Marc Wilmots was fired after Belgium, ranked No. 2 in the June FIFA rankings, failed to get past the quarterfinals at Euro 2016. Wilmots’ contract was through 2018.
The RoyalBelgian Football Association praised Wilmots for his work with the Red Devils.
“With Marc Wilmots as a head coach,” it said in a statement, “the Red Devils have climbed from the54th position to the top of the Fifa world ranking. He managed to win 34 games out of 51, including eight draws. Above all, the fans have reinstalled their love for the Belgian Red Devils during thisperiod.”