Wilfried Puis (18 February 1943 – 21 October 1981) was a Belgian footballer who played as a striker,[1] notably for Anderlecht and the Belgium national team. Puis was praised for his speed, agility and goal kicks which made him and Paul Van Himst a perfect match. A year after he ended his football career, he died of stomach cancer at the age of 38.[2]

Wilfried Puis
Puis in 1964
Personal information
Date of birth 8 February 1943 (1943-02-08)
Place of birth Ostend, Belgium
Date of death 21 October 1981(1981-10-21) (aged 38)
Place of death Ostend, Belgium
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1971 Anderlecht 267 (52)
1971–1972 Club Brugge 27 (1)
1972–1976 Lokeren 131 (10)
1976–1979 A.S. Oostende
1979–1980 V.V. Koksijde
International career
1962–1975 Belgium 49 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Puis was born in Ostend. While playing for Anderlecht, he won the Belgian Golden Shoe in 1964. In November 1971, Puis moved to rival Club Brugge. After one season, he was transferred to Lokeren.

International career

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Puis was in the Belgium-Netherlands match in 1964 with 10 teammates from Anderlecht after the substitution of goalkeeper Delhasse by Jean-Marie Trappeniers. In total, he played 49 times for the national team between 1962 and 1975, starting in the second half of a 3–1 friendly defeat to Italy on 13 May 1962. Puis played in all three group 1 stage games of the 1970 World Cup.

Honours

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Anderlecht

Club Brugge

Individual

  • Belgian Golden Shoe: 1964; runner-up 1965
  • Puis-Verbiest trophy (KV Oostende player of the season): from 2016[3]

References

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  1. ^ "RETRO Het verhaal van Wilfried Puis, 50 jaar geleden winnaar van de Gouden Schoen". kw.be (in Dutch). 22 January 2014.
  2. ^ "De vrienden uit Oostende herleven in Europa". dewitteduivel.com (in Dutch). 10 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Fernando Canesin krijgt eerste Puis-Verbiest-trofee". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 20 May 2016.
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