His former teammate and right-hand man on the bench at KV Kortrijk and Cercle Brugge Lorenzo Staelens responded to us about the death of his good friend: “The news was very surprising. I have spoken to him on the phone a few times recently, and his health has deteriorated. A month or two ago he had a heart bypass, and a week or two ago they also pulled some fluid from his abdomen. So those were not good signs,” says Staelens.
“I told him that we should definitely meet again when he was better, but unfortunately I didn’t make it,” he continues. “Glen was first and foremost a colleague for me on the field, and he subsequently became a good friend. After our careers, we saw each other often and we also worked together as trainers. He shaped a lot of my life. I remember him as one of my better friends, within football and outside of football. I will miss him.”
Glen De Boeck and Lorenzo Staelens. © MAARTEN DE BOUW Maarten De Bouw
KV Kortrijk responded to the death of their ex-coach via social media. De Boeck last worked at the West Flemish club. Spread over two visits, he played 55 matches under the dugout. “Unreal news arrived this morning. Glen De Boeck, barely 54, has passed away. Glen was head coach of KVK in 2017, 2018 and 2023. Our thoughts are with his family & friends.”
His ex-teammate Olivier Deschacht came back to De Boeck’s career at Radio 1. “I was very shocked by the news. I saw him before the cup final of last season and he still looked fantastic,” he says.
“Glen had a lot of setbacks lately and took it all a bit personally. At Kortrijk there was some laughter with him, and he took that very seriously. That’s why I think it’s a shame that he hasn’t made much contact with his ex-comrades from Anderlecht in recent months.”
PORTRAIT. Glen De Boeck, colorful figure on and off the field who rarely minced words
De Boeck and Deschacht were teammates in the Purple & White, but Deschacht also knows him as a trainer. “We have had many successes. We became champions together as teammates, but afterwards he also became champion as T2 under Franky Vercauteren. I also had him as head coach at Lokeren for a while,” he reports.
“Glen was certainly not always easy to work with. Everyone was equal. Not that I wanted preferential treatment, but I expected a little more after we had been through so much together. He was very strict, and that sometimes clashed.”
© BELGIUM
Our last interview with Glen De Boeck (54): “We were attending our father’s funeral and then our mother collapsed”
Yet Deschacht mainly remembers the beautiful moments. “You always remember the successes. The different titles are moments that you cherish,” he says. “I actually owe my career indirectly to him. During the warm-up of a match he dropped out with an injury, and I had to come on and played a good match. After that, my career took off.”
De Boeck played in the purple-white shirt for ten years RSC Anderlecht and subsequently started his coaching career there as T2 under Franky Vercauteren. As a player he won three titles and became the captain of the team. “A bolt from the blue. Purple and White loses one of its icons. Rest in peace, Glen.”
Former national coach and RSC Anderlecht coach Aimé Anthuenis reacted with surprise to De Boeck’s death on Monday morning. “54 years old is much too young to die. I would first like to wish his family a lot of support in this difficult time,” Anthuenis told the Belga news agency.
© BELGAIMAGE
Ex-football player and trainer Glen De Boeck (54) died after a brain haemorrhage
“After my period at Racing Genk, I switched to Anderlecht as a coach. Glen De Boeck was already one of the established names there. I was a coach there until 2002, after which I became national coach of the Red Devils. I then also included him in the national selection. I have to admit that we were not the best of friends. De Boeck has made a nice journey as a trainer after his playing career. To be torn away from life in such a way is particularly hard.”
Also the Belgian Football Association already responded to the unexpected passing of the ex-Red Devil. De Boeck played 34 times in the national shirt, including at the 1998 World Cup in France and the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Red Devil Glen De Boeck. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Goalkeeper Philippe Vande Walle was a teammate of De Boeck on the national team. “RIP Glen. Way too soon. Lots of strength to family and friends.”
Bee Cercle Bruges De Boeck achieved his best results as a coach. He started his coaching career there in the summer of 2007 and made a big impression with De Vereniging. He coached a total of 119 matches. “Thank you for all the wonderful moments you gave the Cercle family.
Rest in peace, Glen.”
Bee Waasland-Beveren De Boeck was on the bench as coach for 34 matches. “The club was saddened to hear today about the death of ex-coach Glen De Boeck.” After wandering around Beerschot and Venlo, the former international arrived in Waasland in 2012. After a tough first season in the top division, De Boeck saved the club from relegation. The collaboration was ended the following season after a difficult start. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Glen.”
De Boeck also coached nineteen games Beerschot in the 2010/2011 season. “This morning our club learned that former coach Glen De Boeck has passed away at the age of 54. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Glen.”
VIEW ALSO. Ex-football player and trainer Glen De Boeck (54) died after a brain haemorrhage
