Cercle Brugge have appointed Pedro Caixinha as their new head coach. The 55-year-old Portuguese has signed a contract until June 2027, replacing Lars Friis who was dismissed after just eight months in charge.
The club announced the appointment on Tuesday. Technical director Luciano Murchio stated the change follows a disappointing start to the campaign. "After a disappointing start to the season, with results falling short of our expectations, we decided to make a change in the coaching role," said Murchio. "With Pedro's arrival, we welcome an experienced coach who has demonstrated his qualities and achieved success at the highest level, across different leagues and environments. We are convinced he can help us achieve our goals."
Caixinha arrives after a brief spell out of work, having been dismissed by Mexican side FC Juárez in August. The coach has an extensive career that includes stints at Rangers, Santos and Red Bull Bragantino. He will be assisted at Cercle Brugge by his long-time staff members Pedro Malta and Guilherme Gomes.
The appointment comes at a critical time. Cercle Brugge sit 17th in the Jupiler Pro League with just six points from ten games. The team did secure an important 2-1 victory against Antwerp on Saturday, their first league win of the season. Their last four matches have produced an inconsistent pattern of two wins and two defeats.
Murchio expects Caixinha to make a swift impact. "We expect Pedro to have a positive impact on the team in the short term and help us turn around our current on-field situation," explained the technical director. "At the same time, we believe he can contribute to Cercle's long-term stability and continued development."
The new manager's first assignment is an away fixture against RAAL La Louvière on Saturday. That opponent sits one place above them in the table. Caixinha's deal includes an option for an automatic one-season extension until the summer of 2028.
The report in full is at onefootball.com
