Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht bids farewell to Gilbert ‘Gille’ Van Binst. The icon of Sporting and Belgian football passed away last night after a long illness, at the age of 73. Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht extends its heartfelt condolences to Gille’s family and friends.
Gilbert Van Binst was born on July 5, 1951, in Machelen, near Brussels. ‘Gille’ began his football career at KFC Peutie before moving to Vilvoorde, where he caught Sporting’s attention thanks to his exceptional qualities as a forward. At 15, he joined Anderlecht’s youth academy. However, due to an abundance of attacking players, he was converted into a defender (libero). After two seasons in the youth ranks, ‘Gille’ joined the first team in 1968, truly embodying the “Made in Neerpede” philosophy before its time. Following a serious injury to Georges Heylens, he was moved to the right-back position.
During his twelve years wearing the purple and white, the club legend played 354 matches and scored 45 goals. In addition to winning two league titles and four Belgian Cups, he also lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup twice and claimed two European Super Cups. ‘Gille’ played a pivotal role in the Super Cup finals against Bayern Munich and Liverpool, two of the most dominant clubs in Europe of the 1970s. In the 1978 Cup Winners’ Cup final against Austria Wien, Van Binst delivered a heroic performance, scoring two of Anderlecht’s four goals and laying the foundation for the Belgian triumph.
Still, his most cherished memory remained his first European victory at the Heysel Stadium against West Ham (4-2). “A first in the final, in Brussels, in front of 60,000 spectators, an incredible atmosphere. And best of all: I didn’t have to fly back, because I was afraid of flying,” ‘Gille’ once remarked with the sharp humor – often cynical, sometimes misunderstood – that defined him. Both on and off the pitch, he delivered impactful “tackles.” As captain in 1976, he will forever be remembered as the very first Anderlecht player – and the first Belgian – to lift a European trophy.
Thank you for everything, ‘Gille’. Rest in peace. ♔
