Franky Van der Elst explained

Franky Van der Elst
Birth Date:30 April 1961
Birth Place:Ninove, Belgium
Height:1.84 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Youthclubs1:Blauw-Wit Lombeek
Years1:1978–1984
Clubs1:Molenbeek
Caps1:103
Goals1:5
Years2:1984–1999
Clubs2:Club Brugge
Caps2:466
Goals2:15
Totalcaps:569
Totalgoals:20
Nationalyears1:1984–1998
Nationalteam1:Belgium
Nationalcaps1:86
Nationalgoals1:1
Manageryears1:1999–2003
Managerclubs1:Germinal Beerschot
Manageryears2:2003–2004
Managerclubs2:Lokeren
Manageryears3:2005–2007
Managerclubs3:Club Brugge (assistant)
Manageryears4:2008
Managerclubs4:FC Brussels
Manageryears5:2009–2011
Managerclubs5:Lommel United
Manageryears6:2011–2012
Managerclubs6:Sint-Truiden
Manageryears7:2014–2016
Managerclubs7:Roeselare
Manageryears8:2018
Managerclubs8:Oostende (assistant)
Manageryears9:2019
Managerclubs9:Oostende (caretaker)

Franky Van der Elst (born 30 April 1961) is a Belgian retired professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He later worked as a manager.

During a 21-year professional career he played mainly with Club Brugge, being regarded as a legend there and briefly coaching the team in the 2000s. Also, he was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers, in March 2004.[1]

Van der Elst won 86 caps for the Belgium national team, representing the country in four World Cups and retiring at nearly 40 years of age.

Playing career

Born in Ninove, Van der Elst started his professional career at R.W.D. Molenbeek, earning his first call-up for Belgium in 1982. Two years later, he moved to Club Brugge KV and stayed there until he finished his career in 1999, going on to total over 500 overall appearances with the side (466 in the league alone); during four seasons, he often partnered in midfield his namesake Leo – no relation.

Van der Elst won the Golden Shoe twice in his career, an accomplishment for an eminently defensive-minded player. He also appeared in four FIFA World Cups from 1986 to 1998, only scoring once for his country in nearly 90 matches, in a 2–2 friendly draw against Norway on 25 March 1998.

Coaching career

After retiring at the age of 38, Van der Elst was appointed as manager at K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot. After four relatively successful years he was replaced by Marc Brys, and subsequently joined K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen.

In 2005, Van der Elst returned to 'his' Club Brugge, as an assistant, joining former teammates – both in club and country – Jan Ceulemans, Marc Degryse, Dany Verlinden and René Verheyen. He remained with the team when Verheyen and Ceulemans were fired in 2006, but was eventually shown the door the following year, with head coach Emilio Ferrera.

After a very short spell with FC Brussels,[2] Van der Elst moved to K.V.S.K. United Overpelt-Lommel, both clubs in the second level.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Molenbeek1978–79Belgian Pro League10
1979–8000
1980–8160
1981–82331
1982–83321
1983–84313
Total1035
Club Brugge1984–85Belgian Pro League331
1985–86342
1986–87340
1987–88320
1988–89341
1989–90341
1990–91343
1991–92293
1992–93321
1993–94200
1994–95290
1995–96300
1996–97292
1997–98320
1998–99301
Total46615
Career total56920

Honours and awards

Club Brugge[3]

1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98

1985–86, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1995–96

1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998

1984, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998[4]

1990[5]

1991, 1995[6]

Belgium

Individual

1990, 1996[9]

Notes and References

  1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm Pele's list of the greatest
  2. http://www.hbvl.be/nieuws/sport/voetbal-binnenland/franky-van-der-elst-moet-opkrassen-bij-brussels.aspx Franky Van der Elst moet opkrassen bij Brussels (Franky Van der Elst sacked by Brussels)
  3. Web site: Club Brugge Palmares. 8 July 2017 .
  4. Web site: Winnaars Brugse Metten.
  5. Web site: Amsterdam Tournament.
  6. Web site: Jules Pappaert Cup.
  7. Web site: FIFA 1986 World Cup. https://web.archive.org/web/20160605153554/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/. dead. 5 June 2016.
  8. Web site: FIFA.com. World Cup Moments: Franky Van der Elst . https://web.archive.org/web/20191009112345/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/world-cup-moments-franky-van-der-elst-2353497. dead. 9 October 2019. 8 November 2020. www.fifa.com. en-GB.
  9. Web site: Winnaars Gouden Schoen.
  10. Web site: Palmares Fair Play. 11 May 2008 .
  11. Web site: FIFA 100.
  12. Web site: Het beste Gouden Schoen-elftal ooit.
  13. Web site: 19 September 2021 . Roosdaal info . www.roosdaal.be . nl.