Former Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel set to join Belgium coaching staff

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Former Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel is reportedly set to take up a coaching role with the Belgian national side.

The German right-back had a successful spell as a player, turning out for several European clubs, including Stuttgart, Sevilla and Freiburg.

Between 2008-2011 Hinkel also spent time at Celtic, winning a Scottish Premiership title and Scottish League Cup.

After bringing his playing career to an end, the ex-German international quickly moved into coaching at his boyhood club, Stuttgart.

The 40-year-old held many different roles, working his way through the ranks as manager of the club’s reserve side and also spending time as assistant manager in the first team.

In 2019 he made the move away from Germany, joining Domenico Tedesco’s coaching staff at Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Following a strong spell at Spartak, Tedesco was appointed manager of RB Leipzig, and he took Hinkel to the Red Bull Arena as part of his team.

This season, the former Celtic man looked set to make a return to Parkhead as a coach after the Bhoys were drawn to face RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.

However, a disappointing start to the domestic and European campaign saw Tedesco and Hinkel lose their jobs at Leipzig before the Celtic fixture.

Hinkel makes return to coaching as he joins Belgian National Team staff.

Following the sacking from Leipzig, both Tedesco and Hinkel spent several months out of the game. However, the Italian coach’s return to management was announced last week.

The 37-year-old coach has taken over from Roberto Martinez as manager of Belgium after the Spaniard departed the role following the World Cup and has since been appointed manager of Portugal.

Whilst there hasn’t been any official confirmation of who will be joining him, reports from Belgian outlet HLN have stated that Andreas Hinkel will join the coaching staff.

He will be joined by Max Urwantschky, who was also at Spartak and Leipzig, and ex-Belgian international Thomas Vermaelen could also make up the staff.

Interestingly, Hinkel will be following in the footsteps of one of his former Celtic teammates, Shaun Maloney, who was previously a coach with the Belgian National Team [Daily Record].

After a spell of a few months out of the game, it looks to be a good move for Hinkel, once again linking up with Tedesco.

The Belgian national team are likely at the beginning of a rebuilding period, and the German could be key in his role as assistant.

We wish him all the best of luck in his job, this time on the international stage!

In other news, Barry Robson set to continue interim Aberdeen role ahead of Celtic Park trip.