Guy Thys

Who was Guy Thys?

Guy Thys was the most successful Belgian national football manager in history.

Thys was born in Antwerp and started his career in the 1940s and 50s as a football player with Beerschot, Daring Molenbeek and Standard. In 1952 and 1953 he played two matches with the Red Devils, the Belgian national team.

He combined the activities of player and trainer for Cercle Brugge from 1954 until 1958. In 1959 he performed the same functions for Racing Lokeren. He became a full-time trainer with Wezel the same year, followed by Herentals, Beveren, Union Sint-Gillis, and Antwerp. Antwerp was successful under Thys' leadership, including winning the Belgian Cup and twice finishing second in the championship. Partly due to these achievements Thys was appointed as manager in 1976 and remained in the job until 1989, managing the team for 101 games, 45 of which were victories. Eight months after stepping down as manager Thys was re-appointed in early 1990 to try to ensure qualification for the 1990 World Cup. The side duly qualified and was unlucky to be knocked out by the English national team in the first match of the second round of the tournament. Thys again retired in 1991.