Stéphane Demol

Stéphane Demol
Demol for Bologna in 1988
Personal information
Full name Stéphane Auguste Ernest Demol
Date of birth (1966-03-11)11 March 1966
Place of birth Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium
Date of death 22 June 2023(2023-06-22) (aged 57)
Place of death Brussels, Belgium
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1974–1980 Drogenbos
1980–1984 Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1988 Anderlecht 52 (6)
1988–1989 Bologna 21 (2)
1989–1990 Porto 31 (11)
1990–1991 Toulouse 33 (2)
1991–1993 Standard Liège 56 (5)
1993–1994 Cercle Brugge 12 (0)
1994–1995 Braga 3 (0)
1995 Panionios 3 (0)
1995–1996 Lugano 6 (0)
1996–1998 Toulon 27 (1)
1998–1999 Denderleeuw 6 (1)
1999–2000 Halle
Total 250 (28)
International career
1986–1991 Belgium 38 (1)
Managerial career
1999–2000 Halle (player-coach)
2000–2001 Turnhout
2001–2002 KFC Geel
2002–2003 Mechelen
2003 Denderleeuw
2004–2005 Egaleo
2005–2006 Standard Liège (assistant)
2006–2008 Belgium (assistant)
2008–2009 Ethnikos Achna
2009 Charleroi
2010 Aris Limassol
2010–2011 PAS Giannina
2012 FC Brussels
2012–2013 BEC Tero Sasana
2014–2015 Al-Faisaly
2015–2016 Hajer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stéphane Auguste Ernest Demol (11 March 1966 – 22 June 2023) was a Belgian professional football player and manager who played as a central defender.[1]

Demol amassed Belgian First Division A totals of 120 games and 11 goals over the course of seven seasons, mainly with Anderlecht and Standard Liège with which he won eight major titles combined. He also competed professionally in Italy, Portugal, France, Greece and Switzerland. At international level, he represented Belgium in two FIFA World Cups.

In 2000 he started a managerial career, going on to work in several countries.

Club career

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Born in Watermael-Boitsfort, Brussels, Demol joined local R.S.C. Anderlecht's youth system at the age of 14, moving to the first-team setup four years later and scoring four Belgian First Division A goals in just 17 matches in his first full professional season, as the Brussels side renewed their domestic supremacy.

Demol soon became noticed by several clubs abroad, moving to Italy for Bologna FC, but his breakthrough would arrive the following year, in Portugal with FC Porto: he scored an astonishing 11 Primeira Liga goals, and helped his team win the national championship.

Demol moved countries again after just one year, now signing with French side Toulouse FC, but he returned in late 1991 to his country after joining Standard Liège, where he helped to consecutive UEFA Cup qualifications, finishing second to Anderlecht in his second year.

Aged 27, Demol signed with Cercle Brugge, but did not receive regular playing time. He subsequently returned for another abroad spell, being equally unsuccessful for S.C. Braga, Panionios GSS, FC Lugano and Sporting Toulon Var (the latter in the French second division).

Demol ended his career in 2000 at 34, after playing one year apiece with FC Denderleeuw and amateurs SK Halle, in which he began his managerial career.

International career

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Demol played 38 matches for the Belgium national team and scored one goal,[2] heading home in the round-of-16 clash against the Soviet Union at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico (4–3 after extra time).[3]

Managerial career

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In 2005, after several brief head coaching spells,[4][5] Demol became assistant manager at former club Standard Liège, helping it to another runner-up position in the 2005–06 season, trailing, once again, Anderlecht.

In 2006, his good friend and ex-teammate René Vandereycken became the Red Devils' coach, and he invited Demol to become its assistant manager. He left the post two years later, returning to club action.[6]

On 2 November 2009, Demol quit R. Charleroi S.C. due to poor results.[7] On 15 February 2012, he was appointed at FC Brussels.

Death

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Demol died from a cardiac arrest on 22 June 2023, at the age of 57.[8]

Career statistics

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Score and result list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Demol's goal.
International goal scored by Stéphane Demol
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 June 1986 Estadio León, León, Mexico  Soviet Union 3–2 4–3 (a.e.t.) 1986 FIFA World Cup[3]

Honours

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Player

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Anderlecht[9]

Porto[10]

Standard Liège[11]

Belgium

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ «Sair do FC Porto foi o meu maior erro, passei a beber muito» maisfutebol.iol.pt
  2. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (16 July 2009). "Belgium – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b "4–3: La prórroga clasificó a Bélgica" [4–3: Extra time qualified Belgium] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 16 June 1986. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Egaleo eager to shine". UEFA.com. 21 October 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Demol models 2008 range". UEFA.com. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Vandereycken zoekt job in het buitenland" [Vandereycken looking for job abroad] (in Dutch). Sport Voetbal Magazine. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  7. ^ Demol: «Nos points de vue respectifs étaient divergents» (Demol: «We had different points of view») Archived 4 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine; Footgoal, 2 November 2009 (in French)
  8. ^ Voormalig Rode Duivel Stéphane Demol is overleden op 57-jarige leeftijd
  9. ^ "RSC Anderlecht | Palmares" (in Dutch).
  10. ^ "FC Porto | Palmarès" (in Portuguese).
  11. ^ "Standard de Liège | Palmares" (in French).
  12. ^ "FIFA 1986 World Cup". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016.
  13. ^ "BigSoccer - All star teams of 1986 World Cup".
  14. ^ "Stéphane Demol: «O Club Brugge é como o Benfica, quero a vitória do FC Porto»" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 10 October 2022.
  15. ^ "World Soccer Magazine".
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