Robert Braet
Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Braet (11 February 1912 in Bruges – 23 February 1987 in Bruges) was a tall Belgian goalkeeper. He never played for any other football team besides Cercle Brugge. Braet is seen as one of the biggest monuments in the team's history. He was also part of the Belgian national team that took part in the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
Career
Braet made his debut for Cercle when he had just turned 18, in a 0-1 away win against Lierse. He would quite immediately achieve his place in the starting eleven. In 1948, when Braet finished his career as goalkeeper, he had made 352 appearances for Cercle. Only 5 players do better. Braet was also chairman of Cercle Brugge from 1967 until 1970. There are 3 other former Cercle chairmen who have ever played for the green and black side: the others are Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie (35 appearances and 5 goals), Léon De Meester and Edgard De Smedt (both 1 appearance and 0 goals).
Braet has named a trophy after him, which is awarded every 2-year to the person who has made himself voluntarily most useful for the team.