked two months later after the arrival of a new club president.


Stade Tunisien

Luc Eymael signed a contract in Tunisia on 1 July 2021, but for important family and private reasons he had to leave the club on 20 September 2021 by mutual agreement.


Ittihad Misutrata

On 23 August 2022, Eymael signed in the Libyan first division at Ittihad Misurata, Ittihad Misrata. The goal is to try to make the final round (play off) of this new season to try to qualify for participation in Africa.


Aigles du Congo

Le 28 janvier 2024, Luc Eymael retourne en Afrique pour signer avec le nouveau club des AIGLES DU CONGO Football Club Les Aigles du Congo basé à Kinshasa en République Démocratique du Congo. The club created in August 2023 finished the normal phase of the championship in 4th place... allowing it to play the play off to perhaps reach a place to play in the next Champions League or the next Confederation Cup. Belgian technician Luc Eymael from FC Les Aigles du Congo is elected best coach for the month of April in the Ligue 1 play-offs, by the panel of specialists from Info Linafoot Ligue 1. He finished number 4 during the play off with eagles of Congo in Congo after qualifying the team for these play off during season 2023/2024 and has been elected 2 times coach of the month


FC St Eloi Lupopo

On September 28, 2024, Luc Eymael was appointed head of FC Saint Eloi Lupopo, a leading club based in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On May 30, 2025, Luc Eymael and FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo were compelled, due to security considerations, to end their collaboration by mutual agreementhttps://actualite.cd/2025/05/24/linafoot-lupopo-et-luc-eymael-cest-termine#:~:text=Dans%20un%20communiqu%C3%A9%20du%20vendredi,du%20contrat%20qui%20les%20liait..


Honors

AS Vita * Linafoot: 2010 * Super Coupe du Congo: 2011 Missile * Gabon Championnat National D1: 2010–11 A.F.C. Leopards * Kenyan Premier League runners-up: 2013 Kenyan Premier League, 2013 * FKF President's Cup: 2013 FKF President's Cup, 2013 Rayon Sports * Rwanda National Football League runners-up: 2013–14 Rwanda National Football League, 2013–14 Free State Stars * Nedbank Cup: 2017-18 Nedbank Cup, 2018 FC Saint Éloi Lupopo * Elected Best Coach two times i
2024
and once i
2025
for the classic phase of Group A in the Congolese Ligue 1


References


External links


Luc Eymael – EUROSPORTLuc Eymael – SOCCER PUNTERLuc Eymael – YouTubeLuc Eymael – YouTubeLuc Eymael – YouTubeLuc Eymael – YouTubeLuc Eymael (Interview) – LaMeuse.be
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eymael, Luc 1959 births Living people Footballers from Tongeren Belgian men's footballers Men's association football goalkeepers R.E. Virton players Union Namur players Belgian football managers JS Kairouan managers Al Nasr SCSC (Salalah) managers Polokwane City F.C. managers Free State Stars F.C. managers Expatriate football managers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Expatriate football managers in Gabon Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Gabon Expatriate football managers in Algeria Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Algeria Expatriate football managers in Kenya Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Kenya Expatriate football managers in Rwanda Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Rwanda Expatriate football managers in Tunisia Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Tunisia Expatriate football managers in Oman Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Oman Expatriate soccer managers in South Africa Belgian expatriate sportspeople in South Africa Expatriate football managers in Egypt Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Egypt MC Oran managers A.F.C. Leopards managers Tala'ea El Gaish SC managers AS Vita Club managers Linafoot managers Black Leopards F.C. managers Young Africans S.C. managers Stade Tunisien managers 20th-century Belgian sportsmen