Pierre was the older brother of Raymond. He was a midfielder who played at Beerschot his entire career. Pierre was a fantastic dribbler. He took part in the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam where he played three matches as a Red Devil, and in the 1930 World Cup where he was Belgium’s captain. On 6 November 1951, Pierre Braine was walking in the park in Antwerp, sat down on a bench, fell asleep and died at barely 51 years old.

He was a star player at Club Brugge at the start of the last century and one of the most phenomenal players from the pre-World War I era. He played in central midfield in a 2-3-5 line-up where he could attack more than defend. He had an excellent header and showed acrobatic moves every now and then.

Clement was a central defender and defensive midfielder. A vacuum and a catalyst. A worker on the field, with rolled-up sleeves. At the same time, he was an intelligent player and leader. As a key player for Racing Genk, he made his debut for the Red Devils against Norway in March 1998. His performance landed him a place in the selection for the World Cup in France several months later.

His kicking technique was his trademark. Nobody could kick a ball as hard and accurate. His legendary strike against East Germany could be seen in the intro of TV show Sportweekend for many years. Coeck played with the Red Devils at the 1982 World Cup and the European Championship in 1984. Ludo had style, not just in kicking, but in everything, on and off the field: with a straight back, pride, presence. His life was cut short when he died on 9 October 1985 in a traffic accident at age 30.

Cools was widely appreciated for his physical stamina and mental persistence. Cools ran up and down the right wing the entire match. With Ernst Happel as manager, he became the main player at Club Brugge in the seventies. When Wilfried van Moer joined him at the Red Devils, Cools kept running and became his tireless servant. The European Championship in 1980 was his only big tournament. He did serve as our captain there

He made his Red Devils debut in 2006 as an 18-year old. As a young player in the starting line-up he was unable to qualify for the 2008 EURO’s or the 2010 World Cup. He did not succeed in qualifying for the 2012 EUROs, but became an important player with national manager Marc Wilmots in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup. He scored an important goal in and against Scotland.

He first showed his skills as an attacker with the Red Devils, but grew into a central midfielder over time. He was part of the Red Devils from 2006 through 2018 and is known for his ability to retain the ball and for his manoeuvrability.

Desmet was a fun-loving, strong attacking midfielder of SV Waregem who often played as lone striker. He made his debut for the Red Devils on 20 November 1985 in the iconic qualifying match in which Georges Grün headed us to the World Cup in Mexico, in “de Kuip” against The Netherlands. Desmet was also invited to Latin America and played three matches.

He excelled in reading the game and through his athletic stature. Dewalque was moved from attack via midfield to the centre back position at Standard. He often played with risk when playing the ball out, but his excellent technique ensured he rarely got into trouble. Intelligent and, as such, a great organiser. He was a starting player in the defence of national team manager Raymond Goethals and played the 1970 World Cup and the European Championship in 1972.

He evolved at Racing White into a football player who, over time, became eligible for the ‘White Duivels’ of Raymond Goethals. A hard worker with style who moved to Anderlecht after the 1970 World Cup, Dockx developed into the man without whom the star players could not shine and score. He became a super sub at the end of his career and was always ready to serve. He sadly passed away much too early, on 15 January 2002.

Tall midfielder who translated his aerial power into important goals. He was often a starter between 2007 and 2018 with essential goals in both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups as important references.

He was a midfield at Beerschot where he formed the spine with Gust Fierens and Staf Pelsmaeker. He played every match at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp and became Olympic champion. He also took part in the Olympic Games in Paris four years later. Belgium lost its first match 8-1 against Sweden in a match known as ‘the disaster of Colombes’.

He was the captain of the team that became Olympic champion in 1920 in Antwerp after opponent Czechoslovakia angrily walked off the field halfway through the match. He played at Union his entire life and made his debut in the national team after the armistice. He showed never-ending commitment in each match, but his body suffered as a result. He was plagued by injury after the Olympic Games. Hanse was also the first player to have his meniscus removed. He outlived his Olympic teammates and died in 1981, like a captain being the last to leave the battlefield.

He is likely the most representative figure of the glory days of FC Mechelen (now KV Mechelen). Hellemans was a strong, tanned man who was also a great swimmer.

On the field he played on the wing. A styled centrepiece who was integral to the national team, with appearances at the 1930 and 1934 World Cup. He was well known for his fair play but would not let anyone take advantage of that.

Jurion transformed from a frail and subtle player into a visionary and physically strong playmaker. He was a crafty and smart player, above all. He became a true leader at Anderlecht and the national team. He wore the captain’s armband 38 times for the Red Devils. He made his debut as an 18-year-old on Christmas Day 1955 with a 2-1 win over France. His first of nine goals came two years later against Turkey.

Lippens was an industrious, servant player at Anderlecht, which was the only team he ever played for. He was a hard worker who never went for personal success and preferred to be in the shadows. His motto was to win the ball and pass it. He never dribbled more than three men. He was often decisive from the penalty spot, all his penalties were on target. He also scored one of his two Red Devils goals from a penalty.

Mees was a gentleman soccer player and fixture at his club Antwerp and the Red Devils for many years. He was fiercely loyal and was never doubted. As an attacking midfielder he did not go for individual success but improved the team around him. He was very strong on the ball and ever-present as ‘right mid’. Mees was fair and loyal. He never questioned a tactical decision of the manager and the referees did not have to fear him either. ‘In every inch a gentleman’.

He was a versatile player at Union and defensive midfielder in the team that became Olympic Champion in 1920 and where he played all three matches. He made his national team debut as a 17-year old in 1911 and is one of the youngest players ever to appear for the Red Devils. He was known for his calmness in every situation.

Polleunis was an attacking midfielder at Sint-Truiden and RWDM, with beautiful technique, a wonderful kick and sublime pass. He won the Golden Boot in 1968 while at STVV. He also made his Red Devils debut that year in a 1-2 victory in The Netherlands, where he scored after only ten minutes. He would go on to score ten goals for the national team. He played in both the 1970 World Cup and the European Championship in 1972.

He played a marvellous match on his debut at the European Championship in France in 1984. Scifo was an artist on the field, but was heavily criticised at the 1986 World Cup. He excelled again at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, scoring a beautiful goal against Uruguay, and playing a fantastic round of 16 match against England, which the Red Devils lost due to a David Platt goal. Scifo and Ceulemans are the only former Red Devils who played in five big tournaments (European Championship in 1984, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cup)

He became a fixture with the Red Devils from his debut on 30 April 2001 in a friendly against the Czech Republic. National team manager René Vandereycken made him captain, but there was no room for the aging Simons in 2011 in the team of Dick Advocaat. Despite that, Leekens and Wilmots later called him up again. He was the first Red Devil to achieve 100 caps on 16 October 2012. Simons excelled in simplicity, first as defensive midfielder, and later as central defender. The less you noticed him, the better his match. He was a last-minute call up for the match against Estonia on 13 November 2016. He was brought on for seven minutes and became the oldest Red Devils player in an official match at 39 years, 11 months, and 2 days of age.

He, along with best friend Franky Van der Elst, became the trusted central duo with the Red Devils. He had an exceptional running ability and a presence both on and off the field. He was able to penetrate down the middle of the field, a quality that led to six goals for the national team. Staelens appeared in three World Cups (1990, 1994 and 1998).

Stijnen was a midfielder at Berchem Sport and later at Olympic Charleroi, which promoted to the highest division in two years (1932-1934). He was a goalscoring midfielder with 58 goals in 209 matches at the highest level. He played a more defensive role at the Red Devils and scored once. Stijnen was a starting player at the 1938 World Cup in France.

He was a pleasure to watch: stylish and intricate, Italian-like. This is how Paul van den Berg was on and off the field. His name has a lower case ‘v’ for a reason. He had an exquisite passing ability and a beautiful shot. He left the national team as quietly as he came. He was too civilised and cultured for football, an artist with football boots.

Van der Elst was a highly respected defensive midfielder who became a star in his own way. Franky was an exemplary football player. He was a workhorse in midfield but, above all, an intelligent player who balanced any lack of technique with authority and personality. An all-round football player with an excellent feel for positioning and timing. He played in no less than four World Cups (1986,1990,1994 and 1998).

He was a midfielder from Brussels who made his Belgian league debut in 1895 for Sporting Club Brussel. He was part of the team of the University of Brussels for the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. The team claimed bronze, but he did not play. He played his first official Red Devils match against France (3-3). He scored four goals for the national team in total. He died after a stabbing during a bar fight.

‘Four lungs, two feet and a big heart”, is the most used description Wilfried Van Moer. He made midfield players into stars. A status that was only for attackers and goalkeepers until that time. He was indispensable at both his club and the Red Devils. So much so that Guy Thys selected him in 1979, even though Beringen was fighting against relegation. As creative midfielder he was the missing link in a team in the process of rebuilding. He was 34 already, but the plan worked. Belgium, with Van Moer, qualified for the 1980 European Championship in Italy and even made it to the final.

He was a talented player with a soft touch, who moved from midfield (at Club Brugge) to the heart of the defence (at Anderlecht). He preferred to play it safe as central defender, not taking any risk. Vandendaele did not rely on his physical game, his class was enough, also at the Red Devils where he scored one goal. He played at the European Championship in 1972 in Belgium.

There are few people who understood the game as well as René Vandereycken. He played an essential role in the evolution of Belgian football. Smart and shrewd with passes of deadly precision. He was also a master in disrupting an opposing team’s attacks. He became the first defensive midfielder in the country, often merciless and intimidating. He eliminated the meek image of the previous generation of Red Devils. He played in two European Championships (1980 and 1984) and one World Cup (1986 where he was sent home after the first round). Vandereycken was and is a man of principles.

Yves Vanderhaeghe, player of Excelsior Moeskroen, was selected for the Kirin Cup by Georges Leekens after the 98-99 season, due to the absence of several players. Vanderhaeghe took the opportunity and, after the European Championship in 2000 where he started each match, got a transfer to Anderlecht. His everlasting commitment made him a starting player at the 2002 World Cup as well. He ended his national team career in 2005.

He was a midfielder at Cercle Brugge who made his debut in the national team on 5 May 1921 with a 2-3 loss against Italy. He took part in the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, where he was captain for both matches, against Luxembourg (5-3 win) and Argentina (3-6 loss). He remained captain until his last match for the national team, Belgium-France on 25 May 1930, a few weeks before the national team left for Montevideo to the first World Cup, without him. He is still the Cercle player with the highest number of caps.

As the engine of Lokeren, René Verheyen became a respected substitute with the Red Devils. The left-footed midfielder was much more than an average back-up player. The quiet man from Kempen was a type of supersub, often good for a final 15 minutes when miracles are still possible. He was known for his hard shot, especially from a standing still position, they were usually cannonballs. He played at the 1982 World Cup and the European Championship in 1980 and 1984.

He is the father of Gert and often remembered for the incorrectly disallowed goal in the fall of 1973, which caused the White Devils to miss out on the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. Jan was a technical, industrious, but also meticulous football player. He was a decisive player for Beerschot, but played more of a servant role in the team of Raymond Goethals, in service of stars Lambert and Van Himst. It led to a transfer to Anderlecht. Even when he was playing at Union in the third division, he would still be called up for the national team.

He was a promising player, along with Stéphane Demol, in the selection of national Guy Thys at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He was still a fixture four years later as left back/left midfielder at the World Cup in Italy. He had to deal with many (long-term) injuries in the years that followed.