Antoine Sibierski to Anderlecht: What to Expect from the New Sporting Director?
Brussels – Anderlecht is reportedly on the verge of appointing Antoine Sibierski as its new Sporting Director, a move that signals a potential overhaul of the Belgian club’s football operations. Negotiations are progressing well, according to sources, with the former Manchester City, Wigan and Newcastle midfielder poised to bring a decisive and pragmatic approach to the role.
Sibierski, currently serving as Sporting Director for Ligue 2 leaders Troyes, has impressed Anderlecht officials with his track record of impactful decision-making. His time at Troyes, a club within the City Group umbrella, has demonstrated an ability to quickly assess and address issues, implementing changes that have demonstrably improved the team’s performance. This experience is particularly appealing to Anderlecht, who recently parted ways with Olivier Renard after a short and unsuccessful tenure.
The 48-year-old Sibierski is known for his directness and a preference for working “in the shadows,” as he described in a recent interview with the Ligue 2 official channel. “I like to work in the shadows. It’s part of my DNA,” Sibierski stated. “I’ve been working in professional football for 34 years. My education has made me a discreet person. I’ve applied this as a player and afterwards, and it’s worked quite well.” He emphasizes a results-oriented approach, believing that actions speak louder than words. “The more discreet you are, the better you work. There’s no need to communicate or show off to work well. I’ve always believed that the more you say, the less you do.”
His meticulous preparation is also noteworthy. During his initial discussions with the City Group regarding the Troyes position, Sibierski prepared a 45-slide presentation outlining his vision for the club. While he didn’t get through the entire presentation – being told “it’s good” after slide 26 – it underscored his thoroughness and commitment to detailed planning. “That’s my education, that’s how I was taught to work,” he explained. “Even if it was just a meeting to have coffee or just chat, I needed to come prepared, having done the work.”
Sibierski’s appointment wouldn’t be a return to a familiar role, having last served as a Sporting Director with Lens in 2012/2013. Prior to Troyes, he was the coach of Châteauroux. However, his existing relationship with Brian Marwood, Director General of Global Football for the City Group, proved pivotal in convincing him to consider the Troyes project, and now potentially, Anderlecht.
Anderlecht has been warned: Sibierski doesn’t shy away from making difficult decisions. Upon arriving at Troyes, he quickly identified areas needing improvement, describing a culture of “leniency” and “amateurism” that he felt was unacceptable for a club backed by the City Group. He swiftly took action, relieving then-manager David Guillon of his duties just a week before the start of the season. “I didn’t want to do anything rash with David, I wanted to respect him as a person and as a coach,” Sibierski explained. “I gave myself a period of observation… it took four to five weeks. That led us to the week before our first match. The timing was such that it happened that way, but it was anticipated and thought through.”
His approach to hiring a replacement was equally rigorous, involving calls and extensive interviews with four candidates. “I had 30 to 45 minutes of telephone conversation with each of them. One of them was eliminated after that telephone conversation. I met the other three during different interviews, interviews of more than 4 hours each, because it is important to try to feel the person as much as possible.” He stresses the importance of a thorough process to avoid regrets down the line. “Once he’s in place and has signed a contract, it’s too late to say three months later ‘ah, I didn’t see that.’”
Sibierski prioritizes personality, coaching ability, and management skills when evaluating potential staff members. He’s also willing to challenge established structures, even within the City Group, as demonstrated by his decision to remove the previously appointed Director of Performance at Troyes. “It was a delicate subject because the City Group had appointed someone, that had to be respected, they had to be given time. But time showed that, regardless of the good person he is, he did not correspond to the role of director of performance as I saw it. The City Group heard that, accepted it and let me act in that sense.”
He values individuals who can challenge his own perspectives, recognizing the importance of continuous learning. “I need someone who can challenge my positions on certain players, on opinions I may have. I know I have a lot of skills, a lot of qualities, but I also have a lot to learn. I needed someone who would allow me to continue to evolve. That’s important in my role, to always question myself.”
Sibierski’s unwavering convictions and willingness to make tough choices are evident throughout his career. He emphasizes the importance of having the freedom to operate independently, even while acknowledging the need for accountability. “I have my convictions, my ideas, so I need to be allowed to work, to have real freedom of action, of decision. Even if everything I do must be validated. We may not agree on certain points, but the club lets me work, trusts me. That was one of the conditions, I need that. I am aware that if I make mistakes in my role, I must take responsibility for them. But you shouldn’t put a spoke in the wheel.”
Anderlecht, knows what to expect if they succeed in bringing him on board. Sibierski’s philosophy appears to align with the club’s ambitions, with a focus on possession-based football. “It’s important for me to have people who are in the same vision as me, in any case in the same values of work, that we can speak the same football. I was a ball-playing player, I need to see my teams, whether it’s the professional group or the youth, play with the ball.”