Michel Preud’homme quits after two years as trainer and technical director of Standard Liège. The 61-year-old Belgian remains active as vice-chairman of the Belgian top club.
Since the summer of 2018, Preud’homme combined the coaching position with the position of technical director at Standard. At the time, he signed a contract until mid-2022, but therefore considers it to be two years ahead of schedule in that capacity.
“This lockdown was the ideal time for me to think about this. You have to be honest with yourself. The desire to train this group, which has shown beautiful things, is still there,” says Preud’homme Monday on the Standard website.
“But at the age of 61 you should dare to ask the question: ‘Will I still have the strength to knit another season with all the requirements attached to it?’ I have thought about it and my answer is: I no longer see myself as a trainer in the future. “
Preud’homme was in the picture at FC Twente
Preud’homme was unsuccessful in his second stint with Standard. He finished third in the Jupiler Pro League last season with the ‘Rouches’ and was fifth this season when the league was prematurely halted due to the corona virus outbreak.
The former goalkeeper was the trainer of FC Twente in the 2010/2011 season. In that year, he won the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruijff Scale with the Enschede team and grabbed the title on the final day of the Eredivisie by a 3-1 loss against Ajax.
Preud’homme was reportedly in the picture to become trainer of FC Twente again next season, succeeding Gonzalo García. However, he chooses not to leave Standard, but to continue as vice-chairman.
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