Lei Clijsters
Encyclopedia
Leo Albert Jozef "Lei" Clijsters (9 November 1956 – 4 January 2009) was a Belgian
professional footballer, who played as a central defender.
Throughout his extensive senior career, the tough stopper was mainly associated with KV Mechelen, with whom he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
and the UEFA Super Cup. Also a prominent member of the Belgian national team, he was the father of tennis
players Kim
and Elke Clijsters
.
.
Subsequently, Clijsters represented K.S.K. Tongeren
, K. Patro Maasmechelen, K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk
, KV Mechelen and R.F.C. de Liège
. With Mechelen, he won the Belgian Cup
in 1987, going on to conquer the subsequent UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
and European Super Cup
. He added the Belgian League in 1988–89, always as club captain.
In 1988, Clijsters also won the Golden Shoe
award as league's MVP, and eventually retired with Liège at almost 37. Immediately, he starting working as a manager with former club Patro Eisden, then moving to K.A.A. Gent, K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
(July–December 1998), K. Tesamen Hogerop Diest (two spells, in 1999–2000 and November 2000 – June 2001) and Mechelen (July–November 2000).
Afterwards, Clijsters managed the professional tennis
career of his daughter Kim
. After her retirement, "Lei" became coach of third division
club Tongeren, with which he had also played, in October 2007. He resigned in January 2008, after his family announced that he was suffering from a serious illness. Details were kept secret, but in February the Belgian press reported it to be lung cancer
and that treatment was not working.
About one year later, on 4 January 2009, Clijsters succumbed to the illness at age 52. Upon his death, Belgian newspapers like Het Laatste Nieuws
revealed that he suffered from a recurrence of a malignant melanoma
which had spread to the lungs and other organs, having already experienced a bout of this condition twenty five years earlier.
and 1990
FIFA World Cup
s.
In the 1986 edition, as Belgium reached the last four, he only appeared in two matches (being used as a substitute in the 2–1 win over Iraq
and the famous round of 16 4–3 victory over the USSR.
In 1990, Clijsters saw action against South Korea (2–0 win), Uruguay
(in which he scored a stunning header in a 3–1 triumph) and England
(lost 0–1 after extra time).
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...
professional footballer, who played as a central defender.
Throughout his extensive senior career, the tough stopper was mainly associated with KV Mechelen, with whom he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The 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...
and the UEFA Super Cup. Also a prominent member of the Belgian national team, he was the father of tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
players Kim
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles....
and Elke Clijsters
Elke Clijsters
Elke Clijsters is a former professional female tennis player from Belgium.Born in Bilzen, Bree, the daughter of Belgian football player Leo Clijsters and sister of former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters . She won the girls' U.S. Open doubles title in 2002 and reached a highest ranking of 389 on 15...
.
Club career
Clijsters, a native of Opitter, started his football career with local Opitter FC. Later, he played for Club Brugge KV, but left the club after a disappointing two-year stint; he started his career as a midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Subsequently, Clijsters represented K.S.K. Tongeren
K.S.K. Tongeren
Koninklijke Sportkring Tongeren is a Belgian association football club based in Tongeren, currently playing in the third division. It was founded in 1908 as Cercle Sportif Tongrois. It received the matricule n°54. The club merged with K. Patria F.C. Tongeren to become K.S.K. Tongeren in 1969. ...
, K. Patro Maasmechelen, K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk
K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk
K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk was a Belgian football club from the city of Genk, Limburg .It was created in 1919 as Waterschei's Sport Vereeniging Thor with Thor being the acronym of Tot Herstel Onzer Rechten . It registered to the FA only in 1925 and received the matricule n°533...
, KV Mechelen and R.F.C. de Liège
R.F.C. de Liège
Royal Football Club de Liège is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège. It currently plays in the Belgian Third Division. Its matricule is 4, meaning that it was the fourth club to register with the country's national federation, and the club was the first Belgian champion in history...
. With Mechelen, he won the Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The 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...
in 1987, going on to conquer the subsequent UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The 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...
and European Super Cup
1988 UEFA Super Cup
The 1988 UEFA Super Cup was played between KV Mechelen and PSV Eindhoven, with Mechelen winning 3–1 on aggregate.- First leg:- Second leg:KV Mechelen won 3–1 on aggregate.-External links:* from UEFA* from RSSSF...
. He added the Belgian League in 1988–89, always as club captain.
In 1988, Clijsters also won the Golden Shoe
Belgian Golden Shoe
In association football, the Belgian Golden Shoe is an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian First Division for the past year. The trophy is sponsored by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws....
award as league's MVP, and eventually retired with Liège at almost 37. Immediately, he starting working as a manager with former club Patro Eisden, then moving to K.A.A. Gent, K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
Koninklijke Football Club Lommelse Sportkring was a Belgian football club that existed between 1932 and 2003. It played two spells at the highest level in the Belgian football league system: from 1992 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2003. Its best ranking was reached in 1997 when it finished...
(July–December 1998), K. Tesamen Hogerop Diest (two spells, in 1999–2000 and November 2000 – June 2001) and Mechelen (July–November 2000).
Afterwards, Clijsters managed the professional tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
career of his daughter Kim
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles....
. After her retirement, "Lei" became coach of third division
Belgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
club Tongeren, with which he had also played, in October 2007. He resigned in January 2008, after his family announced that he was suffering from a serious illness. Details were kept secret, but in February the Belgian press reported it to be lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and that treatment was not working.
About one year later, on 4 January 2009, Clijsters succumbed to the illness at age 52. Upon his death, Belgian newspapers like Het Laatste Nieuws
Het Laatste Nieuws
Het Laatste Nieuws is a Dutch language newspaper based in Brussels, Belgium. It was founded by Julius Hoste Sr. on 7 June 1888. It is now part of De Persgroep, and has a circulation of 292,410 copies, making it the most popular newspaper in Flanders and Belgium.- Comics :During World War II, The...
revealed that he suffered from a recurrence of a malignant melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
which had spread to the lungs and other organs, having already experienced a bout of this condition twenty five years earlier.
International career
Clijsters played in 40 international matches for the Belgian national team, participating at UEFA Euro 1984 and the 19861986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
and 1990
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s.
In the 1986 edition, as Belgium reached the last four, he only appeared in two matches (being used as a substitute in the 2–1 win over Iraq
Iraq national football team
The Iraqi national football team represents Iraq in international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association. They won the 2007 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup tournament.-The Golden Generation:...
and the famous round of 16 4–3 victory over the USSR.
In 1990, Clijsters saw action against South Korea (2–0 win), Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
(in which he scored a stunning header in a 3–1 triumph) and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
(lost 0–1 after extra time).