Club Brugge have parted ways with manager Nicky Hayen just two days before their Champions League clash against Arsenal at Jan Breydelstadion. Hayen, who took over as the permanent manager in June 2024 after a successful interim period, has been succeeded by Ivan Leko, a former Brugge manager. This decision follows a disappointing run of three losses in their last four matches across all competitions.
Currently, Brugge hold the third position in the Belgium Pro League standings but trail leaders Union Saint-Gilloise by five points. In the Champions League, they are positioned 26th out of 36 teams. Under Hayen's leadership, the team secured 52 victories out of 88 matches in all competitions, with 16 draws and 20 losses. Leko now faces a challenging
task as he returns to manage the club.
Leko previously managed Brugge from 2017 to 2019, guiding them to victory in the Pro League and Belgian Super Cup during his initial season. The upcoming match against Arsenal marks Brugge's first encounter with this English team. Historically, they have struggled against English clubs, winning only one of their last 18 encounters (with three draws and 14 losses). Their sole victory came against Aston Villa in November 2024 during the Champions League.
Brugge's defensive issues have been evident in the Champions League this year. They have conceded 24 goals in just 11 games, with only Barcelona conceding more (27 goals in 13 games). Additionally, Brugge has faced the most shots on target (73) and recorded the highest expected goals against (23.5 xGA) among all teams in the competition this year.
Club neemt afscheid van Nicky Hayen als hoofdcoach. Ivan Leko vervangt hem als hoofdcoach van Blauw-Zwart. Club wil Nicky van harte bedanken voor zijn harde werk de afgelopen periode en wenst hem het allerbeste in de toekomst.pic.twitter.com/q0thlsyzkt Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) December 8, 2025
As Leko steps back into his role at Brugge, he will need to address these defensive challenges while preparing for their upcoming match against Arsenal. The team's performance under his guidance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as they aim to improve their standing both domestically and in European competitions.
