Danish coach who was a legend in Prague takes over Belgian club in danger of relegation

Lars Friis kicked off his coaching journey in Denmark, serving as a youth coach at the prominent club FC Midtjylland.

Subsequently, he served in two capacities as an assistant coach for AGF, alongside a stint at Brentford, assisting Thomas Frank with the reserve squad.

During 2021, Friis assumed his initial position as head coach with Viborg. It turned out to be a swift triumph, guiding the side to victory in Denmark's second tier and earning promotion to the elite division. Following this, he transitioned to Aalborg.

Next, Friis aligned with the Czech team Sparta Prague, securing two championship honours and a single trophy in his assistant role.

In the previous campaign, he advanced to head coach for the Prague outfit. He steered them past three preliminary stages to reach the UEFA Champions League group phase. Friis held the reins until the previous May.

Lars Friis is set to conduct his debut training on Monday. Jimmy De Wulf will manage the upcoming away fixture versus RSC Anderlecht.

Luciano Murchio, the Technical Director, states: “We are thrilled to have Lars Friis join us as the new Head Coach. His expertise stems from roles in Denmark, England, and the Czech Republic, encompassing his guidance of Sparta Prague in the UEFA Champions League.

"Lars represents an eager and contemporary coach poised to inject new vigour, drive, and character into the squad. His tactical approach and core style match seamlessly with Cercle’s ethos, and we trust he will support our immediate and future goals.”

Cercle Brugge sits just above the drop zone in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, facing a real threat of descent.