Nolle Badjou had to quickly become a Belgian national in the 1920s to play for the Red Devils, when it became clear that his father and his grandfather, who immigrated from The Netherlands, had remained Dutch citizens. Badjou was the Belgian goalkeeper in the first World Cup in 1930 in Montevideo and also eight years later in France.

He was the goalkeeper with the most appearanes for the Red Devils in the 1930s, with 39 caps. He was known for his calm demeanour in goal and just his piercing eyes could throw opponents off their game.

He was a goalkeeper at Racing Brussels in the 1920s. A powerhouse who was an amateur boxer as well, which was useful. In a time where goalkeeping added another dimension – from 1912 goalkeepers could only touch the ball with their hands in their penalty area – De Bie developed into the most popular goalkeeper in the country. His style was complete: flexible in all his moves, dependable with his hands and strong with his fists. He often played as third defender. De Bie became Olympic champion with Belgium in 1920 in Antwerp. Legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora considered De Bie to be better than him

He was a goalkeeper who got his start in Beveren, like Jean-Marie Pfaff and Filip De Wilde. He reached the top in part due to his determination and sense of responsibility. He was the back-up to Filip De Wilde at the European Championship in 2000 and became the undisputed number one after De Wilde’s retirement. He played an essential role in the qualification for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, where he played all four matches.

He was shaped in the unsurpassed goalkeeper academy in Beveren. Filip De Wilde embodied sober solidity. After the departure of Jean-Marie Pfaff to Munich, he seized the opportunity at Beveren, but competition remained intense. This continued after Jean-Marie Pfaff’s retirement, when Michel Preud’homme appeared as number one. Only with Georges Leekens did Filip De Wilde become Belgium’s number one, although he had to keep fighting biases and the ghosts of his predecessors.

Rie Meert supposedly played his best match as Red Devils goalkeeper in February 1952 at the Heysel against Italy, a 2-0 win for the Belgians. A match photo sat on the wall of his bar Green Park across from his club Anderlecht’s stadium for the longest time. Meert saved balls with swagger and bravery. He got his excellent reflexes from a career in handball. He was the number 1 goalkeeper of the national team after the war.

Jean Nicolay made a goalkeeper a full-fledged player. Until then, goalkeepers were only there to stop balls and kick them away, and for show. Nicolay was not afraid of spectacle either and was the first goalkeeper to play like a field player. A real all-rounder who possessed all the qualities a goalkeeper needs: strong on the line, fearless when coming out of goal, solid when punching and catching the ball. He had great reflexes and was a true character and winner. He was the first goalkeeper to win the Golden Boot.

He was undisputed the best Belgian goalkeeper of his generation. A true phenomenon, both on and off the field. He succeeded Christian Piot and preceded Michel Preud’homme, both formed at Liege. With Goethals, he did not make it into the national team at first. He swore by Christian Piot. Pfaff grabbed his chance when Guy Thys became national team manager and Piot got injured. With his unmistakable talent, he played fantastic matches. His reflexes and ability to stop penalties made him on of the best and most spectular goalkeepers in the world.

He was goalkeeper at Standard and famous for his versatility. He was good with high and low balls, was powerful and had excellent reflexes. He reigned the penalty area and impressed when coming out of his goal. He enjoyed the unconditional support of national team manager Raymond Goethals. This helped him radiate calm and confidence. Piot was a sober goalkeeper, he wanted to stop the ball in any way possible. He played a World Cup (1970) and a European Championship (1972).

He was the best product to come out of the renowned Standard school of goalkeepers, which had produced Jean Nicolay and Christian Piot in the past. Michel Preud’homme developed into the best goalkeeper in the country at KV Mechelen. He projected authority at an international level as well. At the 1994 World Cup he was chosen best goalkeeper of the tournament and thus of the world, thanks to his remarkable match against The Netherlands. He was third goalkeeper at the European Championship in 1980 and the starting goalkeeper at the 1990 and 1994 World Cup.