November 1 – In the latest personnel shuffle at Anderlecht, Oliver Renard, a suspect in operation ‘Proper Hands’, has replaced Jesper Fredberg as sporting director, bringing to an end the strong Danish connection at the club.
In a statement, Anderlecht said the club and Fredberg parted by mutual agreement and named Renard, a former goalkeeper, as his successor.
In recent years, Renard served as sporting director and vice president of MLS club Montreal. Fredberg arrived in 2022 in Brussels, but some of his transfer choices backfired. On Instagram, he wrote: “I didn’t hit bull’s eye every time, but I still look back with pride on the two last years, with a quarter-final in Conference League, a battle for the championship last season and unbeaten in Europe League.”
In the summer of 2023, he signed compatriots Kasper Dolberg, Thomas Delaney and Kasper Schmeichel as well as Thorgan Hazard. In the last transfer window, Leander Dendoncker arrived from the Premier League, but the signing of Zanka, a Danish defender, prompted a backlash over his underwhelming performances. Fredberg’s departure follows the exit of Danish manager Brian Riemer in September.
“I want to thank Jesper Fredberg, and also Brian Riemer, for the past two years. For the first time since the club’s sale, RSCA competed again for the league title,” said Anderlecht chairman Wouter Vandenhaute in a statement.
“Their contribution to this was significant. Jesper will not be replaced as CEO Sports; instead, in the new structure, we are opting for a Sporting Director, Olivier Renard.
“Renard has built up a lot of expertise both in Belgium and internationally. He knows the atmosphere of the dressing room, and he will work closely with the sporting staff and the scouting department.”
On Thursday, supporters protested Renard’s arrival with banners at the Belgian cup tie against Tubize-Braine. One banner called Renard ‘vermin’. Renard’s past as a player of rivals Standard de Liege will not sit well with Anderlecht fans, but he has also been named in Operation ‘Proper Hands’ for allegedly receiving commissions from an agent that were not declared to tax authorities.
Renard said that he is innocent. “There is a clause in his contract that states that if he is ever convicted, we can fire him immediately,” explained Vandenhaute. “That clause was added at his request.”
Renard is the sixth sporting director at Anderlecht since Belgian businessman Marck Coucke acquired the club in 2018.
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