​With Nicky Hayen leaving Genk to join Burnley, the Belgian Pro League club is now on the hunt for a new head coach. According to HLN, Genk are leaning toward bringing Danish manager Jess Thorup back to the club. Thorup most recently served as head coach of Egyptian giants Al Ahly SC and had a brief stint as Genk’s head coach in 2020. Before that, he had been in charge at Gent, marking his first role outside of Denmark. Thorup departed Genk after only a few months to take over at FC Copenhagen, where he secured the league title in the 2021/2022 season. After several seasons with Copenhagen, Thorup moved on to Germany to coach Augsburg. He spent nearly two seasons in Germany before transitioning to a role in Egypt for the 2025/2026 campaign, where he collected 18 wins, nine draws, and nine defeats.
Genk endured a difficult season previously, failing to secure European football qualification. The club had hoped to begin the new campaign with Hayen at the helm, viewing him as a catalyst to rebuild around a group of talented young players. However, the search for a new head coach is now the next critical step as Genk looks to reframe and reestablish themselves.