After a season and a half in charge at Genk, Thorsten Fink has been relieved of his duties. The former Bayern Munich midfielder was let go by Genk following a 1-1 draw with Westerlo on Sunday evening. Fink’s first season in charge had seen the side finish top of the table at the advent of the play-offs, only to run out of steam as Union St Gilloise and Club Brugge surpassed them to battle it out for the trophy.

This season has not gone as well for Fink and Genk. The side started poorly, and while they seemed to recover somewhat a few weeks ago, the flaws of the early season have remained prevalent. The draw with Westerlo was the first game they have avoided defeat in since the 30th of November when they narrowly beat OH Leuven 2-1. Since then they have lost 3-1 to Anderlecht, 3-0 to Antwerp and 1-0 away to FC MIdtjylland in the Europa League. Clearly the 1-1 draw with Westerlo was the final straw and Fink required a positive result to keep his job.

He should certainly have suitors within the Belgian Pro League and beyond. His first year with Sint Truiden saw the side playing some of the most attractive and exciting football in the Pro League. Last year he did well with Genk, and may well find himself unlucky to have seen his best striker, Tolu Arokodare leave the club. Yet, the current Genk squad should certainly be doing better than six wins, six draws and six defeats in 18 games. The side are already 14 points adrift of Union St Gilloise at the top of the table.

Some Genk fans have already mentioned Nicky Hayen as a potential replacement, with the former Club Brugge man having been replaced by Ivan Leko recently. In the meantime, Genk are putting assistants Domenico Olivieri and Michel Ribeiro in temporary charge.