Raymond Van Gestel (20 January 1930 – 17 April 2020) was a Belgian footballer, athlete and pilot.[1] He spent most of his career with Lyra.[2]
 Van Gestel in 1953. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 January 1930 | ||
| Place of birth | Mol, Belgium | ||
| Date of death | 17 April 2020 (aged 90) | ||
| Place of death | Mol, Belgium | ||
| Position(s) | Right winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1946–1948 | SV Mol | ||
| 1948–1958 | Lyra | 168 | (92) |
| 1958–1962 | Verbroedering Geel | ||
| Total | 168 | (92 ) | |
| International career | |||
| 1951–1953 | Belgium | 5 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editBorn in Mol, Van Gestel played as a right winger for SV Mol, Lyra and Verbroedering Geel.[3] In total he played 57 games in the first division scoring a total of 32 goals.[4]
In 1954, when Lyra were promoted to the First Division, he suffered a severe knee injury, largely ending his career.[5] In total he played 168 league games for Lyra, scoring 92 goals.[3][6]
International career
editDuring his career he also earned 5 caps for the Belgium national team between 1951 and 1953, scoring 2 goals.[3] Both goals came against Spain on 10 June 1951; the first goal was scored after only 17 seconds in the game, giving him the then-record of the fastest goal scored for the national team.[7][1] Following the game against Spain he was nicknamed Raimundo el rapido and he was close to a transfer to Spanish club Espanyol, but Lyra refused the deal.[8]
In 1954 he was selected for the Belgian squad for the World Cup in Zürich, but he could not join the team due to a military mission in Africa as a fighter pilot with the Belgian air force.[5]
Athletics career
editHe was also active as an athlete in the long jump and sprints. He was the Belgian long jump champion.[9] Due to his versatility he is one of the few Belgian athletes ever to compete in different sports at an international level in the same year.[10]
Later life and death
editVan Gestel was a Fighter pilot for the Belgian air force and flight instructor.[11][12] As an instructor he trained around 2000 students.[13] Together with his brother he was also one of the founding members of the Belgian Flying club Keiheuvel.[10][14]
References
edit- ^ a b Mon Van Gestel overleden lyralierse.be, 19 April 2020, source in Dutch
- ^ Voormalig Rode Duivel en luchtvaarticoon Mon Van Gestel sterft op 90-jarige leeftijd hln.be, 19 April 2020, article in Dutch
- ^ a b c "Raymond Van Gestel". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ Belgiumsoccerhistory (Peter Mariën), website in Dutch
- ^ a b Hoe is het met? Mon Van Gestel rtv.be, 24 juni 2018, article in Dutch
- ^ Broes, Hugo; Mariën, Peter (2016). Kon. Lyra TSV 100 Plus | De Slegte (in Flemish) (1 ed.). p. 294.
- ^ Nog meer straffe internationals lyralierse.be, K. Lyra-Lierse Clubmagazine, blz. 21, article in Dutch
- ^ Rode Duivel die na 17 seconden tegen Spanje scoort, is niet meer sporza.be, 19 April 2020, article in Dutch
- ^ Mon Van Gestel: held op het sportveld en in het luchtruim onderox.be, Jef Aerts, article in Dutch
- ^ a b Gewezen Rode Duivel en mede-oprichter van vliegclub Keiheuvel Mon Van Gestel (90) overleden: “Zijn veelzijdigheid was indrukwekkend hln.be, Wouter Demuynck, 19 April 2020, article in Dutch
- ^ Keiheuvel fly-in 2018 motorvliegen.be, 2018, blz. 6
- ^ Vlieginstructeur analyseert dodelijke crash nieuwsblad.be, 16 augustus 2006
- ^ Luchtvaarticoon en ex-Rode Duivel Mon Van Gestel (90) overleden rtv.be, 18 April 2020
- ^ a b Ex-Rode Duivel en bezieler Aeroclub Keiheuvel overleden gva.be, mto, 19 April 2020, article in dutch