Aged 10, Constant Vanden Stock already played for Anderlecht's youth teams. At the age of 14, he quits school and starts working in his parents brewery. He works himself to the top being in charge over the brewery Belle-Vue and RSC Anderlecht. He sold Belle-Vue to Interbrew (later Inbev) and he became chairman of RSC Anderlecht. He would stay in that position for 25 years. Anderlecht's current stadium is named after him.
Before the start of the Second World War, Vanden Stock starts playing football for the club Union Saint-Gilloise. Vanden Stock is a "selfmade man". Thanks to good investments and merges, he manages to build a 'beer imperium' with his brewery Belle-Vu. He ends his career as a football player in 1943 to concentrate on his company. Though he would still remain active in many direction boards of several clubs. La Forestoise is one of those clubs and from 1959 until 1968, he becomes federal coach of Belgium. After one year for Club Brugge, he succeeds Albert Roossens in 1971 as Anderlecht's chairman. He transforms the club into a family business and wins 10 titles and several European Cups. Though Vanden Stock was also being sued because of bribery. In 1984, he lent one million old Belgian Francs to the Spanish referee that was in charge over the semi-final of the UEFA Cup between Nottingham Forest and Anderlecht. In 1996, he stepped down as chairman and appointed his son Roger Vanden Stock to be his successor. For many years, he remained honour chairman.
Constant Vanden Stock died on April 19, 2008 after a long illness. He was 93 years old. Anderlecht applauded for minutes in the game after his death, chanting his name. His son, Roger, walked on the field to thank the fans...
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