François Van der Elst

François Van der Elst was a Belgian footballer who played as a right winger. Van der Elst was born in Opwijk, Flemish Brabant. With Anderlecht he won two national titles and four cups between 1971 and 1980. Van der Elst won the European Cup Winners’ Cup twice, in 1976 and 1978. He also helped Belgium to second place in the 1980 European Championships and was part of the World Cup squad at Spain ’82. After his career, Van der Elst owned a snooker and billiards bar in his hometown of Opwijk. On New Years’ Day he collapsed and was resuscitated by a medical emergency team before being placed in an induced coma. A period of intensive care eventually lead to his death from the sustained heart damage at the age of 62.