De Bruyne passes coaching badges as he looks to follow in Guardiola's footsteps

Kevin De Bruyne was one of 17 Belgium internationals to be awarded his UEFA A License on Tuesday - three years after the country's FA launched a coaching initiative.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez came up with the idea to encourage star players to complete their UEFA coaching badges on international duty following the World Cup in 2018, with the idea being implemented 12 months later.

De Bruyne, 30, and nine other current Belgium stars have completed the UEFA A course and were awarded their badges at a ceremony on Tuesday. The Manchester City midfielder has previously expressed a desire to follow in Pep Guardiola's footsteps.

Many former internationals - including former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen - have also completed the course. There's every chance other countries could follow suit, with UEFA head of development Frank Ludolph describing it as "a unique project".

"Roberto put the idea on the table after the World Cup," said Belgium Women assistant manager Kris Van Der Haegen in 2019, as quoted by the Training Ground Guru. "He said, 'How can we involve these players in the future of Belgian football?'"

Van Der Haegen added: "I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm of the players and the number of questions they asked and the number of emails they sent me afterwards... the idea is that when they finish playing, they will be ready to start the Pro Licence [the highest UEFA coaching badge, required to manage in the Premier League ].

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"Otherwise, it takes too long if you only start thinking about taking your badges at the end of your career - especially if you have had a long career. It will take three or four years, which is a long time if you go from zero."

Speaking in November, De Bruyne admitted playing under Guardiola has made him change his mind on a career in coaching. "When you have worked with a man like Guardiola, you look at this sport in a totally different way," said the 88-cap international.

"For the sake of football in my home country Belgium it would be good to pass on all that knowledge. This is why I am not saying no anymore to coaching. I have started a coaching course and I prepare all the lessons which I am told to do.

"At the same time I have to admit there are quite a few things I like away from football too... when I first met him at the club, Pep said to me 'Kevin, you belong with the best five players in the world'. That was his way to give me confidence and to motivate me.

"I have a very good relationship with the boss, but does that mean I would follow him anywhere? Let's say Guardiola would leave Man City in two year's time, then it does not mean I immediately follow him out the door.

"City stands for a style of football, a way of playing the game. That style does not disappear when the coach is not there anymore."