Racing Genk wants to finalize its search for a successor to dismissed manager Jess Thorup this weekend, with Timmy Simons and Issame Charaï remaining as the two final candidates for the managerial vacancy.
- Genk sits 7th in the Pro League standings with 15 points, trailing fourth-place Charleroi by 12 points.
- Westerlo under Charaï has established an ultra-attacking identity as one of Europe’s most prolific sides, scoring 26 goals while conceding 30 after 11 matchdays.
The Limburg club aims to wrap up its hunt for a new technical leader by the end of the weekend, as reported by L’Avenir. Thorup was relieved of his duties earlier in the week following an insufficient return of 15 points out of 33 in the Pro League, according to Sudinfo.
Assistant Imre Szabics also departed the club, leaving Peter Balette and Domenico Olivieri to oversee training sessions in the interim, as detailed by Lalibre. According to Het Belang van Limburg, the decision should in any case be known.
Timmy Simons, currently active at OH Louvain, holds an apparent edge in the recruitment race. Head of Football Dimitri De Condé and the Racing management previously considered Simons before ultimately appointing Nicky Hayen to replace Thorsten Fink. According to L’Avenir, discussions have already taken place between Simons and the Limburg board.
Stijn Stijnen also noted the 44-year-old technician as a serious candidate in his podcast Ongefilterd. The Westerlo boss previously held talks with Genk regarding an assistant coaching position, leaving a strong impression on the hierarchy. Westerlo has earned a reputation under Charaï as an exceptionally high-scoring side.
| Candidate | Current Club | Key Context |
|---|---|---|
| Timmy Simons | OH Louvain | Previously considered by Genk management; holds a reported edge in current talks. |
| Issame Charaï | Westerlo | Manages a high-scoring squad; previously interviewed for an assistant role at Genk. |
Genk currently occupies seventh place in the D1A standings, sitting 12 points adrift of fourth-place Charleroi while also positioned behind neighboring Lommel in the table. Beyond the managerial search, the club prepares to inaugurate its new training center next week.
Before his tenure at Genk, Thorup managed Esbjerg, the Denmark under-21 team, and Midtjylland, winning the championship with the latter in 2018. He arrived at KAA Gent in October 2018 and remained until August 2020 before joining Genk.
After just five matches resulting in three wins and two draws with the Limburg side, Thorup departed for FC Copenhague, where he claimed another title and stayed until September 2022. The Danish coach subsequently managed Augsburg from 2023 to 2025 and Al-Ahly from 2025 to 2026.
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