On Saturday the Lierse board has reached agreement with Aimé Antheunis to become their new trainer.
He has signed until the end of the season.

Antheunis (b.Lokeren, 21 December 1943) replaces Herman Helleputte, who relinquished his role as trainer last Thursday. He becomes technical director of Lierse.  
The new coach previously was in charge at Lokeren, Charleroi, Germinal Ekeren, Waregem, Genk, Anderlecht, the Belgian national team and Beerschot.

Aimé Antheunis: “My intention is really very simple: I've been asked to lead this squad of talented players into First Division. Nothing more, nothing less. I know the club and I know that this is not an impossible task. The results have perhaps fallen short in recent weeks, but then it's up to me to bring back the fire and spirit. I wouldn't have signed if I had thought that I couldn't succeed.”

Neel De Ceulaer: “Excellent news that Aimé will coach our team. A man with so much football knowledge and wisdom, and above all, experience. His CV says it all. I'm very happy and I'm convinced that with him, that we can go very very far. He's been Belgian football trainer of the year three times. That's not nothing. That Aimé has come to us on the day that we've won well against an always problematic Club Luik is perhaps symbolic for our comeback out of the dip in which we've been for a while.”

Maged Samy: “With Aimé we've acquired a class act. He's already proved his worth in the past. We know with him that he's able to get more out of his players than they sometimes realise themselves. This is currently the right man in the right place. We have first class material available, and we certainly have the ambition. Now it's up to him to realise this. I'm convinced that he will succeed in his task.”

Captain Jurgen Cavens:”Of course we all know Aimé. I also think that he's the man which this squad needs at the moment. The whole squad can play football, but it's his task to make the group a tightly-knit one, which will fight for each other. That motivation, that over-my-dead-body mentatlity has been missing recently. Maged Samy had said that a shock effect was needed. This is the shock. Now it's up to us to relaise the ambitions of everybody here.”

Herman Helleputte: “ I've been part of the negotiations with Aimé. I'm happy that we've been able to bring them to a successful conclusion. This is an excellent trainer, with a lot of experience. As the brand new technical director, I can only be happy about this.”

Antheunis watched the match against Luik amongst the Lierse supporters from the stands. On Sunday morning at 9.00am he'll be presented to the press.