Bernard Voorhoof
Bernard Voorhoof (10 May 1910 – 18 February 1974) was a Belgian footballer, the Belgium national team top scorer since 1940 with 30 goals in 61 matches.[1] He was joined by Paul Van Himst in 1974 who needed 81 matches to score the same number of goals. Both are now surpassed by Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard.
![]() Belgian Bernard Voorhoof (dark) jumping higher than everyone else, during the eighth finals of the 1938 World Cup. | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Bernardus Ludovicus Voorhoof | ||
Date of birth | 10 May 1910 | ||
Place of birth | Lier, Belgium | ||
Date of death | 18 February 1974 63) | (aged||
Place of death | Lier, Belgium | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1927–1948 | Lierse SK | 529 | (365) |
1948–1949 | R.R.F.C. Montegnée | 30 | (15) |
Total | 550 | (380) | |
National team | |||
1928–1940 | Belgium | 61 | (30) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Career
He started his career at Lierse SK and stayed there for 21 years. With Lierse, he scored 350 goals in 529 matches and won 2 Belgian First Division Titles and a third unofficial title in the shortened 1940−41 season. He also played one season with R.R.F.C. Montegnée before retiring in 1949, age 39.
Voorhoof played in the 1930, 1934 and 1938 World Cups, being one of six known people (5 players and 1 match official) to have appeared in all three of the pre-war World Cups.[1][2] At the World Cup held in Italy, Voorhoof scored twice in Belgium's 2−5 defeat to Germany on 27 May 1934.[3] These were the first Belgian goals in a FIFA World Cup, as the Belgian national team failed to find the net in 1930.
He held the Belgian caps record from 5 May 1938 (when he equalled the total of Armand Swartenbroeks) until 13 April 1958, when his total was surpassed by Vic Mees.[1] He holds the Belgian record of goals since 13 March 1938, when he equalled the total of Robert De Veen.[1] Paul Van Himst equalled his tally of 30 international goals for Belgium on 17 June 1972.[1]
Honours
Player
- Lierse S.K.[4]
- Belgian First Division: 1931–32, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42
- Belgian First Division: runner-up: 1934–35, 1938–39
Individual
- Former Belgium's most capped player: 1938–1958 (61 caps)[5]
- Former Belgium's national record goalscorer: 1940–2017 (30 goals)[6]
References
- "Bernard Voorhoof - Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- The other people were players Edmond Delfour, Étienne Mattler, Nicolae Kovács and Patesko, and referee Jean Langenus, according to official FIFA match reports. Patesko, however, is not listed in many sources as part of the 1930 Brazilian squad, shortening the list to four players.
- "Germany - Belgium 5:2". FIFA. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Lierse SK | Geschiedenis".
- "Vertonghen wordt zevende recordinternational van de Rode Duivels".
- "Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku became Belgium's record goalscorer".
External links