Filip De Wilde

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Filip de Wilde (born July 5, 1964) was a Belgian football goalkeeper, who was on the squad of the Belgium national football team in three FIFA World Cups: 1990, 1994 and 1998. At the age of nine, he entered Eendracht Zele before joining the famous K.S.K. Beveren goalkeeper school in 1980. He then signed for R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1987, where he became a legend.

He then left the club for a period of two years to play in Portugal for Sporting Clube de Portugal, in 1996-97 and 1997-98, before returning home to Anderlecht in April 1998 for the rest of that season and five more. In January 2004 he joined, at 39, Lokeren, for his two final seasons as a professional footballer, following a brief stint with Austria's Sturm Graz, although he did join, for a period of two months in April 2005, lowly club Verbroedering Geel.

He played the first of his 33 matches with the Red Devils against Denmark in a 1989 friendly, where he replaced Gilbert Bodart at half-time. He went on to represent his country in three World Cups, the first two as a backup goalie to Michel Preud'homme. After the latter's retirement, he became first-choice, playing in 1998 edition of World Cup. His last international appearance was a sour one, as the match Belgium-Turkey at the 2000 UEFA European Championship was lost by the hosts 2-0 and De Wilde was sent off with five minutes to go. Belgium was eliminated in the first round.

Preceded by
Dany Verlinden
Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year
1994
Succeeded by
Gilbert Bodart
Preceded by
Vedran Runje
Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year
2000
Succeeded by
Vedran Runje