Portuguese boss Vítor Bruno aiming to bring Anderlecht "back to the stars" | OneFootball

Bruno is charged with reviving Anderlecht [Getty Images]

Of the many Portuguese managers taking on new roles this summer, Vítor Bruno’s task of reviving the fortunes of Belgian giants Anderlecht is one of the more intriguing.

The 43-year-old accepted a two-year contract with the Brussels side, who despite being the most successful club in the country are closing on an unprecedented 10-year trophy drought.

Anderlecht won the most recent of their record 34 Belgian titles in 2017, while their last Belgian Cup success was in 2008. For a club also renowned for its success on the continent, having lifted five European prizes in their history, the slump has surprised many.

Speaking at his unveiling last month, Bruno admitted that the task of restoring the club to their former glories was an attraction in taking the job, with those in the hierarchy making the former Porto boss feel ambitions are shared across the club.

“It was pretty easy [choosing to come here] for me,” he said. “The dimension of the club, the way the project was presented to me, the way they were committed to putting the club where it belongs again, the vision they have, the passion they showed. For me when there’s passion, it’s much easier to make a decision.

“I know the club hasn’t won for a long time. It’s also a challenge for me and I love these kind of challenges. I know we have a long way to go, a lot of steps. But we’re here to work and put [the club] where it must be.

“I can see the ambition. They want to work and I’m a workaholic guy so it’s not a problem for me. I can see the people are engaged with what we need to do to improve the team, improve the club. There are a lot of things that need to be done.

“I’m not that old, but I remember the great Anderlecht and the way people looked at Anderlecht in Europe. So when I see people who want to bring Anderlecht back to the stars and to be known again in a big way, it makes it much easier for me to make a decision.

“I’ve worked in a big club (FC Porto) for a long time. I know how it is, I know what the demands are, and I like high demands. So it’s a challenge and the challenge is to never give up.”

Falling in love

Bruno, who spent around 15 years as Sérgio Conceição's regular assistant coach before a fallout towards the end of their time at Porto, dodged a journalist’s question asking if he had spoken to his former mentor since taking his new job.

Instead, Bruno spoke glowingly about the early signs of connection with his players. The squad at Anderlecht is regarded as talented by both media and Bruno himself, albeit plans for the new campaign have endured the sale of promising starlet Nathan De Cat to Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim in a big-money deal worth €20m plus potential future windfalls.

“To have results you must have a process, but the players are doing really well,” Bruno said. “We will have ups and downs, we’re not going to achieve everything in a second – it's going to take time. But I see they are humble, but at the same time have the addiction to play, to touch the ball and always be available.

“I love this type of commitment and the players have it. Good feelings, I know this is the beginning, we are falling in love. We will have moments when we have to put someone on the bench and they’re not happy, but I don’t want players to be happy when they’re out the team. They have to fight for their places, but a loyal fight between everyone. They’re getting along well, but it’s a long way to go.”

Anderlecht Sporting director Antoine Sibierski statement: 

We have conducted a very thorough process to appoint the right head coach and staff that fits the club's ambitions. With the appointment of Vítor Bruno, RSCA is opting for a head coach who stands for modern, attractive, and dominant football. He is also known for his demanding approach, winning mentality, and work ethic. 

In addition to Portuguese, Vítor also speaks English, French, and Spanish. His years of experience at a top European club are also an important criterion. Furthermore, he pays close attention to the development of emerging talents within the youth academy. 

“This is not pressure” 

Bruno, who did not play professionally, began his coaching dream in 2008, after which he worked in Angola under Augusto Inácio at Interclube. His 15-year stint as Conceição's assistant saw him work at Olhanense, Académica, Braga, Vitória de Guimarães, Nantes and Porto.

Bruno was Porto's first managerial appointment under the presidency of André Villas-Boas, taking the reigns after Conceição left in June 2024. His time at the Dragão was brief, lasting just 29 matches before being dismissed midway through the season, but Bruno insists his time away from the game has been useful for reflection.

“It was good to have family time after 18 years of working, but me and my staff also did a lot of reflecting,” Bruno said, referring to ex-Porto staff members such as Vítor Gouveia and Nuno Piloto, who have joined him in Belgium. “We did a big analysis of things that we did and we can improve. Things that are good and can be even better. We did a lot of work. This is what will take us to a higher level. To put some doubt in the things you do is always good.

“I’m not the guy who is happy just because we win a match. You won’t see me smiling a lot if we win, because I think that should be a habit for everyone. Once we achieve a certain level, I want to go a little bit higher, then a little further. In dynamics, in principles, behaviours, I always want to improve more.

“Pressure to deliver the trophy? I understand the question, but for me pressure is not winning a trophy. Pressure is going home and having nothing to eat, or going to work early in the morning in difficult conditions. Here we have everything, so we just need to give our very best and I guarantee me and my staff will give our very best.

“We will be high demanding on everyone, push them to the limit. So they have the confidence to give their best version every time. If we can do that, we will be closer to winning those titles. Once you have the responsibility to represent a club like Anderlecht, you must feel happy. It cannot be a pressure, it must be a challenge for you.”