Leo Van der Elst

Leo Van der Elst (born 7 January 1962) is a Belgian retired footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.

Leo Van der Elst
Personal information
Date of birth (1962-01-07) 7 January 1962
Place of birth Opwijk, Belgium
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
HO Merchtem
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1984 Antwerp 150 (25)
1984–1988 Club Brugge 123 (30)
1988 Metz 13 (1)
1988–1989 RKC 17 (1)
1989–1990 Charleroi 29 (1)
1990–1994 Genk 83 (10)
1994–1995 Eendracht Aalst 21 (1)
Total 436 (69)
National team
1984–1987 Belgium 13 (0)
Teams managed
1999–2000 Oostende
2002–2003 Eendracht Aalst
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed Belgian Pro League totals of 406 games and 67 goals over the course of 15 seasons, mainly in representation of Antwerp, Club Brugge and Genk. His older brother, François, was also a professional footballer, and both were Belgian internationals.[1]

Football career

Van der Elst was born in Opwijk. During his career he played for Royal Antwerp FC, Club Brugge KV (where he often partnered namesake Franky, contributing with five goals in 30 games to the conquest of the 1987–88 edition of the Belgian First Division A), FC Metz, RKC Waalwijk, R. Charleroi SC, K.R.C. Genk and V.C. Eendracht Aalst 2002, retiring in 1995 at 33; subsequently, he began a coaching career.

Van der Elst earned 13 caps for Belgium and was selected, alongside Franky, to the 1986 FIFA World Cup. There, in the quarter-final clash against Spain, he scored the penalty shootout decider after the 1–1 in regulation time.[2]

Honours

Club

Club Brugge[3]

International

Belgium

Individual

References
  1. Scholten, Berend (11 January 2017). "Belgium mourns François Van der Elst". UEFA.com. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  2. "1–1: Buenas noches, España" [1–1: Good night, Spain]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 June 1986. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. "Club Brugge | Palmares".
  4. "Winnaars Brugse Metten".
  5. "FIFA 1986 World Cup".
  6. "Homme de la saison belge".
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