Belgium appoint Elisabet Gunnarsdottir as new manager ahead of Euro 2025

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·22 January 2025

Belgium appoint Elisabet Gunnarsdottir as new manager ahead of Euro 2025

Iceland’s 48-year-old Elisabet Gunnarsdottir has been appointed as the new Belgium international manager. The former Kristianstads DFF boss has signed a contract that runs until the end of July 2027. Swede Magnus Palsson and former Belgium international Lenie Onzia will be her assistants.

Gunnarsdottir comes with a huge string of successes attached to her career. As manager of Valur, she won the Icelandic division four times along with an Icelandic Cup. A move to the Damallsvenskan in Sweden then beckoned as Gunnarsdottir took charge of Kristianstads DFF. Despite a lack of silverware during her tenure, the club made strides in progress. The 48-year-old coach was named Manager of the Year for the Damallsvenskan in both 2017 and 2020.

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The talented manager has also seen success off the pitch. In 2024, she was awarded Iceland’s highest royal honour, the ‘Order of the Falcon’. Gunnarsdottir was selected due to her contributions to women’s sport in the country.

Peter Willems, CEO of the Royal Belgian Football Association said: “Women’s football is evolving at lightning speed, and Belgium can’t just sit on the sidelines. What’s more, our ambition is to climb the FIFA rankings over the next few years and make our mark on the world stage. That’s why we want to create a new dynamic within the Red Flames.

“Elisabet Gunnarsdottir has a great track record, knows international football and can take our Red Flames to the next level with her experience. So I’m really looking forward to working with her.”

European Championships beckon

Belgium currently sit in 19th in the FIFA rankings, sandwiched between South Korea and Austria respectively. The highest Belgium have ever ranked is 17th back in 2020. It will certainly be one of Gunnarsdottir’s challenges to climb their way back up the ranks.

Speaking to the media, Gunnarsdottir voiced her ambitions for the future: “I am looking forward to coaching, especially with the upcoming European Championship. Belgium has taken big steps in recent years for women’s football and built a strong national team. [There is] both experienced and exciting young players. I look forward to continuing this work, together with the RBFA, staff, and players. I believe we can achieve great things.”