Leo Clijsters

Former Belgian international defender Leo 'Lei' Clijsters has died at the age of 52 after succumbing to his battle with lung cancer.

Mechelen success
Clijsters was born on 9 November 1956 and started out at Opitter FC before moving on to Club Brugge KV in 1973. After spells at K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen , KSK Tongeren and K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk, he moved to KV Mechelen in 1986 where he was made captain and experienced the most successful period of his career. In 1988 he helped the club win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup and was named Belgian Player of the Year before lifting the Eerste Klasse title the following season.

International career
He collected 40 caps for Belgium between 1983 and 1991, taking part in three major tournaments – the 1984 UEFA European Championship, and the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups. He turned to coaching after his retirement in 1993, taking charge at several Belgian clubs including Mechelen. Clijsters' former coach at Mechelen, Aad de Mos, said: "We knew he was sick, but it can be too much at this time of year. Lei was our captain, on and off the pitch. He was a model example in professionalism, someone who never smoked or went drinking." He was also the father of tennis players Elke and Kim Clijsters, the latter becoming women's world No1.