François Van der Elst

François "Swat" Van der Elst (1 December 1954 – 11 January 2017) was a Belgian footballer. He played as a right winger. He played from 1971 to 1986. He played for Anderlecht, New York Cosmos, West Ham United and Lokeren. He was born in Opwijk, Flemish Brabant.

François Van der Elst

Van der Elst in 1977
Personal information
Date of birth	(1954-12-01)1 December 1954
Place of birth	Opwijk, Belgium
Date of death	11 January 2017(2017-01-11) (aged 62)
Place of death	Aalst, Belgium
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
1965–1969	VCE Mazenzele
1969–1971	Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1971–1980	Anderlecht	243	(82)
1980–1981	New York Cosmos	43	(12)
1981–1983	West Ham United	62	(14)
1983–1986	Lokeren	57	(12)
Total		405	(120)
National team
1973–1983	Belgium	44	(14)
Honours Representing Belgium UEFA European Championship Runner-up 1980
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

On 1 January 2017, Van der Elst was put in an induced coma because of heart failure. He died from cardiac arrest on 11 January 2017 in Aalst, East Flanders. He was 62.