Aimé Anthuenis
Aimé Anthuenis (born 21 December 1943) is a Belgian former professional football player and manager. He managed the Belgium national football team between 2002 and 2005.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 December 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Lokeren, Belgium | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1970 | Racing Lokeren | ||
| 1970–1974 | Lokeren | 41 | (2) |
| FC Eeklo | |||
| KV Ertvelde | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985–1987 | Lokeren | ||
| 1987–1988 | Charleroi | ||
| 1988–1993 | Lokeren | ||
| 1993–1994 | Germinal Ekeren | ||
| 1995–1996 | Waregem | ||
| 1996–1999 | Genk | ||
| 1999–2002 | Anderlecht | ||
| 2002–2005 | Belgium | ||
| 2006 | Lokeren | ||
| 2008–2009 | Germinal Beerschot | ||
| 2010 | Lierse | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
After a career as a defender, Anthuenis moved into coaching, first as the head coach of Lokeren's youth sector, then rising to the position of head coach of the club's first team. In 1994 he reached the semifinals of the Belgian Cup with Germinal Ekeren, while finishing the national championship in 10th place. The next season he moved to KSV Waregem in the Belgian Second Division. Under his lead, Waregem was crowned league champion the same season.
In 1996, Anthuenis signed with Second Division club Racing Genk. He brought the club to the First Division that year, finishing second in the championship. The following season, Anthuenis finished second in the Belgian top tier, and won Genk's first Belgian Cup. The next year, he led the Limburg-based club to their first national championship, winning the 1998–99 Belgian First Division.
Anthuenis left Genk in 1999 to join Anderlecht. He immediately won Anderlecht's 25th title, also qualifying for the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. In August 2000, Anderlecht qualified for the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League by knocking out FC Porto in the last qualifying round. In the group stage they won their group, which included also Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven, and Dynamo Kyiv. Eventually, Anderlecht was eliminated in the second group stage, finishing third in their group. He finished the season by celebrating the club's 26th title.
Anthuenis won the Belgian Manager of the Year award for a record three times.