Antoine Sibierski has turned Anderlecht into one of the summer’s busiest projects before the Belgian club meet Lyon in the Europa League on Wednesday at 21:00.
The Ligue 1 news
The former Troyes sporting director left the Ligue 1 side after helping them win the Ligue 2 title and secure promotion. One day after his Anderlecht appointment was confirmed, on 4 May, Sibierski began a far-reaching rebuild at Belgium’s most decorated club.
Anderlecht made 30 player moves during the summer window, including 11 signings representing 10 nationalities. Five of those transfers were completed during the final two days of the market.
Sibierski, 52, also replaced the coach. Portuguese manager Vitor Bruno was appointed on a two-year contract after two five-hour interviews with the club’s new sporting director.
The recruitment has made Anderlecht a rare case in the Jupiler Pro League. Despite regulations requiring each matchday squad to contain at least six Belgian players or footballers considered locally trained, Anderlecht were the only one of the division’s 18 clubs not to sign a Belgian during the window.
Only Westerlo have as many different nationalities in their dressing room, with Anderlecht’s squad containing players from 18 countries. Sibierski made sure that every player had a basic command of English to help communication within the group.
The overhaul was also designed to improve the club’s finances. Anderlecht spent €27m on transfers while bringing in €65m through sales, creating a positive balance of €38m.
There has already been one important sporting reward. Anderlecht reached the Europa League league phase by beating Kazakhstan’s FK Kairat 3-0 in both legs of their qualifying tie, played on 20 and 27 August.
League form has been less convincing, however, and Sibierski has not hidden his dissatisfaction with the start to the domestic campaign. His work is not limited to the first team: the club also intends to reshape its Futures reserve side and women’s section.
The objective is clear. Anderlecht have gone close to a decade without a trophy and have watched Club Brugge, as well as Brussels rivals Union Saint-Gilloise, take centre stage in Belgium. Sibierski’s task is to return the Mauves to the top.
The next appointment in France
Lyon host the latest test of Anderlecht’s new-look squad in the Europa League on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00. For Sibierski, a French sporting director working abroad, it offers an early European measure of a rebuild completed at remarkable speed.
SEO title: Antoine Sibierski rebuilds Anderlecht before Lyon Europa League tie
SEO description: Former Troyes sporting director Antoine Sibierski has overseen a major Anderlecht summer overhaul before Wednesday’s Europa League match against Lyon.
