He managed the Gambian national team from 2018 to 2024, earning a place in the top five list of best coaches of the year in the African continent in 2022 and 2023, voted by Confédération Africaine de Football.
Saintfiet has coached in several countries, including Belgium, Qatar, Germany, Faroe Islands, Finland, Jordan and the Netherlands.
In 2004, he coached the Qatar national under-17 football team to third place in the AFC U-17 Championship, qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the process.
[3] Saintfiet started off successfully with Namibia by beating Comoros and Malawi and playing a draw against Lesotho in the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup in South Africa in July 2008.
Saintfiet's achievements with Namibia include defeating Zimbabwe 4–2 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier and DR Congo 4–0 in a friendly.
[5] After being heavily linked with the job, Sainfiet emerged successful through a shortlist of 15 candidates and signed a four-year contract with the Zimbabwe Football Association on 1 October 2010.
In November, Zimbabwean immigration authorities refused to issue a work permit to the "Warriors" coach and Saintfiet was requested to leave.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) then appealed the decision taken by the department of immigration to turn down Saintfiet's work permit application for national team coach.
On 10 October, Zimbabwe played Cape Verde in Harare in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match, with the game resulting in a 1–1 draw.
From his base in Namibia, Saintfiet put in place the tactics and selected the national team squad that beat Mozambique 3–1 in the following match.
After being refused a work permit by the immigration department for a second time, he was forced to leave his role as head coach of Zimbabwe in October 2010.
Former Manchester City player Benjani Mwaruwari announced his international retirement immediately after Saintfiet was forced out of the country.
Within 10 days of taking over, he guided the Ethiopia national football team, composed of local players, to a 2–2 draw against Nigeria in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers.
In a full Addis Ababa Stadium, fans watched Ethiopia take the lead for most of the game, only for Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo to score in the 86th minute to rescue a point.
[7][8] After beating Madagascar 4–2 Saintfiet voluntarily resigned his position as head coach on 28 October 2011 citing disagreements with the FA.
After ten league matches into the 2014–2015 season, Saintfiet got fired after a dispute with the technical director and son of the owner, Kootso Mokoena.
At that moment the team was in eleventh place in the league, three points behind champion favorites Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits.
[41] On the same day Saintfiet's resignation from the Philippines job was announced, he was also named the new Mali national team head coach.
[42] The belgian tactician, since his arrival in the beginning of September 2024, managed the Mali national team to qualify for the African Cup 2025 as first in the Group I, with the stunning achievement of 4 wins and 2 draws, with 10 goals scored and just one conceded, resulting the best defense in Africa.