Georges Heylens

On the right side of Anderlecht’s defence, Georges Heylens gave Belgian football a full back built for endurance rather than ornament. Quick, disciplined and difficult to shake off in individual duels, he defended with close marking, repeated recovery runs and the concentration needed to survive against genuine wingers in an era of wider attacking play. Anderlecht provided the main stage for his club reputation, with league titles and European exposure confirming him as one of Belgium’s most dependable defenders of the 1960s. He was not a modern attacking full back with constant creative output, and his game was more about timing and defensive resistance than spectacular delivery. Yet his balance, mobility and reliability made him valuable for both club and country. Heylens was a right back of work, speed and defensive seriousness, the kind of player who made his flank feel professionally closed.