Trained as a civil structural engineer, currently retired but still very active, including in the soccer world with Club Brugge Foundation. For example, Chris is chairman of the steering committee. This steering committee consists of different stakeholders, each with their specialization. The steering committee monitors the smooth running of the Foundation and helps spread the Foundation's important social message.
The road to Club Brugge Foundation
Chris has been going to see the Club since he was 12 years old. Back then with his father and an older brother. In his younger years, his idols at Club were mainly Nauwelaerts, Hendrickx, Deurwaarder, Tierentijn, Watteeuw, Boone, Savat and Raoul Lambert.
As a student, he co-founded the famous spy head at De Klokke. A diehard Club Brugge supporter from an early age.
In the early 80s, Chris became involved in the operation of the PR Commission of Club Brugge, where he eventually became chairman. In 1998, he became commissioner of the Board of Directors, before becoming director in 2000.
When then chairman Michel D'Hooghe asked which part within the Club Chris was interested in, he chose the social aspect of Club. In contrast to his former career, in which he was mainly involved in "hard" matters, Chris joined the Club Brugge Foundation.
Function within the Foundation
As chairman and honorary director of Club Brugge Foundation and its steering committee, Chris is in regular contact with the permanent staff within the Foundation in order to keep in touch with the projects.
Chris was involved in the creation of "Allemoale Thope", the then name of the Foundation. The very first project created at that time was the Soccer Cracks, a team for children with autism. This was soon followed by many more diverse projects, many of which are still ongoing to this day.
Favorite projects
Chris' favorite community projects are the Football Craks, the G-Squad and Football Memories.
- Soccer Craks: This project is at the heart of how the Foundation operates. For many years, children with autism and behavioral problems have been able to come here to play soccer and do fun activities.
- G-team: in this group people with physical and/or mental disabilities get the chance to play soccer together. Every year we also have a big G-tournament organized at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
- Football Memories: there is a clear upward trend of the number of people with dementia, unfortunately. Nice that the Foundation wants to do something about this by collecting soccer memories.
Future Club Brugge Foundation
Chris is positive about the future of the Club Brugge Foundation. A solid foundation has been laid, on which we continue to build every year. The Foundation is run on a daily basis by a strong and driven team of 3, supplemented by the many volunteers.
Thanks to the Foundation, Club Brugge is a soccer club with a strong social role, with both feet in society.
Thank you Chris for your dedication, advice and blue-black heart!