Brugge president dies

Michel Van Maele, president of Club Brugge KV and former mayor of the city of Bruges, has died after a long illness. He was 82, and had spent the last month in hospital suffering with lung problems.

Youngest mayor
The charismatic president was born on 2 October 1921 in Sint-Michiels in a farmer's family with nine children. However, he quickly rose to prominence, and at 25 he became mayor of Sint Michels, the youngest mayor in Belgian history.

Stadium development
Van Maele later went on to command the same position in Bruges and played a key role in the building of the local stadium, which was first known as the Olympia stadium before later becoming the Jan Breydel stadium, for the city's two football teams, Club Brügge and Cercle Brugge KSV.

Lifelong fan
On 20 April 1975, he joined the board of Club Brugge and became president of the club on 3 March 1999. Here Van Maele, who remained a Brugge fan all his life, quickly established a reputation for himself as a shrewd financial investor and a tough negotiator.

Content president
In April 2002, in one of his last interviews, he pronounced himself extremely satisfied with the club's achievements. "We have a very good young team," he said. "That is very important. I could not wish more for the moment."

Temporary rereplacements
Since Van Maele fell seriously ill at the end of last year, the club's general secretary, Jacques De Nolf, and general director, Antoine Vanhove, have assumed his responsibilities. There is no word yet on the identity of his permanent successor.