Marc Robert Wilmots (born 22 February 1969) is a former Belgian international footballer and the current manager of the Belgium national football team, since May 2012. He has also been a politician, having sat in the Senate for two years for the Mouvement Réformateur party. With 5 goals, he is Belgium's all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup. During his club career as attacking midfielder, he won trophies with KV Mechelen, Standard Liège and Schalke 04.
Club career
In his club career, which started in 1987, Wilmots played for Sint-Truiden, Mechelen, Standard Liège, Schalke 04, and Bordeaux. At Schalke, he helped them to the 1997 UEFA Cup Final. His goal in the first leg[1] was cancelled out by Internazionale in the second leg, but Schalke went on to win the game on penalties,[2] with Wilmots scoring the decisive goal. He retired in 2003, after his second stint with Schalke. During his time with Schalke, the fans there gave him the affectionate nickname "Das Kampfschwein" (The Warpig),[3] which has been picked up by some English language journalists.[4] In Belgium he is known under the nickname the Bull of Dongelberg, an allusion to his birthplace.[5]
International career
For Belgium, Wilmots scored 28 goals in 70 caps, his first coming in May 1990. He went to four World Cups, playing in three. After being an unused substitute in 1990, he went scoreless in 1994, but scored two goals in 1998 and three in 2002,[6] making him Belgium's leading goal scorer in World Cup history. He also scored a goal against Brazil in the last 16 match of the 2002 World Cup which was disallowed because of a "phantom foul" on Roque Júnior. According to Wilmots, the referee Peter Prendergast apologized for the error to him at half time.[8] Wilmots was named as one of the seven reserves in the 2002 World Cup All-Star Team.[9]
Wilmots also played in Euro 2000,[10] when Belgium co-hosted the tournament.[11]
International goals
- Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first.[12]
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
1. | 25 March 1992 | Parc des Princes, Paris | France | 3–2 | 3–3 | Friendly |
2. | 22 April 1992 | Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels | Cyprus | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1994 World Cup qualifier |
3. | 3 June 1992 | Svangaskarð, Toftir | Faroe Islands | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1994 World Cup qualifier |
4. | 3–0 |
5. | 22 May 1993 | Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels | Faroe Islands | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1994 World Cup qualifier |
6. | 3–0 |
7. | 6 October 1993 | Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels | Gabon | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
8. | 2–1 |
9. | 11 October 1997 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | Wales | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1998 World Cup qualifier |
10. | 25 March 1998 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | Norway | 2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
11. | 3 June 1998 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | Colombia | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
12. | 20 June 1998 | Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux | Mexico | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1998 World Cup |
13. | 2–0 |
14. | 18 August 1999 | Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges | Finland | 2–3 | 3–4 | Friendly |
15. | 4 September 1999 | De Kuip, Rotterdam | Netherlands | 4–3 | 5–5 | Friendly |
16. | 13 November 1999 | Stadio Via del Mare, Lecce | Italy | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
17. | 3 June 2000 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen | Denmark | 2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
18. | 7 October 2000 | Skonto Stadium, Riga | Latvia | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
19. | 28 February 2001 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | San Marino | 7–0 | 10–1 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
20. | 24 March 2001 | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Scotland | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
21. | 2 June 2001 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | Latvia | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
22. | 6 June 2001 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle | San Marino | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
23. | 4–1 |
24. | 14 November 2001 | Letna Stadium, Prague | Czech Republic | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
25. | 18 May 2002 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | France | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
26. | 4 June 2002 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama | Japan | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2002 World Cup |
27. | 10 June 2002 | Ōita Big Eye Stadium, Ōita | Tunisia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2002 World Cup |
28. | 14 June 2002 | Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka | Russia | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2002 World Cup |
Managerial career
Wilmots became a football manager in summer 2004 for Sint-Truidense, but was sacked in February 2005. Between 2009 and 2012, he served as assistant manager of the Belgium national team under Dick Advocaat and later Georges Leekens.[13] On 15 May 2012, following the exit of Leekens, Wilmots assumed the Belgium reins on an interim basis before going onto become permanent coach, signing a contract until June 2014.
On 11 October 2013, Belgium qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[14] Wilmots is credited with "not only giving the young group confidence in themselves as well as enjoying a close relationship with his players but also at the same time being capable of instilling discipline to the squad."[15]
Political career
After retiring as a footballer, Wilmots went into politics. He was elected to the Senate for the French-speaking liberal party, the Reformist Movement (Mouvement Réformateur or MR) in the 2003 federal election.[16] His political career is not considered very successful.[17] In 2005, he announced that he wanted to resign as a senator, a rather unconventional, and criticized constitutional move.[18]
Career statistics
Club
[19]
International
[20]
Belgium national team |
Year | Apps | Goals |
1990 | 4 | 0 |
1991 | 6 | 0 |
1992 | 7 | 4 |
1993 | 3 | 4 |
1994 | 4 | 0 |
1995 | 0 | 0 |
1996 | 1 | 0 |
1997 | 3 | 1 |
1998 | 9 | 4 |
1999 | 6 | 3 |
2000 | 9 | 2 |
2001 | 9 | 6 |
2002 | 9 | 4 |
Total | 70 | 28 |
Managerial
- As of match played 13 November 2015.
Team |
From |
To |
Competition |
Record |
G |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Win % |
Schalke 04 |
26 March 2003 |
30 June 2003 |
Bundesliga |
7000800000000000000♠8 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
+0 |
7001125000000000000♠12.50 |
Total |
7000800000000000000♠8 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
+0 |
7001125000000000000♠12.50 |
Sint-Truiden |
1 July 2004 |
20 February 2005 |
Belgian Pro League |
7001200000000000000♠20 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
7001230000000000000♠23 |
7001350000000000000♠35 |
−12 |
7001250000000000000♠25.00 |
Belgian Cup |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
−1 |
05000000000000000000♠0.00 |
Total |
7001220000000000000♠22 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
7001250000000000000♠25 |
7001380000000000000♠38 |
−13 |
7001227300000000000♠22.73 |
Belgium |
15 May 2012 |
Present |
Competitive |
7001250000000000000♠25 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7001480000000000000♠48 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
+36 |
7001760000000000000♠76.00 |
Friendlies |
7001160000000000000♠16 |
7000800000000000000♠8 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
7001230000000000000♠23 |
+7 |
7001500000000000000♠50.00 |
Total |
7001410000000000000♠41 |
7001270000000000000♠27 |
7000700000000000000♠7 |
7000700000000000000♠7 |
7001780000000000000♠78 |
7001350000000000000♠35 |
+43 |
7001658509999900000♠65.85 |
Career totals |
League |
7001280000000000000♠28 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7000800000000000000♠8 |
7001140000000000000♠14 |
7001330000000000000♠33 |
7001450000000000000♠45 |
−12 |
7001214300000000000♠21.43 |
Cup |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
−1 |
05000000000000000000♠0.00 |
Competitive |
7001250000000000000♠25 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7001480000000000000♠48 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
+36 |
7001760000000000000♠76.00 |
Friendlies |
7001150000000000000♠15 |
7000700000000000000♠7 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7001270000000000000♠27 |
7001220000000000000♠22 |
+5 |
7001466700000000000♠46.67 |
Total |
7001700000000000000♠70 |
7001320000000000000♠32 |
7001160000000000000♠16 |
7001220000000000000♠22 |
7002108000000000000♠108 |
7001820000000000000♠82 |
+26 |
7001457100000000000♠45.71 |
Honours
Player
- Mechelen
- Standard Liège
- Schalke 04
Manager
References
Bibliography
- Witzig, Richard (2006). The Global Art of Soccer. Harahan: CusiBoy Publishing. ISBN 0-9776688-0-0.
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| Cup competitions | |
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| UEFA competitions | |
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| Related to national team | |
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| Club seasons | | Pro League |
- Anderlecht
- Cercle Brugge
- Charleroi
- Club Brugge
- Genk
- Gent
- Kortrijk
- Lierse
- Lokeren
- Mechelen
- Mons
- OH Leuven
- Oostende
- Standard Liège
- Waasland-Beveren
- Zulte-Waregem
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| Second Division |
- Aalst
- Antwerp
- Boussu Dour
- Brussels
- Dessel
- Eupen
- Geel-Meerhout
- Heist
- Hoogstraten
- Lommel United
- Mouscron-Péruwelz
- Roeselare
- Sint-Truiden
- Tubize
- Virton
- Visé
- Westerlo
- WS Woluwe
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