Should Anderlecht target former Schalke 04 head coach after dismissal at Stade Reims? | OneFootball

Stade Reims and Karel Geraerts have parted ways. With the side failing to escape from Ligue 2, the club and head coach have decided to end their partnership, despite Geraerts having another year left on his contract. The former Schalke 04 and Union St Gilloise head coach is now a free agent, and this should put Belgian clubs in search of a new head coach in high alert.

The most obvious of these would be Anderlecht. After dismissing Besnik Hasi earlier in the season, the club targeted a handful of coaches before opting to keep Jeremy Taravel until the end of the season. While the former defender showed some early signs of improvement, the side clearly need a manager with more experience. Geraerts has, in the past, been linked with vacancies at Club Brugge.

Yet, Anderlecht would be hiring the Belgian head coach based on a job he did a few seasons ago at city rivals Union. With Geraerts having taken over from Felice Mazzu, who himself had left for a brief spell in charge of Anderlecht, the side battled for the league title. Under Geraerts the side won 35 games, losing 11 and drawing 11. Yet, at the end of the season, the club and head coach parted ways.

Geraerts then joined Bundesliga 2 side Schalke 04. Here he only managed the club for just over a season before leaving, with 12 wins, seven draws and 14 assists. The German side had been a tricky side to manage, with huge expectations to return to the Bundesliga. That the club, now under former Cercle Brugge head coach Miron Muslic, have only just returned to the top flight of German football, is a testament to how difficult the job has been.

Geraerts spent a few months without work before joining Stade Reims. Like Schalke 04, the side were aiming for a return to the top flight following relegation. However, with having to sell key players, Geraerts was unable to deliver. The side missed out on the promotion play-offs by two points.

Another issue that both Geraerts and Anderlecht might have is the Belgians past as a player. He played for both Club Brugge and Standard Liege, two of the sides biggest rivals. This may prove a sticking point, although if Geraerts can bring quick success to Anderlecht all may well be forgotten.

This is all mere speculation at this point, with Anderlecht and Geraerts not having been formerly linked in anyway. Yet, his name is likely to appear on any list of potential Anderlecht head coaches for next season.

Meanwhile, Taravel has the opportunity to deliver a trophy for the Mauves for the first time in almost a decade when they face rivals Union St Gilloise on Thursday in the Belgian Cup Final.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson