Like many others before him, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos started as a football player in Belgium and was discovered at the age of eighteen.
The South African manager has had an impressive spell with the team, leading them to a third-place finish at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, becoming the first Bafana Bafana coach to qualify for consecutive AFCON tournaments (2023 and 2025), with an unbeaten run in home matches since he took over.
Below are five things to know about Broos:
1. Trophy-winning stint with RSC Anderlecht
Broos was a central defender for RSC Anderlecht and in over a decade, helped them win three European trophies, three national championships and four Belgian Cups.
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2. Success at Club Brugge
Broos played for five seasons at Club Brugge, contributing to the team winning the Belgian Cup in 1986 and the championship in 1988.
3. Sack
Broos was sacked in 2012 after becoming the assistant coach of Al Jazira Club. This was the first major dent in his managerial career.
4. AFCON victory with Cameroon
After his unpleasant experience with Al Jazira Club, Broos became manager of the Cameroon national team and led them to victory in the 2017 African Cup of Nations.
5. Recognition in Belgium
Broos has won the prestigious Belgian Coach of the Year award four times in his career, twice while coaching Club Brugge (1992 and 1996), once with Anderlecht in 2004, and with KRC Genk in 2007.