View source for Tom Saintfiet

{{short description|Belgian football coach and former player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name           = Tom Saintfiet
|image          =
|fullname       = Tom Julianus Saintfiet<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/member-associations/philippines|title=Member Associations - Philippines|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=27 February 2024}}</ref>
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|3|29}}
|birth_place    = [[Mol, Belgium|Mol]], [[Belgium]]
|position       = [[Midfielder (football)|Midfielder]]
|currentclub    = [[Mali national football team|Mali]] (head coach)
|youthyears1    = 
|youthclubs1    = 
|years1         = 1991–1992
|clubs1         = [[K. Stade Leuven|Stade Leuven]]
|caps1          = 
|goals1         = 
|years2         = 1992–1993
|clubs2         = [[F.C. Zwarte Duivels Oud-Heverlee|Zwarte Duivels]]
|caps2          = 
|goals2         = 
|years3         = 1993–1996
|clubs3         = Oude God Sport
|caps3          = 
|goals3         = 
|years4         = 1996–1997
|clubs4         = [[K. Boom F.C.|FC Boom]]
|caps4          = 
|goals4         = 
|pcupdate       = 
|nationalyears1 = 
|nationalteam1  = 
|nationalcaps1  = 
|nationalgoals1 = 
|ntupdate       = 
|manageryears1  = 1997–1998
|managerclubs1  = FC Zammel
|manageryears2  = 1998–2000
|managerclubs2  = [[K.F.C. Dessel Sport|Dessel Sport]] (youth)
|manageryears3  = 2000
|managerclubs3  = Satelitte Abidjan
|manageryears4  = 2002–2003
|managerclubs4  = [[B71 Sandur]]
|manageryears5  = 2002–2003
|managerclubs5  = [[Stormvogels Telstar]]
|manageryears6  = 2003–2004
|managerclubs6  = [[Al-Gharafa Sports Club|Al-Gharafa]]
|manageryears7  = 2004
|managerclubs7  = [[Qatar national under-17 football team|Qatar U17]]
|manageryears8  = 2005–2006
|managerclubs8  = [[BV Cloppenburg]]
|manageryears9  = 2006–2007
|managerclubs9  = [[FC Emmen]] (Technical Director)
|manageryears10  = 2008
|managerclubs10  = [[RoPS]]
|manageryears11 = 2008–2010
|managerclubs11 = [[Namibia national football team|Namibia]]
|manageryears12 = 2010
|managerclubs12 = [[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]]
|manageryears13 = 2010–2011
|managerclubs13 = [[Shabab Al-Ordon]]
|manageryears14 = 2011
|managerclubs14 = [[Ethiopia national football team|Ethiopia]]
|manageryears15 = 2012
|manageryears16 = 2012
|managerclubs16 = [[Young Africans SC|Young Africans]]
|manageryears17 = 2012–2013
|managerclubs17 = [[Yemen national football team|Yemen]]
|manageryears18 = 2013
|managerclubs18 = [[Malawi national football team|Malawi]]
|manageryears19 = 2014
|managerclubs19 = [[Free State Stars F.C.|Free State Stars]]
|manageryears20 = 2015–2016
|managerclubs20 = [[Togo national football team|Togo]]
|manageryears21 = 2016
|managerclubs21 = [[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]]
|manageryears22 = 2016–2017
|managerclubs22 = [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
|manageryears23 = 2017–2018
|managerclubs23 = [[Malta national football team|Malta]]
|manageryears24 = 2018–2024
|managerclubs24 = [[Gambia national football team|Gambia]]
|manageryears25 = 2024
|managerclubs25 = [[Philippines national football team|Philippines]]
|manageryears26 = 2024–
|managerclubs26 = [[Mali national football team|Mali]]
|medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{fb|Qatar}}}} <small>(as manager)</small>
{{MedalCompetition|[[AFC U-17 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[2004 AFC U-17 Championship|2004]]|}}
}}

'''Tom Saintfiet''' (born 29 March 1973) is a Belgian [[Association football|football]] coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the [[Mali national football team|Mali national team]].

He managed the [[Gambia national football team|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 of African Football|Confédération Africaine de Football]]. In 2022, he was second runner-up for the [[Royal Belgian Football Association]]'s "Coach of the Year" award. By June 2025, Saintfiet has already achieved 113 FIFA official matches as coach of national teams.

==Coaching career==
Saintfiet has coached in several countries, including [[Belgium]], [[Qatar]], [[Germany]], [[Faroe Islands]], [[Finland]], [[Jordan]] and the [[Netherlands]]. He has also worked in [[Africa]], having been the head coach of the national teams of [[Namibia national football team|Namibia]], [[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]], [[Ethiopia national football team|Ethiopia]], [[Malawi national football team|Malawi]] and [[Togo national football team|Togo]], among others. Saintfiet was manager of [[Veikkausliiga|Finnish Premier League]] club [[RoPS]] Rovaniemi. In 2002, he coached Faroese team [[B71 Sandoy|B71]] and finished second in the Faroe Islands First Division. He then became coach at [[Al-Ittihad Sports Club]] in [[Qatar]] (now called [[Al-Gharafa Sports Club]]). In 2004, he coached the [[Qatar national under-17 football team]] to third place in the [[AFC U-17 Asian Cup|AFC U-17 Championship]], qualifying for the [[2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship|FIFA U-17 World Cup]] in the process. Prior to the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], Saintfiet was one of the candidates to lead the [[Nigeria national football team|Nigerian national team]] for the World Cup campaign in [[South Africa]]. He would be named as the team's technical director in 2012<ref name=bbc/> and became a candidate for the head coach position again in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trio competes for Nigeria coaching job |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/trio-competes-nigeria-coaching-job-174722397--sow.html |publisher=Yahoo Sport |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

===Namibia===
Saintfiet started off successfully with [[Namibia national football team|Namibia]] by beating [[Comoros national football team|Comoros]] and Malawi and playing a draw against [[Lesotho national football team|Lesotho]] in the [[2008 COSAFA Cup|COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup]] in [[South Africa]] in July 2008. Namibia were eliminated in the quarter-final at the hands of eventual champion and host [[South Africa national soccer team|South Africa]]. Saintfiet's achievements with Namibia include defeating [[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]] 4–2 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier and [[DR Congo national football team|DR Congo]] 4–0 in a friendly. Three days after a 1–1 away draw against [[Lebanon national football team|Lebanon]] in April 2009, Namibia once again got an impressive result with a 0–0 draw away to [[Angola national football team|Angola]]. However, perhaps his most impressive result came in [[Durban]], when Namibia drew 1–1 with South Africa after leading for much of the game. Namibia had only won 1 game out of 12 in the months before Saintfiet's arrival. Under his leadership, Namibia rose 34 places in the [[FIFA World Rankings]] to the highest position they had achieved in the past 10 years. After these performances, the Namibian press nicknamed Saintfiet "The Saint"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kidd |first1=Robert |title=Tom Saintfiet: The minnow master daring Malta to dream of Euro final |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42639216 |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> and one newspaper even called him "The Messiah".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Corp |first1=Eddie |title=Tom Saintfiet, the 'plumber' who makes Gambia dream |url=https://digismak.com/tom-saintfiet-the-plumber-who-makes-gambia-dream/ |website=www.digismak.com |date=28 January 2022 |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

===Zimbabwe===
After being heavily linked with the job, Sainfiet emerged successful through a shortlist of 15 candidates and signed a four-year contract with the [[Zimbabwe Football Association]] on 1 October 2010. In November, [[Zimbabwean]] immigration authorities refused to issue a work permit to the "Warriors" coach and Saintfiet was requested to leave. The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) then appealed the decision taken by the department of immigration to turn down Saintfiet's work permit application for national team coach. On 10 October, Zimbabwe played [[Cape Verde national football team|Cape Verde]] in [[Harare]] in a [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]] match, with the game resulting in a 1–1 draw. Saintfiet had trained the squad prior to the match although he was made to leave the camp due to the issues regarding work permits. From his base in [[Namibia]], Saintfiet put in place the tactics and selected the national team squad that beat [[Mozambique national football team|Mozambique]] 3–1 in the following match. After being refused a work permit by the immigration department for a second time, he was forced to leave his role as head coach of Zimbabwe in October 2010. Former [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] player [[Benjani Mwaruwari]] announced his international retirement immediately after Saintfiet was forced out of the country.

===Shabab Al Ordon===
In late December 2010, Saintfiet signed a four-month contract with 2007 [[AFC Cup]] winners [[Shabab Al Ordon]]. Saintfiet displayed again a well-organized defense, with his team only conceding one goal in the first five matches with him in charge.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jordan league regular season 2010 2011 |url=https://us.soccerway.com/national/jordan/league/2010-2011/regular-season/r12671/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref> He never lost a match with the club and guided them to second position in the national championship.

===Ethiopia===
Saintfiet was named head coach of [[Ethiopia national football team|Ethiopia]] in late May 2011. Within 10 days of taking over, he guided the Ethiopia national football team, composed of local players, to a 2–2 draw against [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] in the [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification|2012 AFCON qualifiers]]. In a full [[Addis Ababa Stadium]], fans watched Ethiopia take the lead for most of the game, only for Nigeria captain [[Joseph Yobo]] to score in the 86th minute to rescue a point.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farore |first1=‘Dayo |title=Yobo, For The Super Eagles' Sake |url=https://thenet.ng/yobo-for-the-super-eagles-sake/ |website=www.thenet.ng |date=7 June 2011 |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria cup hopes suffer setback after draw in Ethiopia |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/06/05/football.african.nations.qualifiers/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611091413/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/06/05/football.african.nations.qualifiers/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2011 |publisher=CNN |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref> After beating [[Madagascar national football team|Madagascar]] 4–2 Saintfiet voluntarily resigned his position as head coach on 28 October 2011 citing disagreements with the FA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Saintfiet quits Ethiopia coaching job |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2011/10/28/2732655/tom-saintfiet-quits-ethiopia-coaching-job |publisher=Goal (website) |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

===Nigeria===
In March 2012, Saintfiet was appointed as the technical director of [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] by the Nigeria Football Federation ([[Nigeria Football Federation|NFF]]).<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17561071|title=Saintfiet backs himself as Nigeria's technical director|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|department=[[BBC Sport]]|date=30 March 2012|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> However, the Nigerian ministry of sports hinted three months later that there were many competent Nigerians and preferred a Nigerian instead of a foreign technical director. Therefore, he could not obtain a work visa to enter Nigeria.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Okeleji |first1=Oluwashina |title=Saintfiet set to lose Nigeria technical director role |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/18428874 |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

===Young Africans SC===
In July 2012, Saintfiet took charge of [[Tanzania]] club [[Young Africans SC]]. He immediately guided the club to win the [[2012 Kagame Interclub Cup|2012 CECAFA Club Cup/Kagame Interclub Cup]], the club's fifth Champions League of East and Central Africa.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kobo |first1=Kingsley |title=Liberia appoint Belgian Tom Saintfiet as new coach |url=https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4622/africa/2014/05/07/4801944/liberia-appoint-belgian-tom-saintfiet-as-new-coach |publisher=Goal (website) |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref> It was also the first time the club won the trophy two consecutive times. He was however let go in September after two league games because of a disagreement with the club board.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19691267|first=Emmanuel|last=Muga|title=Saintfiet is upset over his sacking by Yanga|department=BBC Sport|date=23 September 2002|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> Saintfiet guided the team in 16 matches, with 13 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses before he left.

===Yemen, Malawi and Free State Stars===
Between 2012 and 2013, Saintfiet was in charge of the [[Yemen national football team]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Yemen coach Saintfiet steps down from post |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/sports/2013/03/24/Yemen-coach-Saintfiet-steps-down-from-post |website=www.english.alarabiya.net}}</ref> On 3 July 2013, he took over as the head coach of the [[Malawi national football team]] on a three-month deal.<ref>[http://en.starafrica.com/football/ngonamo-demoted-as-malawi-appoint-new-coach.html Ngonamo demoted as Malawi appoint new coach] Starafrica.com, 3 July 2013</ref> The goal was to qualify Malawi for the first time in history for the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] but he did not succeed. A lack of budget stopped both parties to extend the three-month deal into a long term contract. Two years later the FAM President stated in a BBC interview that their poor performances of the last two years (2014–2015) were a result of not signing Saintfiet earlier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/33460189|first=Frank|last=Kandu|title=Malawi FA bemoans govt directive not to hire foreign coach|department=BBC Sport|date=9 July 2015|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>

On 2 July 2014, he was named the head coach of South African side [[Free State Stars F.C.|Free State Stars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freestatestars.co.za/saintfeit-named-new-stars-head-coach/|title=Saintfeit named new Stars head coach|date=2 July 2014|access-date=18 December 2017|publisher=Free State Stars F.C}}</ref> The club had ended the previous season in fourteenth place in the national league. After ten league matches into the [[2014–15 South African Premier Division|2014–2015 season]], Saintfiet got fired after a dispute with the technical director and son of the owner, Kootso Mokoena. At that moment the team was in eleventh place in the league, three points behind champion favorites [[Orlando Pirates F.C.|Orlando Pirates]] and [[Bidvest Wits F.C.|Bidvest Wits]]. In the months after his sacking the team dropped to relegation zone (16th place) only to be rescued in the last games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stars explain Saintfiet sacking |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/free-state-stars-explain-tom-saintfiet-sacking/553834 |website=www.kickoff.com |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

===Togo===
Saintfiet signed a contract as the head coach of Togo in May 2015. His first match at the helm of the Togo national team, however, had been three months earlier against [[Mauritius national football team|Mauritius]] (28 March), as interim. Saintfiet guided Togo towards qualification for the [[2017 Africa Cup of Nations]]. He left Togo in April 2016. In the 14 months in charge of the "Sparrow Hawks" he worked under 3 different FA Presidents (and boards) and 2 different Ministers of Sport.

===Bangladesh===
Saintfiet signed a short three-month contract with [[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]] in June 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/2016/08/20/six-young-faces-bangladesh-football-squad/|title=Six young faces in Bangladesh football squad|work=[[Dhaka Tribune]]|date=20 August 2016|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> The start of his tenure did not go well as Bangladesh lost 0–5 to [[Maldives national football team|Maldives]] in an international friendly, the biggest defeat in Saintfiet's career so far. But the team bounced back with a 0–0 home draw against the [[Bhutan national football team|Bhutan]] in a [[2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification]] match. Saintfiet cited the lack of strikers in the team as a major concern.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/4879/where-are-the-strikers|title=Where are the strikers?|work=Dhaka Tribune|date=7 September 2016|access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>

===Trinidad and Tobago===
Saintfiet, who took up the position of head coach of [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]] on 7 December 2016 following the dismissal of [[Stephen Hart (footballer)|Stephen Hart]], tendered his resignation to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) only 35 days later. In the four matches Trinidad and Tobago played with Saintfiet at the helm, the team lost 2–1 to [[Nicaragua national football team|Nicaragua]] and then defeated them 3–1. Trinidad and Tobago lost in extra-time to both [[Suriname national football team|Suriname]] and [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]] in a Caribbean playoff for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers. Saintfiet cited a lack of support as the reason for his departure in a statement he released. He could never use his best team, the games were played on non-FIFA dates and about 15 major players weren’t available for different reasons. He 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. For this reason, Saintfiet could not even select his best local based players. This combined with TTFA ignoring his request for a professional qualified capable staff were the reason he resigned.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panizo |first1=Franco |title=Trinidad and Tobago coach Tom Saintfiet resigns after a month on the job |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/trinidad-and-tobago-coach-tom-saintfiet-resigns-after-month-job |website=www.mlssoccer.com |access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

===Malta===
On 11 October 2017, Saintfiet was appointed head coach of the [[Malta national football team|Malta national team]], his first appointment to a European national side.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Saintfiet appointed Malta coach|url=https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/news/news/3073/tom-saintfiet-appointed-malta-coach.htm|access-date=18 December 2017|work=MFA|date=11 October 2017}}</ref> His first game in charge was on 12 November 2017, a 3–0 defeat to [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Estonia beat Malta in Friendly at Ta' Qali|url=https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/news/news/3137/estonia-beat-malta-in-friendly-at-ta-qali.htm|access-date=18 December 2017|work=MFA|date=12 November 2017}}</ref> After just three games in charge and with reports that Saintfiet was one of the coaches who applied for the post as [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]] head coach, the [[Malta Football Association]] terminated his contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43869356 |title=77 applicants for vacant Cameroon coaching position |work=BBC Sports |date=23 April 2018 |access-date=25 April 2018 |first=Oluwashina |last=Okeleji }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://mfa.com.mt/en/news/news/3358/malta-fa-statement--tom-saintfiet.htm |title=Malta FA statement – Tom Saintfiet |work=MFA |date=25 April 2018 |access-date=25 April 2018 }}</ref>

===Gambia===
Saintfiet was appointed manager of the [[Gambia national football team|Gambian national team]] on 18 July 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44875768|title=Tom Saintfiet named new Gambia coach|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He made his debut in a 1–1 draw against [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] valid for the [[2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Saintfiet, a Belgian at the gates of the eighth with the smallest country in Africa |url=https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/19/tom-saintfiet-a-belgian-at-the-gates-of-the-eighth-with-the-smallest-country-in-africa/ |website=www.archysport.com |date=19 January 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> On 25 March 2021, Saintfiet made history with Gambia by qualifying the country for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first with a 1–0 victory over Angola in [[Bakau]] while also finishing as the top team in [[2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group D|Group D]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oludare |first1=Shina |title=Gambia extend Saintfiet contract after historic Afcon feat |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/gambia-extend-saintfiet-contract-after-historic-afcon-feat/1xi6mjs8l8b4p18a3nz9ggteb6 |publisher=Goal (website) |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gambia Qualifies for Nations Cup |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202103260343.html |website=www.allafrica.com |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>

Gambia joined the [[2021 Africa Cup of Nations]] as the lowest-ranked team of the tournament as well as the lowest-ranked team ever to participate in AFCON.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kunti |first1=Samindra |title=AFCON: How The Gambia was at home among Africa's best |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/1/31/afcon-gambia-at-home-among-africas-best-football |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> They debuted with a 1–0 win over [[Mauritania national football team|Mauritania]] followed by a 1–1 draw to [[Mali national football team|Mali]]. Gambia qualified for the round of 16 with a game to spare and on 20 January defeated [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]] 1–0 in their final group match.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gambia upset Tunisia in another Africa Cup of Nations shock |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=618238 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> They finished with the same points as Mali, which, however, won the group due to a better overall goal difference.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Borg |first1=Simon |title=AFCON 2022 group scenarios: How each national team advanced to the Round of 16 |date=20 January 2022 |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/afcon-2022-group-scenarios-advance-round-of-16-knockout/o8kwtvpi5x591f9g9rwcyctm5 |publisher=Sporting News |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>

Gambia continued to impress in the round of 16, defeating [[Guinea national football team|Guinea]] 1–0 to advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |last1=News Wires |title=Gambia continue giant-killing spree with 1-0 victory over Guinea, advance to quarter finals |date=24 January 2022 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20220124-gambia-continue-giant-killing-spree-with-1-0-victory-over-guinea-advance-to-quarter-finals |publisher=France 24 |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Thornton |first1=Tim |title=Tom Saintfiet exclusive: Gambia head coach on the meteoric rise of the Scorpions at Africa Cup of Nations |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13962/12527253/tom-saintfiet-exclusive-gambia-head-coach-on-the-meteoric-rise-of-the-scorpions-at-africa-cup-of-nations |publisher=Sky Sport |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> After a goalless first half, Gambia lost 2–0 to host [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]] in the quarter-final in [[Douala]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gambia vs Cameroon: Karl Toko Ekambi shine as Indomitable Lions defeat prove Scorpions 2-0 for Afcon quarter final |newspaper=BBC News Pidgin |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/sport-60180029 |publisher=BBC |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>

On 23 January 2024, Saintfiet resigned from his position after the [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations]] group stage exit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68074217 |title=Afcon 2023: Tom Saintfiet quits as The Gambia boss after group-stage exit |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 January 2024 }}</ref>

===Philippines===
On 26 February 2024, Saintfiet was appointed as head coach of the [[Philippines national football team|Philippines national team]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carandang|first1=Justin Kenneth|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/football/898634/tom-saintfiet-is-new-philippine-men-s-football-coach/story/?amp|title=Tom Saintfiet is new Philippine men's football coach|publisher=GMA News|date=26 February 2024|accessdate=27 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Demigillo|first1=Kiko|url=https://www.onesports.ph/more-sports/article/19169/new-journey-tom-saintfiet-named-as-philippine-men-s-football-head-coach|title=New journey: Tom Saintfiet named as Philippine men's football head coach|publisher=ONE News PH|date=26 February 2024|accessdate=27 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ventura |first1=Sid |title=Challenge Accepted: New Philippine Football Coach Tom Saintfiet Is Aiming High |url=https://thegame-onemega.com/challenge-accepted-new-philippine-football-coach-tom-saintfiet-is-aiming-high/ |website=The Game |publisher=One Mega Group, Inc. |access-date=4 March 2024 |date=4 March 2024}}</ref>

On 29 August 2024, PFF announced Saintfiet has resigned as Philippines head coach ahead of the [[2024 Merdeka Tournament]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.facebook.com/share/p/LUxivcmRHPYwE7XY/?mibextid=WC7FNe|publisher=Philippines Men’s National Football Team|title=About Coach Tom|date=29 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Leyba |first1=Olmin |title=Fegidero named interim Philippine men's football team coach |url=https://qa.philstar.com/sports/2024/08/29/2381458/fegidero-named-interim-philippine-mens-football-team-coach |access-date=29 August 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> He invoked a clause in his contract allowing him to move back to Africa.<ref>{{cite news |last1=del Carmen |first1=Lorenzo |title=PMNFT scrambles for new coach as Tom Saintfiet departs for Mali |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pmnft-scrambles-for-new-coach-as-tom-saintfiet-departs-for-mali/310742 |access-date=29 August 2024 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=29 August 2024}}</ref>

===Mali===

On the same day Saintfiet's resignation from the Philippines job was announced,  he was also named the new [[Mali national football team|Mali national team]] head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.instagram.com/p/C_OqPNQNxZw/?igsh=MTY3NGo0eHVxNHF3Mg==|title=NID DES AIGLES|publisher=Federation Malienne de football|language=fr|date=29 August 2024}}</ref>

The belgian tactician, since his arrival in the beginning of September 2024, managed the [[Mali national football team|Mali national team]] to qualify for the African Cup 2025 as first in the Group I, with the stunning achievement of 4 wins and 2 draws, with 10 goals scored and just one conceded, resulting the best defense in Africa.

Since 1972, under his leadership was achieved the record of goals scored in a single match, reached against Eswatini on 19 November 2025, a match won by the [[Mali national football team|Mali national team]] for 6-0.

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 5 June 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!{{abbr|G|Matches played}}
!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}
!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}
!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}
!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|[[Satellite FC]]
|1 February 2002
|30 June 2002
{{WDL|5|3|1|1|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]]
|1 January 2004
|30 June 2004
{{WDL|6|4|1|1|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[BV Cloppenburg|Cloppenburg]]
|1 July 2005
|24 October 2005
{{WDL|12|6|3|3|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Namibia national football team|Namibia]]
|1 July 2008
|8 September 2010
{{WDL|16|4|8|4|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]]
|25 September 2010
|18 November 2010
{{WDL|1|1|0|0|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Shabab Al-Ordon SC|Shabab Al-Qordon]]
|3 January 2011
|19 May 2011
{{WDL|6|3|3|0|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Ethiopia national football team|Ethiopia]]
|20 May 2011
|28 October 2011
{{WDL|4|1|1|2|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Yemen national football team|Yemen]]
|12 October 2012
|23 March 2013
{{WDL|5|0|0|5|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Malawi national football team|Malawi]]
|3 July 2013
|9 September 2013
{{WDL|3|1|0|2|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[KFC Turnhout|Turnhout]]
|20 January 2014
|30 June 2014
{{WDL|13|8|2|3|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Free State Stars F.C.|Free State Stars]]
|1 July 2014
|6 November 2014
{{WDL|11|3|2|6|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Togo national football team|Togo]] (caretaker)
|26 March 2015
|18 May 2015
{{WDL|1|0|1|0|decimals=2}}
|-
|Togo
|19 May 2015
|6 April 2016
{{WDL|7|2|1|4|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]]
|22 August 2016
|16 October 2016
{{WDL|3|0|1|2|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
|7 December 2016
|11 January 2017
{{WDL|4|1|0|3|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Malta national football team|Malta]]
|11 October 2017
|25 April 2018
{{WDL|3|0|0|3|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Gambia national football team|Gambia]]
|18 July 2018
|23 January 2024
{{WDL|44|18|10|16|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Philippines national football team|Philippines]]
|26 February 2024
|28 August 2024
{{WDL|4|0|0|4|decimals=2}}
|-
|[[Mali national football team|Mali]]
|29 August 2024
|''present''
{{WDL|9|5|3|1|decimals=2}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Career Total
{{WDLtot|157|60|37|60|decimals=2}}
|}

==Honours==

'''Mali'''
*Qualified for AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) 2025, as first in the Qualification Group I


'''Gambia'''
*Qualified for AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) 2021, first appearance of Gambia in the most important Tournament of the continent
*Reached Quarter finals in AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) 2021
*Qualified for AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) 2023


'''KV Turnhout'''
*Qualified for the promotion play-offs: 2014


'''Young Africans'''
*[[Kagame Interclub Cup|CECAFA Club Cup/Kagame Interclub Cup]]: [[2012 Kagame Interclub Cup|2012]]


'''Qatar U17'''
*[[AFC U-17 Asian Cup|AFC U-17 Championship]] third place: [[2004 AFC U-17 Championship|2004]] 
*Qualification for the [[2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship]]


'''B71 Sandur'''
*[[1. deild|Faroe Islands First Division]] Vice Champion: 2002


'''Individual'''

*Top 5 best coaches of the year in the African continent, voted by CAF - Confédération Africaine de Football: 2023
*Second Runner-up for coach of the year in Belgium, voted by The Royal Belgian Football Association: 2022 
*Top 5 best coaches of the year of the African continent, voted by CAF - Confédération Africaine de Football: 2022
*Namibia Sport Commission Sports Awards Coach of the Year runner-up: 2009
*Most Famous Sport Celebrity (Informanté): 2008
*The Namibian Coach of the Year: 2008

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17544095|title=Nigeria appoint Belgian Saintfiet as technical director|department=BBC Sport|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=28 March 2012}}
* [https://www.hln.be/sport/voetbal/buitenlands-voetbal/het-exotisch-trainersboek-van-tom-saintfiet-van-kalashnikovs-in-jemen-tot-de-bush-in-zimbabwe~a3212662/ Tom Saintfiet Interview]

{{Current managers of CAF national teams}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Gambia squads
| bg        = #0C1C8C
| fg        = white
| bordercolor = #CE1126
| list =
{{Gambia squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Gambia squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Managerial positions
|list1=
{{Al-Gharafa managers}}
{{Rovaniemen Palloseura managers}}
{{Namibia national football team managers}}
{{Zimbabwe national football team managers}}
{{Ethiopia national football team managers}}
{{Yemen national football team managers}}
{{Malawi national football team managers}}
{{Togo national football team managers}}
{{Bangladesh national football team managers}}
{{Trinidad and Tobago national football team managers}}
{{Malta national football team managers}}
{{Gambia national football team managers}}
{{Philippines national football team managers}}
{{Mali national football team managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saintfiet, Tom}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Belgian football managers]]
[[Category:Al-Gharafa SC managers]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Ethiopia national football team managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Finland]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Jordan]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Malawi]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Namibia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Qatar]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Togo]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Yemen]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer managers in South Africa]]
[[Category:Free State Stars F.C. managers]]
[[Category:K.F.C. Lommel S.K. players]]
[[Category:Malawi national football team managers]]
[[Category:Namibia national football team managers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Mol, Belgium]]
[[Category:Rovaniemen Palloseura managers]]
[[Category:Yemen national football team managers]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe national football team managers]]
[[Category:Gambia national football team managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the Gambia]]
[[Category:Bangladesh national football team managers]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Gambia]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Belgian men's footballers]]
[[Category:BV Cloppenburg managers]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Yemen]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Finland]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Jordan]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Namibia]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Togo]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Malta]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Malawi]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Footballers from Antwerp Province]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations managers]]
[[Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations managers]]
[[Category:Veikkausliiga managers]]
[[Category:K. Stade Leuven players]]