Frenchman Rudi Garcia hired as Belgium coach in his 1st national team job

BRUSSELS (AP) — Rudi Garcia has been hired as Belgium's new coach, the country's soccer federation said on Friday.

The 60-year-old Garcia, who coached several big clubs including Napoli, Marseille and Roma in his much traveled career, has never managed a national side. He has signed a deal until the end of the 2026 World Cup.

He was appointed as a replacement for Domenico Tedesco, who was fired last week after he failed to revive the team during a relatively short tenure.

Garcia's arrival could pave the way for Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' return, who was at odds with Tedesco and left the team just before the 2024 European Championships after not being named team captain.

Tedesco was hired in February 2023 with the goal of rebooting the Red Devils after a disappointing end of the Roberto Martínez era at the World Cup. He failed and was fired after further disappointing performances at both Euro 2024, when it lost to France in the round of 16, and the Nations League.

Garcia's first match in charge will be in March against Ukraine in the Nations League playoffs, with the mission to keep the Red Devils in League A. Belgium will then start its qualifying for the World Cup in June.

Garcia won the French league and Cup double in 2011 with Lille, where he managed former Belgian great Eden Hazard.

“After some intense discussions, I’m delighted to have this opportunity to coach the Red Devils on the road to the World Cup,” Garcia said. “I will be able to work with a talented group and I hope that by achieving good results, we will be able to rally the whole country behind our Red Devils once again.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, center, holds a national team jersey as he poses with sports director Vincent Mannaert, right, and CEO Peter Willems after a media conference in Tubize, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, center, holds a national team jersey as he poses with sports director Vincent Mannaert, right, and CEO Peter Willems after a media conference in Tubize, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, addresses a media conference in Tubize, Belgium, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, addresses a media conference in Tubize,Belgium, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, center, addresses a media conference in Tubize, Belgium, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, addresses a media conference in Tubize, Belgium, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils Rudi Garcia, left, holds a national team jersey as he poses with sports director Vincent Mannaert after a media conference in Tubize, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, addresses a media conference in Tubize, Belgium, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Newly appointed coach for Belgium's national team Red Devils, Rudi Garcia, addresses a media conference in Tubize, Belgium, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

FILE - Napoli coach Rudi Garcia walks on the pitch ahead of the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Empoli at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees postponed Saturday's game against Tampa Bay because of a forecast for sustained rain and will make it up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sept. 22.

Tickets for the postponed game can be used for the 1:05 p.m. game on Sept. 22, which becomes the opener of a four-game series. That day's regularly scheduled game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Both teams pushed back their scheduled starters by a day for Sunday's finale of this weekend's truncated, two-game series. Ryan Weathers (2-2) starts for the Yankees and Drew Rasmussen (4-1) for the Rays.

New York has lost three straight games and 10 of 14.

Tampa Bay has won five straight and 16 of 19. The Rays, a big league-best 34-15, are 4-0 against the Yankees and lead New York by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees Aaron Judge (99), exits the field after been out in first base during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Thursday, May 21, 2026. in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)