He was national team manager in two separate stints. In his first time with the national team he led the team that qualified, by way of a play-off against Ireland, for the 1998 World Cup in France. After three draws, the Belgians were eliminiated. Leekens, known for his ability to organise a team, returned to the RBFA in 2010 and just missed out on the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. He left his second stint when, as Leekens said, “90 percent of the work was done”.

Period: 11/02/1997 – 18/08/1999 and 03/05/2010 – 13/05/2012

Official matches: 44

Big tournaments: 1 (1998 World Cup)