- published: 09 May 2016
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Marc Robert Wilmots (born 22 February 1969 in Dongelberg, Belgium) is a Belgian former footballer and current manager of Belgium.
In his club career, that started in 1987, Wilmots played for Sint-Truiden, Mechelen, Standard Liège, Schalke 04, and Bordeaux. At Schalke, he helped them to the 1997 UEFA Cup Final. His goal in the first leg was cancelled out by Internazionale in the second leg, but Schalke went on to win the game on penalties, with Wilmots scoring the decisive kick. He retired in 2003, after his second stint with Schalke.
For Belgium, Wilmots scored 28 goals in 70 caps, his first coming in May 1990. He played in four World Cups, going scoreless in 1994, but getting two goals in 1998 and adding three in 2002. Wilmots is Belgium's leading goal scorer in World Cup history. Wilmots also played in Euro 2000, when Belgium co-hosted the tournament.
Wilmots became a football manager in summer 2004 for Sint-Truidense, but was sacked in February 2005. On 28 September 2009, he announced his return to the Belgium national football team. From 1 October 2009 on, he served as assistant for Dick Advocaat and later for Georges Leekens. On 15 May 2012, Following the exit of Georges Leekens, Wilmots assumed the Belgium reins on an interim basis, with Eric Gerets ruled himself out of the running to land the post on a permanent deal.