Suffering from Parkinson’s and dementia since 2016, he died of the illness in Zaventem at 3:30 a.m., RSC Anderlecht confirmed to the BELGA Agency.
In 2015, he confided in our columns about his health problems.
Van Binst, born in Machelen in Flemish Brabant, kicked his first balls at the age of 12 in Puisie before moving to FC Vilvoorde. He was then spotted by Anderlecht where he made his first team debut during the 1968-1969 season. Trained as an attacker, it was as a right back that he would experience the best years of his career.
In addition to national trophies, the RSCA had its hour of glory in Europe with a first Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976 against West Ham then a second two years later against Austria Vienna including a double from Van Binst for two of his 28 goals with Sporting in 262 matches.
“I gave my medal to someone, but I don’t know to whom”: Gille Van Binst remembers Anderlecht’s Cup Winners’ Cup success in 1976 against West Ham (4/5)
After a season-long reunion with Robby Rensenbrink, his former teammate at Anderlecht, in Toulouse, he returned to Belgium but to rival Bruges. His two seasons in Venice of the North were not crowned with success and he ended his career in 1983 to become assistant to the German coach George Kessler, whom he had already known at Anderlecht, still at Bruges but for one season . He then coached in the lower divisions but soon stopped to begin a career selling fabric softeners.
In private life, the former Red Devil was known for being an enfant terrible and never keeping his tongue in his pocket. He also had a sense of partying, whether during or after his career. Van Binst, never shy of anecdotes, also worked in the media doing interviews for Sport 80, the ancestor of Sport/Foot Magazine, and had a weekly column in Het Nieuwsblad.
