Cercle Brugge move quickly to appoint former Brentford assistant coach as Onur Cinel’s replacement | OneFootball

Cercle Brugge have wasted no time in finding a new head coach. After the club decided to part ways with Onur Cinel earlier this week, they have already announced that Lars Friis will be taking over until the end of the season. Friis will not take charge immediately, instead starting his new role on Monday. He will likely be in Brussels when Cercle Brugge take on Anderlecht in the final game of the regular season this weekend. Regardless of the result, Cercle Brugge will finish in the bottom four and battle it out in the relegation play-offs.

Friis spent a few years as an assistant coach with the likes of Aarhus and Brentford before becoming head coach of Danish side Viborg in 2021. During his time with Viborg, Friis averaged 1.7 points per game, winning 16, drawing 10 and losing eight. In March 2022 he moved to join Aalborg, but only spent a few months in charge of the club before leaving in September 2022. Friis returned to his role as an assistant coach, this time away from Denmark. Friis joined Sparta Prague in April 2024 but by June he had taken over as the sides head coach. Friis won 56% of his game as head coach of Sparta Prague before leaving last May.

Speaking of the appointment on the Cercle Brugge website, Sporting Director Luciano Murchio said ‘ars is an ambitious and modern coach who will bring fresh energy, intensity and personality to the team. His playing philosophy and DNA align perfectly with Cercle’s identity, and we are confident he will help us achieve our short- and long-term objectives.‘.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson