Role Footballer Name Fernand Goyvaerts | Playing position Position Forward | |
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Full name Fernand August Goyvaerts Deyrdey Date of birth (1938-10-24)24 October 1938 Date of death 5 April 2004(2004-04-05) (aged 65) Died April 5, 2004, Bruges, Belgium | ||
Fernand Goyvaerts (24 October 1938 – 5 April 2004) was a Belgian international footballer. He was an attacker.
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Club career
He made his début for the first team of Club Brugge at the age of 16. In 1958, his penalty kick against CS Verviers was decisive for the promotion of Club to the highest level in Belgian football. He left Club Brugge in 1962 after a conflict with the Romanian coach Norberto Höfling. FC Barcelona paid 5 million Belgian franc for him. Two years later, he was voted best foreigner of the Primera División.
One year later, Goyvaerts left Barcelona for Real Madrid, making him the only Belgian still to have played for both Spanish giants. Due to injuries, he was never really able to break through. He followed his coach Alfredo Di Stéfano to Elche CF.
In 1971, Goyvaerts returned to Belgium. He went from OGC Nice to Cercle Brugge. Goyvaerts would go on to play for SC Lokeren, WS Lauwe and RC Tournai.
International career
Though being one of the most talented Belgian footballers of his era, Goyvaerts only played 8 times for the Red Devils, his lone goal coming in a match against Netherlands. At the time, professional footballers were not allowed to play for the national team.
Retirement and death
After his footballing career, Goyvaerts worked as agent for several players. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage, aged only 65.