32 Facts About Tom Saintfiet

Tom Saintfiet was born on 29 March 1973 and is a Belgian football coach and former player.

Tom Saintfiet is the current head coach of the Mali national team.

Tom Saintfiet managed the Gambian national team from 2018 to 2024, earning a place in the top five list of best coaches of the year in the African continent in 2022 and 2023, voted by Confederation Africaine de Football.

Tom Saintfiet has coached in several countries, including Belgium, Qatar, Germany, Faroe Islands, Finland, Jordan and the Netherlands.

Tom Saintfiet has worked in Africa, having been the head coach of the national teams of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi and Togo, among others.

Tom Saintfiet was manager of Finnish Premier League club RoPS Rovaniemi.

Tom Saintfiet then became coach at Al-Ittihad Sports Club in Qatar.

Tom Saintfiet would be named as the team's technical director in 2012 and became a candidate for the head coach position again in 2016.

Tom Saintfiet started off successfully with Namibia by beating Comoros and Malawi and playing a draw against Lesotho in the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup in South Africa in July 2008.

Tom Saintfiet had trained the squad prior to the match although he was made to leave the camp due to the issues regarding work permits.

Former Manchester City player Benjani Mwaruwari announced his international retirement immediately after Tom Saintfiet was forced out of the country.

In late December 2010, Tom Saintfiet signed a four-month contract with 2007 AFC Cup winners Shabab Al Ordon.

Tom Saintfiet displayed again a well-organized defense, with his team only conceding one goal in the first five matches with him in charge.

Tom Saintfiet never lost a match with the club and guided them to second position in the national championship.

Tom Saintfiet was named head coach of Ethiopia in late May 2011.

In March 2012, Tom Saintfiet was appointed as the technical director of Nigeria by the Nigeria Football Federation.

In July 2012, Tom Saintfiet took charge of Tanzania club Young Africans SC.

Tom Saintfiet guided the team in 16 matches, with 13 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses before he left.

Between 2012 and 2013, Tom Saintfiet was in charge of the Yemen national football team.

Tom Saintfiet signed a contract as the head coach of Togo in May 2015.

Tom Saintfiet guided Togo towards qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Tom Saintfiet signed a short three-month contract with Bangladesh in June 2016.

Tom Saintfiet cited the lack of strikers in the team as a major concern.

Tom Saintfiet, who took up the position of head coach of Trinidad and Tobago on 7 December 2016 following the dismissal of Stephen Hart, tendered his resignation to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association only 35 days later.

Tom Saintfiet cited a lack of support as the reason for his departure in a statement he released.

Tom Saintfiet was forced to use mostly local based players but TTFA and the league did not accept his request to postpone the league for 2 weeks during the preparation and the play-offs.

On 11 October 2017, Tom Saintfiet was appointed head coach of the Malta national team, his first appointment to a European national side.

Tom Saintfiet was appointed manager of the Gambian national team on 18 July 2018.

On 23 January 2024, Tom Saintfiet resigned from his position after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group stage exit.

On 26 February 2024, Tom Saintfiet was appointed as head coach of the Philippines national team.

On 29 August 2024, PFF announced Tom Saintfiet has resigned as Philippines head coach ahead of the 2024 Merdeka Tournament.

Tom Saintfiet invoked a clause in his contract allowing him to move back to Africa.