Joseph Oosting is currently the leading candidate to become the new Antwerp FC manager. Sources confirm this to Voetbal International. The Great Old are searching for a new coach following the dismissal of Stef Wils.
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Immediately after the final whistle of the match between Antwerp and Dender, the atmosphere inside the Bosuil Stadium shifted from tension to disbelief, and then to decisive action.
What was expected to be a routine home win turned into a major disappointment for the Antwerp supporters. Dender, who had been bottom of the Belgian First Division and had not recorded a single victory all season, managed to take all three points with a surprising 1-2 win. The visitors showed determination, punished defensive mistakes and capitalised on Antwerp’s lack of urgency, leaving the home fans stunned. For the club’s management, the defeat was more than just a bad result. It became the breaking point.
As soon as the match ended, and after internal discussions that lasted only a few minutes, the board decided to relieve Stef Wils of his duties. The frustration had been building for weeks. The team’s performances had been consistently below expectations, the tactical structure appeared unclear and the dressing room atmosphere had reportedly become fragile. With Antwerp now sitting in fourteenth place, far below their ambitions and far too close to the relegation zone for comfort, the leadership felt compelled to act swiftly. The loss to Dender, given the opponent’s poor form and the symbolic weight of the result, was seen as the final confirmation that a change was needed immediately.
In the search for a suitable replacement, Joseph Oosting quickly emerged as the leading candidate. The Dutch coach from Drenthe is well-regarded for his clear playing philosophy, his modern training methods and his ability to stabilise teams in turbulent periods. Oosting has been without a club since September, when he was unexpectedly dismissed early in the season by FC Twente. His time there was mixed, but he remained respected in Dutch football circles for his work ethic and his positive impact at previous clubs such as RKC Waalwijk.
Antwerp, known for its ambition and its recent attempts to build a strong identity both on and off the pitch, see in Oosting a coach capable of bringing back structure, discipline and clarity. The club has not hesitated in the past to appoint Dutch managers, and hiring Oosting would continue this pattern. After the spells of Mark van Bommel and Andries Ulderink, another Dutchman on the bench would not come as a surprise, especially given the good reputation Dutch coaches enjoy in Belgium for their tactical precision.
Sources close to Antwerp confirm that Oosting is not only on the list but currently the favourite for the position. Discussions are ongoing, with the club eager to have a new coach in place as quickly as possible to stabilise the squad before the next league matches. Antwerp’s season is far from over, but the margin for error is narrowing. Sitting in the lower half of the table, the club must react immediately if it wants to avoid being drawn into a survival battle, something unthinkable for a team with its recent investments and ambitions.
The appointment of Oosting could represent a fresh start, an attempt to reboot the season and rebuild confidence among players and supporters. The dressing room also awaits clarity, as several players have reportedly been unsettled by recent results and lacked clear direction under Wils. A new coach with a strong identity could help reset the team’s mentality and restore the competitive edge that Antwerp has traditionally been known for.
For now, the club hopes to complete negotiations swiftly, aware that each passing day without a coach increases uncertainty. Oosting has expressed interest in returning to work at a club with ambition, and Antwerp fits that description. If the talks progress as expected, the Great Old may soon announce his arrival and begin a new chapter focused on recovery, stability and rebuilding after a turbulent start to the season.
