Albert was never considered a big talent but proved to be of great importance to his clubs and the national team. Albert made his debut back in 1987 and became a pillar in the team in 1994. Developed into an attacking-minded and tough defender with a golden left foot under national team manager Paul Van Himst, Albert was the match-winner against The Netherlands at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. His strong showing at the World Cup resulted in a transfer to the Premier League.

He was a defender at Racing Brussel, where he became a four-time champion and won the first ever Cup of Belgium (for club teams) in 1912. He played in Belgium’s first match across the channel in England (12-0 loss) where he had a tough time against his direct opponent. A legend, nonetheless.

He learned to play football in the streets of the Antwerp Kiel at the beginning of the last century, but went to play for Antwerp FC. Bastin was at his best when he was played the ball in free space. His speed made it impossible to catch up. With fellow townsman Rik Larnoe, he was pushed into the national team by the passionate football fans of Antwerp, just in time to win the Olympic title.

Broos was a central defender with a strong header and hard but clean tackle. Ever present, he had a long career that spanned three generations. He was brought into the team by Guy Thys in 1986 for the World Cup in Mexico. When big names were unwilling to take a penalty against Spain, Broos took it upon himself to take one. He kept his nerve and cleared the way for the decisive penalty by Leo Van der Elst.

He was a phenomenon of Belgian football of yesteryear, especially around Liege. He was a solid central defender who led the Belgian defence from the late forties until the late fifties.

Carré had hardly any competition at that position. A word play by late radio icon Jan Wauters: “Carré rules the carré” (square). He had a calm manner in his way of playing and was known as the ‘black panther’. He played at the 1954 World Cup.

Clijsters became a national team player after he managed to kick Paris Saint Germain out of the Europa Cup for Cup Winners with his club Waterschei. “If Guy Thys does not know him now, then he will never know Clijsters”, said commentator Rik De Saedeleer. Clijsters became a Red Devil shortly afterwards. That is how things worked in those days. Clijsters was very versatile, an excellent central defender, but a great midfielder at the same time. A clever player and master in winning the ball back. Clijsters played in two World Cups (1986 and 1990).

Michel De Wolf was a short, feisty and, most of all, unyielding wing back who would never give up. He always had to fight for his place. He played in the 1986 World Cup and the World Championship of 1994, but his big career only started when he was over 30. He was selected for the World Cup in Italy and scored one of the nicest goals of the tournament with an impressive shot from distance against South Korea. In 1994, at age 36, he was selected for the World Cup in the United States, where he played all matches.

He was the starting right back for the Red Devils for a long time, successfully fending

off strong competition from players, such as Bertrand Crasson and Régis Genaux. Deflandre regularly came to the rescue. Clearing a ball off the line pretty much became his trademark. One time, he even became goalkeeper when Filip De Wilde was sent off with a red card and all substitutions had been used at the European Championship in 2000 against Turkey.

He played in three big tournaments: the European Championship in 2000 and the 1998 and 2002 World Cup.

He was a gutsy young player who rose above himself at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He headed the Red Devils into the lead in extra time in the memorable round of 16 match against the Soviet Union. A man with a presence in the heart of the defence. Demol was also a starting player at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.  

He started as an attacker, but gradually transformed into a defender and left back at the big Standard of the early 1970s. In that period, he also made his debut in the national team for which he played ten matches and scored two goals as a defender.

At the home European Championships of 1972, he played in both the semi-final against West Germany and the third place match against Hungary in ‘his’ Sclessin.

With his character and personality, but also his strong physical abilities, he developed into a natural leader, both on and off the field. He made his debut for Raymond Goethals and became the starting right back for Guy Thys. Gerets was the type of right back who enjoys attacking. He came second with the Red Devils at the European Championship in 1980 and played three World Cups (1982,1986 and 1990).

He headed himself into history on 20 November 1985 when his goal against The Netherlands in Rotterdam made Belgium, and not The Netherlands, go to the World Cup in Mexico. It is one of the most iconic moments in Belgium’s football history.

Grün was a defender with a strong header who had already scored a header one year prior against Yugoslavia at the European Championship in France. His pragmatism and intelligence made him indispensable in the team of Guy Thys. He played in four big tournaments. Apart from the European Championship in 1984, he also played the World Cup in 1986, 1990 and 1994.

He was a passionate right back at Anderlecht who had to fight and defend himself. He was not the most talented of the greats around him, but built an excellent career based on determination and perseverance. Heylens never tired, he helped in attack and had a good header despite his smaller size. He was a national team player for 12 years before a broken leg ended his career in 1973. He played at the 1970 World Cup and the European Championship in 1972.

Hoydonckx was a left back at Berchem and Tilleur who became the best left back in the country and a fixture in the national team. He remained a national team player, even when he joined third division club Excelsior Hasselt. He took part in the 1928 Olympic Games and the World Cup in 1930. He played his last match for the national team on 26 November 1933 against Denmark to become the last player from the 19th century to appear for the Red Devils.

The leader of the Red Devils generation that took part in the 2008 Olympic Games and grew into one of the best national teams in the world. He made his debut in 2004 as an 18-year old and played an important role on and off the field until his last international match in 2019. He played the 2014 World Cup, missed out on the 2016 EUROs and led our country to bronze at the 2018 World Cup.

He got his sportive revenge at RWDM, after a failed start to his career at Anderlecht. He became an important player as well for the (White at that point) Devils, where he became captain and a starting player during the European Championship in 1972. Martens was a stylish, fair defender who often joined in attack and could deliver a good cross.

He was an excellent organisor, an ability he performed with much skill, both at his clubs and the Red Devils with Guy Thys. His defence stood. Meeuws led and guided them, corrected where needed. He played as much with his mouth as his feet. He was a master in setting a perfectly annoying off-side trap. He played the European Championship in 1980 and the 1982 World Cup with the Red Devils.

He was a robust central defender, a man with a beard who was always ready to battle. He knew his limits and never crossed over them. That was exactly the quality that made him so good and indispensable. He was the personification of ‘over my dead body’ or ‘no pasarán’. A symbol of tenacity. Millecamps was more known as ‘our’ national centre back of the eighties, than of his club SV Waregem. With Millecamps the Belgian defence was a fort. Every time he was selected, he started.

He was a defender at Antwerp and Beerschot who was not allowed to play the matches against Antwerp, while at Beerschot. Paverick was the only Belgian national team player who played for the Red Devils both before and after World War II. He was captain of the team from 1939 to 1946. At the 1938 World Cup in France, he played the round of 16 (his only match for the Belgians) which the Red Devils lost 3-1 against France.

He was a bulldozer with strong legs, he seldom had the ball, but was a master in pressuring opponents in possession of the ball. He knew his limits and was able to put his game in perspective. He became a Red Devils fixture in defence with national team manager Raymond Goethals. He was in the starting line-up for all 33 matches he played.

Renquin was a tough but technical left back who, along with Eric Gerets, formed the best pair of wing backs in many years at the national team. He had enough quality to start dribbling, even when playing out from the back. No one could match him for that position in his best years. He often stood out in a strong Belgian team. He played in the World Cup twice (1982 and 1986) and in two European Championships (1980 and 1984).

This ‘eternal Beatle’ proved his value for the Red Devils more than once. His only goal as Belgium’s main left back was of crucial importance for a place at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He still plays every week despite being well over fifty, still as sharp and with his hair flowing.

He was a defender at Daring in the era around World War I, and an inspiration of the Front Wanderers as a medical student who was sent to the trenches in the West of Belgium. This team of soldier players would play friendly matches in neighbouring countries during the war to benefit Belgian refugees. Swartenbroeks was also part of the team that became Olympic Champion at the 1920 Olympic Games.

Thissen made up the tough as nails defence of the big Standard of the 70s, together with Léon Jeck and Jacky Beurlet. He was an unyielding colossus who was quite quick and technically very able as a wing back. He often went in attack and scored as well. His most famous act was a shot on the post in the World Cup qualifying match at the Bosuil against The Netherlands. Thissen played with the then-called ‘Witte Duivels’ at the 1970 World Cup and the European Championship in 1972.

This small and feisty wing back of Lierse was always fully committed. He used his entire body to stop attackers and their shots. He drew international fame at the 1954 World Cup by stopping the legendary Sir Stanley Matthews. The 4-4 draw made Van Brandt the hero of the day. The performance was hailed outside of Belgium as well, and the small man from Lier was given a place in a European selection for Matthews’ testimonial.

Daniël Van Buyten was a strong central defender with a great header who scored regularly.
He was an undisputed player in the heart of the defence between 2001 and 2014. He played the 2002 and 2014 World Cup. He was the most experienced player in the team of national team manager Marc Wilmots in Brazil. He played the best big tournament of this career and was named best defender of the World Cup. He retired from the national team after the match that was also his highlight with the Devils.

He seldom disappointed at left back for the Red Devils, where he had to compete with Vital Borkelmans, Didier Dheedene, Philippe Léonard and Peter Van Der Heyden. Van Kerckhoven made his debut on 29 May 1996 in a 2-2 draw in a friendly match in Italy. His career in the national team was a relatively short six years, partly due to injury. He did manage to participate in three big tournaments: the European Championship in 2000 and the 1998 and 2002 World Cup.

Van Meir was present at four big tournaments, where he unfortunately only played a few matches. His debut came on 6 October 1993 with Paul van Himst in a friendly match against Gabon. He went to the World Cup in the United States the next year but did not come off the bench. He had fierce competition as a central defender, from the likes of Philippe Albert, Michel De Wolf, Georges Grün and Lorenzo Staelens. Van Meir was a central defender who scored frequently. He even became the top scorer at his club Lierse three times. He was in the selection for the European Championship in 2000 and the 1998 and 2002 World Cup.

Oscar Verbeeck is the younger brother Theo Verbeeck, one of the first presidents of RSC Anderlecht. Oscar played as a defender for Club Brugge and Union and played 27 times for the Belgian national team, where he was a defender, alongside Armand Swartenbroeks, in the team that became champion in 1920.

He is strong in one-on-ones and elegant in build-up play. He made his Red Devils debut in 2006 and became captain of the national team at a young age. He plays as central defender but has also shown his value at left back. He played the 2014 World Cup, had a strong 2016 EUROs and played in the decisive match for bronze against England at the 2018 World Cup.