 After his footballing career Verlinden remained with Club Brugge, as a goalkeeping coach, until his unceremonious dismissal in 2012.. From the season '18-'19 on he is the goalkeeper coach of Cercle Brugge.Verlinden played once for Belgium, and was called up for the squad at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.His sole cap was obtained on 25 March 1998, as he played the full 90 minutes in a 2–2 friendly home draw to Norway.