Wim Walschaerts (born 5 November 1972 in Antwerp) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, mainly in Belgium but also in England for Leyton Orient. He could also play as a right-sided wing-back.

Wim Walschaerts
Personal information
Full name Wim Walschaerts
Date of birth (1972-11-05) 5 November 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth Antwerp, Belgium
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1990–1995 K. Beerschot V.A.C.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 K. Beerschot V.A.C.
1996–1998 KFC Tielen
1998–2001 Leyton Orient 125 (9)
2001–2002 KFC Strombeek
2002–2003 K. Berchem Sport
2003–2005 K.V. Red Star Waasland
2005–2006 RC Lebbeke
2006–2008 K. Berchem Sport
2008–2009 KFCO Wilrijk
? Ternesse VV Wommelgem
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Walschaerts began his career in the youth ranks at K. Beerschot V.A.C. in the early 1990s before moving to Second Division club KFC Tielen in June 1996. When Tielen withdrew from the league due to financial problems, Walschaerts was signed by Leyton Orient manager Tommy Taylor under the Bosman ruling.[1]

Whilst at Orient, Walschaerts was a first-team regular and scored some important goals, including FA Cup goals against Brighton & Hove Albion and Kingstonian. He also won two fans' Player of the Year Awards in 1998–99. He missed all of Orient's three matches in the 1999 play-off campaign due to suspension, but played in the 2001 Football League Third Division play-off final, which Orient lost 4–2 to Blackpool. He was the subject of interest from Luton Town, but remained committed to Orient until June 2001, when he signed for KFC Strombeek, again under the Bosman ruling.[1]

Walschaerts spent the rest of his career in his home country, playing with a number of Belgian sides before retiring in 2010.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Leyton Orient: The Complete Record", N Kaufman & A Ravenhill, Breedon Books, 2006 p. 258–9
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