On Feb. 3, the Club family said goodbye to former player José Reynaert. José was the last surviving player active before World War II in the highest division of Belgian soccer. He died at the age of 102. His children recently donated their father's private archive to the 'Club Archive', the partnership between the City Archive of Bruges & Club Brugge Foundation through which the blue-black sports heritage is managed in a sustainable way.
José Reynaert: a man with a big blue-black heart
José Reynaert was born on December 7, 1921 in Beernem. He started his soccer career at the local soccer club, where his father Achiel was president and where he played together with his brothers Lionel, Charles and Ghislain. In 1938, José transferred to Royal FC Brugeois, now Club Brugge, where he made his debut in the first team just under a year later, against Daring Brussel. As a right winger, he mainly played crosses, but he also regularly picked up his goal.
The Second World War thoroughly disrupted José Reynaert's career. He remained active in regional competitions, but towards the end of the war he was forced to work in the German weapons factories. Fortunately, he was able to continue playing soccer in Germany as well. After the war, he helped Club Brugge to the second division title in the first post-war season in 1946. In 1947 he moved to Eeklo, where he continued to play soccer for a time with local teams.
