From the Under-18s to the title match: Who is Michel Junquere, the man who will lead the club against Cercle?

“If there is someone who can take over for Hayne on Sunday, it is Michel Junquere.”

Praise from an unexpected quarter at the extra time table. There, Hein Vanhaysbrouck heaped praise on the T2 at Club Brugge.

“I hear a lot of positive things about him from those around him.”

During his playing career, Jonckheere was a reliable midfielder who played for KV Oostende between 2011 and 2020. After his long stint with Kustboys, he moved to KV Kortrijk for two seasons, where he finished his playing career.

“I saw that Michel was very technically skilled at youth level,” says his uncle, Kurt Bataille. “I thought then that he would reach the highest level through pure technique, but his perseverance and character also brought him to this level.”

Immediately after retiring from football, Junkere became coach of his old love KVO’s under-18 team. He soon became the assistant coach of the first team. For a while he even commanded the Coast with his uncle Kurt.

“Michel and I were like two of us, we were very in sync,” says his teammate Bataille. “I saw immediately that his strengths as a player, his perseverance and discipline, were also his assets as a coach.”

“His coaching during the short time in Ostend was very effective. He kept it simple and the players quickly followed what we wanted from them. Michel knows what he wants and has a clear philosophy that the players can easily learn.”

Quality that never stays under the radar in Bruges.

At the start of this year, the 34-year-old former footballer moved to the club to become coach of the under-18s. Two months later, Nicky Hayne took him under his wing as a T2 player with the first team.

“It all happened so suddenly and so quickly once he ended up at the club,” Bataille realizes. “Of course this doesn’t happen on its own, it shows he has the qualities.”

Shows motivation to achieve the highest possible level.

“He really has the ambition to reach the top. However, Michel will always remain rational and figure everything out step by step.”

According to Bataille, Junkeré has his feet on the ground. “He will never exaggerate and always listens to everyone. I think this makes him the best coach in the future.”

So his uncle is confident the blue and black will cross the line on Sunday with T2 at the wheel.

“I hear him almost every day and you notice that he is under some pressure, but that is of course completely normal for such an important match. Michel handles this very well, he remains calm about it and he will say as always: with all his energy and commitment.”

We will find out on Sunday whether Bataille will now also see his nephew become a champion with Antwerp, a year after his son Gilly.