Yahoo Sports Legends of KV Mechelen’s 120 years: Piet den Boer
This December, KV Mechelen are celebrating their 120th anniversary. Alongside an overview of the clubs fascinating history, we are profiling some of the legends of the clubs history. Piet den Boer could make the list purely for scoring the most important goal in the clubs history.
Den Boer was born in March of 1958 across the border in the Netherlands. The Dutch forward was born in Rotterdam and began his career with a handful of amateur clubs such as Xerxes. In 1981 he joined professional side Excelsior Rotterdam and quickly helped the side to promotion with 26 goals. Despite having offers from a number of other Dutch clubs in the top flight, the striker left to join Mechelen in the Belgian second tier. The side had money and were looking to bring in some quality to get back into the top flight.
With Den Boer up top, the side won the second tier in 1983 to return to the top flight. In 1986, the striker was joined by a number of quality players such as Michel Preud’homme, Lei Clijsters and Eli Ohana. The latter would prove a vital component in den Boer’s great goal.
With the quality they had, Mechelen became a force in Belgian football. They won the Belgian cup and qualified for the Cup Winners Cup. They beat the likes of Dinamo Minsk, St Mirren and Atalanta on their way to the final in Strasbourg. In their way stood the great Dutch side of Ajax. When Danny Blind got sent off however, Mechelen were able to really put the pressure on. It took them until the second half to finally break the deadlock. Fine work from Ohana out wide resulted in a teasing cross. Den Boer got ahead of his marker to power a header into the back of the net. It was the only goal of the game and would earn the striker cult status in Mechelen.
After scoring 93 goals in 236, still a club record, the striker departed Belgium in 1989 to join Bordeaux. Coming to the end of his career, den Boer only spent a year in Bordeaux before joining SM Caen. In 1991 he joined KFC Tielen in the lower reaches of the Belgian football system where he ended his playing career.
Den Boer left football for good after retiring. He has since returned to Mechelen and is currently involved in local politics in the city.
