Bafana Bafana Coach Hugo Broos to Hang Up Coaching Boots After World Cup

South Africa Coach Hugo Broos announces retirement plan

Hugo Broos announces plans to step down as South Africa coach after the 2026 World Cup, citing it as the perfect swansong.

“You all know I was at the World Cup at the end of my career as a player and now I do it again as a coach...”

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has confirmed that next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be his last major tournament before retirement. The 73-year-old Belgian coach has been open about his plans to step down after the World Cup.

Broos' decision to continue coaching until the World Cup was influenced by South Africa's qualification for the tournament. The team secured their spot in the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Rwanda at home. This achievement will give Broos the opportunity to bow out on a high note.

The veteran coach has had a successful stint with Bafana Bafana, leading them to a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Broos has expressed his desire to focus on the team's success in the World Cup and AFCON before deciding on his future plans.

Indescriptible 🙌🇿🇦#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/4Arm8KTWir

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The coach will lead the team to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this December. Notably, the upcoming tournament will mark his final assignment as coach. He has had a storied career, including playing for Belgium in the 1986 World Cup.

“Don’t ask me what my emotions are for the moment; I don’t have words for them,” Broos told reporters. “I hoped, maybe more than anyone in this group, players or staff, that we should go to America, because for me it is a sentimental reason.

“You all know I was at the World Cup at the end of my career as a player and now I do it again as a coach.

“I think this is the right moment next year, after the World Cup, to stop my coaching career and go spend the next 20 years with my children and grandchildren.

“But first of all, there is work to do, and we will try to do it well.”

🇿🇦 South Africa have qualified for #FIFAWorldCup 26!#WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/j6k9fbvKk9

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South Africa's qualification was well-deserved, as they were the most consistent team in their group. If they hadn't been docked three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player, they would have finished four points clear.

“This is a fantastic evening for everyone, not only the coach; I am just part of it,” he said. “This is about the team who worked hard for the last two years to have all those good performances and nice moments.

“I can’t forget my staff, who helped me a lot. Especially (assistant coach) Helman (Mkhalele), you all know I like him very much. Without him, we would not achieve this.

“But it is also the medical staff who work day and night to have the players ready to do big performances, the kit manager, security manager, team manager.

“We are a bunch of people who had only one goal, and that is to put in good performances and win things.”

Even in victory, Broos couldn't resist taking a subtle jab at the media, whom he often feels are overly critical of his team selections.

“I know you (the media) have not always agreed with the choices I made. I said already I make choices on different criteria than you,” he said. “For me, it is important to have a player with quality, with the right mentality, and a player who can do what I ask him.

“And until now, I always succeeded in doing it. Even when you (media) thought, this one, or this one, or this one needed a chance. That is not how you build a team.

“You need a plan, and you have to stick to it when you know it is the right way. And this is what we did in the last two years.”

Broos expressed his satisfaction that the World Cup qualification has restored pride to the Bafana Bafana jersey.

“I heard someone say on the pitch after the game that everybody (used to) laugh at Bafana Bafana. We were a joke. But now we are playing at a high level, and everyone respects us.”