Julien Kialunda

Julien Kialunda (24 April 1940 – 14 September 1987^[1]) was a Congolese footballer. He was one of the first Congolese footballers to play professionally in Europe.^[2] He represented Zaire at the 1972 African Cup of Nations.^[3]

Julien Kialunda

Kialunda with Anderlecht
Personal information
Date of birth	(1940-04-24)24 April 1940
Place of birth	Matadi, Belgian Congo
Date of death	14 September 1987(1987-09-14) (aged 47)
Place of death	Antwerp, Belgium
Position(s)	Central defender
Youth career
1960	Daring Léopoldville
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1965	Union Saint-Gilloise
1965–1973	Anderlecht	123	(3)
1973–1980	Léopold FC
International career
1972	Zaire	5	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Kialunda played for Union Saint-Gilloise, RSC Anderlecht and Léopold FC in Belgium.^[1] He was a four-time Belgian league champion with Anderlecht.

International career

Kialunda represented Zaire at the 1972 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, starting in all five of his team's matches as Zaire finished fourth.^[3]

Post-career

After his retirement, Kialunda as the national coach of the Zaire national team, though without much success. He also owned a cafe in the Brussels neighborhood of Matonge, known for its predominantly African population. In 1987, after falling ill with AIDS, he returned to Belgium for treatment and died on 14 September of that year.

In his memory, the "Julien Kialunda Foundation" was established, dedicated to supporting worthy causes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The foundation is sponsored by professional players of African origin who play or grew up in Belgium, like the brothers Mbo and Émile Mpenza, Mohammed Tchité and Anthony Vanden Borre.^[4]

Honours

Union Saint-Gilloise

• Belgian Second Division: 1963–64

Anderlecht

• Belgian First Division: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1971–72
• Belgian Cup: 1971–72, 1972–73
• Belgian League Cup: 1973
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runners-up: 1969–70