Last weekend, our youth teams resumed training at the Academy in Neerpede. Before the ball got rolling again, the management introduced the Academy's renewed way of working to hundreds of youth players and their parents in the Lotto Park.
Besides the familiar faces such as Academy Director Mikkel Hemmersam, Head of Talent & Innovation Peter Verbeke and Head of Football Henk Mariman, some new staff members were also introduced. Thus, those present were introduced to Ibtissam Bouharat (Head of Lower Academy), Tim Scheers (Head of Coaching), Maxime Dejonghe (Talent Coordinator) and Jeroen Trogh (Head of Operations & People Development).
Ibtissam Bouharat (34) has already had an impressive career in football. Until this season, she was still playing for KV Mechelen and she was also a Moroccan international. ‘Ibti’ spent her academy days at RSC Anderlecht and also played for the Mauves' first team, before making a move to PSV.
Besides her playing career, Ibti gained experience as a youth coach, as a scout for KV Mechelen and for the Belgian Football Federation and as a consultant for the Moroccan Football Federation. For the last six years, she was working for Double Pass, where as Head of Assessment, she was responsible for several projects for FIFA and in countries such as the United Kingdom, Morocco, the United States, Italy and Venezuela. Meanwhile, Ibti is also completing the UEFA Pro License A.
In her new challenge at our club, Ibti will take operational charge of the U6 to U12 as Head of Lower Academy. She will also actively work on relations with our partner clubs and the Purple Start programme.
Tim Scheers (43) reinforces our Academy as Head of Coaching. Tim's playing career peaked at Racing Mechelen, where he made his breakthrough as a 17-year-old and played for the first team for no less than ten years, also wearing the captain's armband for a long time.
Tim started his coaching career at SK Londerzeel, where he managed just about every team from the U6 to the first team. He then joined KV Mechelen as a scout for the first team. In the past 3.5 years, Tim was Assistant Academy Manager and Head of Coaching of the elite youth at Beerschot.
As Head of Coaching at RSC Anderlecht, Tim will assist the coaches from the U9 to the U15 and watch over the development of our young players and staff.
Jeroen Trogh (32) makes the move from OH Leuven, where he held the same position for the past 8.5 years. He joined the Leuven club after his Sports Management studies as Head of Operations. There, he also took charge of HR operations and schooling at the Leuven youth academy. A role he will assume as Head of Operations & People Development from 12 June at RSC Anderlecht, working closely with the team that was already in function.
Maxime Dejonghe (22) will join the Academy as Talent Coordinator. After his Business Management studies, Maxime obtained a Master in Football Business at the Johan Cruyff Institute. After his studies, he first completed an internship at Zulte Waregem before joining KV Kortrijk. Maxime will assist Head of Talent & Innovation Peter Verbeke's team in the scouting, recruitment & retention of young talents.
Like every season, there are some shifts here and there among RSC Anderlecht's coaches. For instance, David Hubert becomes head coach of the U18 and René Peeters becomes assistant coach to Jelle Coen with the RSCA Futures.
For the upcoming season, these are the coaches of RSC Anderlecht's Academy:
RSCA Futures (U23): Jelle Coen - René Peeters
U18: David Hubert - Simon Hanssens
U16: Yannick Kindermans - Roma Cunillera
U15: Stephane Stassin - Maxime Devos
U14: Benoit Haegeman - Sergio Figueira
U13: Loick Fogel - Bernd Van Den Borre
U12: Christian Van Hoeylandt - Sebastien Munoz - Arne Van Campenhout
U11: Antonio Scibetta - Andy Lessay - Mehdi Mouelhi
U10: Dries Deconinck - Tom Vereecken - Andy Mudikongo
U9: Bjorn Heirman - Thierry Kalungwe - Simon Stammeleer
U8: Silvio Di Mattia - Adam Bensalah - Younes Yarri
