François Van Der Elst
Encyclopedia
François J. C. van der Elst (born 1 December 1954 in Opwijk
) is a former Belgian
footballer, who played as a striker.
Nicknamed Swat, his younger brother, Leo
, was also a professional footballer. Both were Belgian internationals.
, with which he would go on to total 82 Belgian First Division goals, surpassing 100 overall; in 1976, he was part of the 1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup-winning squad, netting twice in the final against West Ham United
(4–2) and, in the following season's league, was crowned the competition's topscorer at 21 goals, as the Brussels
outfit finished in second position.
In January 1982, after a brief USA spell with the New York Cosmos
, Van der Elst signed with West Ham for £
400,000, proceeding to score 17 goals overall in his one 1/2 season stint; he finished his career back home, with three seasons with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen.
With Belgium, Van der Elst counted 44 caps
and 14 goals, helping the nation to second place in the UEFA Euro 1980.
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Opwijk
Opwijk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Mazenzele and Opwijk proper. On January 1, 2006 Opwijk had a total population of 12,239. The total area is 19.69 km² which gives a population density of 622 inhabitants per...
) is a former Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer, who played as a striker.
Nicknamed Swat, his younger brother, Leo
Leo Van Der Elst
Leo Van der Elst is a retired Belgian footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.His older brother, François, was also a professional footballer...
, was also a professional footballer. Both were Belgian internationals.
Football career
From 1969–80, Van der Elst played for R.S.C. AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, with which he would go on to total 82 Belgian First Division goals, surpassing 100 overall; in 1976, he was part of the 1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup-winning squad, netting twice in the final against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
(4–2) and, in the following season's league, was crowned the competition's topscorer at 21 goals, as the Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
outfit finished in second position.
In January 1982, after a brief USA spell with the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
, Van der Elst signed with West Ham for £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
400,000, proceeding to score 17 goals overall in his one 1/2 season stint; he finished his career back home, with three seasons with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen.
With Belgium, Van der Elst counted 44 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and 14 goals, helping the nation to second place in the UEFA Euro 1980.
Honours
R.S.C. AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
- Belgian First Division: 1971–72, 1973–74
- Belgian CupBelgian CupThe Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76 - UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
:1976, 1978 - UEFA Super Cup: 1976, 1978