This Monday at the Bozar in Brussels, the Pro League held its first Hall Of Fame gala, during which 10 players were inducted as legends of our football. A list that includes some surprises!
This Monday, to celebrate 50 years since the creation of the Pro League in 1974, 10 players were introduced as the first inductees into the Pro League Hall Of Fame. These ten players were elected by more than 40,000 voters, and come from all the clubs in our Pro League (D1A and Challenger Pro League).
Remember that each Pro League club had at least one nominee, and some several – 6 nominees for RSC Anderlecht and Club Brugge, 3 nominees for KRC Genk and Standard Liège, 2 nominees for La Gantoise and the KV Mechelen, among others.
Here is the list of 10 winners and inductees into the Pro League Hall Of Fame. Nine of them were present on site, the only one missing being Vincent Kompany who is preparing for his Champions League match with Bayern Munich.
THE surprise of this list is perhaps Thomas Buffel, nominated by KRC Genk and who therefore joins the first 10 legends of our Pro League.
Jan Ceulemans (Club de Bruges)
517 matches in the Pro League, 227 goals, 96 matches with the Red Devils, 3x Belgian champion with Bruges, 2 Belgian Cups with Bruges. Golden Boot in 1980, 1985 and 1986.
Pär Zetterberg (RSC Anderlecht)
347 matches in the Pro League, 85 goals, 52 assists, 6x Belgian champion, one Belgian Cup, Golden Shoe in 1993, 1997.
Thomas Buffel (KRC Genk)
369 matches in the Pro League, 35 caps in the national team, Belgian champion in 2011, winner of the Cup in 2013.
Vincent Kompany (RSC Anderlecht)
88 matches in the Pro League, 89 matches in the national team, Belgian champion in 2004 and 2006, Golden Shoe in 2004.
Luc Nilis (RSC Anderlecht)
223 matches in the Pro League, 127 goals, Belgian champion in 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, winner of the Cup in 1988, 1989 and 1994.
Franky Van der Elst (Club de Bruges)
566 matches in the Pro League, Belgian champion in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 86 times Red Devil.
Wesley Sonck (KRC Genk)
325 matches in the Pro League, 133 goals in the Pro League, Belgian champion in 2002, top scorer in 2002 (30 goals), Golden Shoe in 2001.
Jean-Marie Pfaff (SK Beveren)
300 matches in the Pro League, Belgian champion in 1979, winner of the Cup in 1978, Golden Boot in 1978, goalkeeper of the 1986 World Cup.
Michel Preud’homme (KV Mechelen)
502 matches in the Pro League, Belgian champion in 1982 and 1983 (Standard), Belgian champion in 1989 (Mechelen), winner of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989 (Mechelen), 58 times Red Devil.
Eric Gerets (Standard)
320 matches in the Pro League, Belgian champion in 1982 and 1983, winner of the Cup in 1981, Golden Shoe in 1982, 86 times Red Devil.
