Brussels (AFP)
The former Belgian player and Red Devils coach Robert Waseige died Wednesday at the age of 79, sparking a cascade of tributes in the world of football in the kingdom.
According to the RTBF French channel, who was the first Walloon coach in the history of Belgian football, "had been hospitalized for a week" because of "heart failure and kidney problems".
"Belgian football loses a great personality with the death of Robert Waseige," responded in a tweet the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.
"We will remember in particular the qualification (of the national team) for the 2002 World Cup in Japan-South Korea and the 8th finals against Brazil, and condolences to his family and his loved ones," he added. Francophone leader.
Robert Waseige, nicknamed the "Rocourt Mage", is best known for his coaching career as a player, where he played in three clubs between 1959 and 1973 (RFC Liège, Racing White Brussels and KFC Winterslag).
Born on August 26, 1939 in Rocourt, near Liège, he coached numerous teams in Belgium, including Standard Liege and Sporting Charleroi, and was named Coach of the Year three times in 1985, 1994 and 1995. He won only one League Cup (a competition that has not existed since 2000) in 1986 with RFC Liège, and a Belgian Cup in 1990 with the same club.
Appointed coach of the national team of Belgium in 1999, "Bob the coach" sees his team eliminated in the first round of Euro-2000, yet organized at home jointly with the Netherlands.
At the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, the Belgians are eliminated in the round of 16 against Brazil (2-0), future winner.
© 2019 AFP