Leo Van der Elst

Leo Van der Elst

File:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2012 Leo Van Der Elst 25-02-2012 10-36-23.png
Personal information
Date of birth	(1962-01-07) 7 January 1962
Place of birth	Opwijk, Belgium
Height
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)
International career
1984–1987	Belgium	13	(0)
Managerial career
1999–2000	Oostende
2002–2003	Eendracht Aalst
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

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.

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 national championship), 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 gained 13 caps for Belgium and was selected, alongside Franky, to the 1986 FIFA World Cup. There, in the quarterfinal clash against Spain, he scored the penalty shootout decider after the 1–1 in regulation time.

External links

• Club Brugge archives (Dutch)
• Leo Van der Elst at National-Football-Teams.com
• Leo Van der Elst – FIFA competition record
• Belgium stats at Eu-Football
• Worldfootball profile