Michael Beale: Former Rangers, Sunderland and QPR boss realising 'biggest ambition' managing in Europe with Belgium's Zulte Waregem

It's now just a brief bike ride along quiet Belgian streets from his home to the training ground and stadium but for Michael Beale it has been a winding journey to realise his "biggest ambition" of managing a club in Europe.

The former QPR, Rangers and Sunderland boss will take charge of his first game in over two years on Sunday when he oversees Zulte Waregem's Belgian Pro League opener at home to title challengers Genk.

It's a different challenge to what he has faced previously as a head coach, or in roles assisting Steven Gerrard in Scotland, England and Saudi Arabia, or working in Brazil at Sao Paulo. But it is one he has long wanted to take on.

"It was always a big ambition of mine to go and coach in Europe. It was the biggest ambition when I started coaching," said Beale, the former Chelsea and Liverpool youth team coach, who has worked with Gerrard at Al Ettifaq and then as a consultant since he was last in the dugout as a manager in February 2024.

There had been other offers to return to management before now but Beale says he saw this opening in West Flanders -in a Belgian Pro League with a growing reputation - as the right opportunity.