John Moelaert Explained

John Moelaert
Birth Date:14 January 1943
Birth Place:Bruges, Belgium
Death Place:Bruges, Belgium
Position:Left-back
Youthclubs1:Cercle Brugge
Years1:1962–1966
Caps1:85
Goals1:0
Years2:1966–1972
Clubs2:Club Brugge
Caps2:141
Goals2:1
Years3:1972–1974
Clubs3:Harelbeke
Years4:1974–1976
Clubs4:Eendracht Aalter
Years5:1976–1977
Clubs5:SV Wevelgem City
Manageryears1:1977–1978
Managerclubs1:Sporting Beernem
Manageryears2:1978-1984
Managerclubs2:SV Jabbeke
Manageryears3:1984–1988
Managerclubs3:Eendracht De Haan
Manageryears4:1988-1991
Managerclubs4:Excelsior Zedelgem
Manageryears5:1991–1995
Managerclubs5:Eendracht De Haan

John Moelaert (14 January 1943 – 8 March 2023) was a Belgian footballer who played as a left-back.

Career

Moelaert made his debut for hometown club Cercle Brugge on 23 December 1962 against FC Antwerp.[1]

In 1966, Cercle were relegated to second division. But more disastrous were the corruption rumours spread by Lierse player Bogaerts, who said he had been approached by someone of Cercle. Although Cercle formally denied these rumours, they were sentenced to play in third division, back to where they were five years ago. Even though Cercle's vice-president won a lawsuit against the KBVB, which declared him innocent in the corruption case, the damage had been done and Cercle remained at the third level of Belgian football. This caused Cercle to lose important players, a.o. Moelaert. He chose to leave Cercle for city rivals Club Brugge[2] alongside Gilbert Bailliu, a much-discussed transfer. He ended up playing 92 matches for Cercle in all competitions.[3]

He also became a regular at Club Brugge, totalling 141 matches for them.[4] He won the Belgian Cup with them in 1968, after defeating Beerschot with penalties and in 1970.

Personal life and death

After his playing career he worked as a representative in medical and physio equipment. Moelaert married Liliane Rosseel after his first wife died of an illness; with Rosseel he had two sons and a daughter.[5] They lived in Jabbeke.

He died of heart failure in the AZ Sint Jan Hospital in Bruges in March 2023, aged 80.[6]

Honours

Club Brugge

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.cerclebrugge.be/nl/news/shot-blikt-terug-op-john-moelaert SHOT BLIKT TERUG OP ... JOHN MOELAERT
  2. https://www.voetbalprimeur.be/nieuws/1069987/club-n-cercle-brugge-rouwen-moelaert-80-overleden-aan-hartfalen.html Club én Cercle Brugge rouwen, Moelaert (80) overleden aan hartfalen
  3. https://www.cerclebrugge.be/nl/news/oud-speler-john-moelaert-overleden OUD-SPELER JOHN MOELAERT OVERLEDEN
  4. https://www.clubbrugge.be/nl/nieuws/oud-clubspeler-john-moelaert-overleden OUD-CLUBSPELER JOHN MOELAERT OVERLEDEN
  5. https://kw.be/nieuws/samenleving/overlijden/voormalig-brugs-voetballer-john-moelaert-is-overleden/ Voormalig Brugs voetballer John Moelaert is overleden
  6. https://www.pzc.nl/brugge/john-moelaert-80-gedurende-tien-jaar-linksback-in-eerste-klasse-bij-cercle-en-club-brugge-overleden~a70b72f8/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.nl%2F John Moelaert (80), gedurende tien jaar linksback in eerste klasse bij Cercle én Club Brugge, overleden