Roger Claessen

Roger Claessen (27 September 1941 – 3 October 1982) was a Belgian footballer who played as a forward. He finished as the top scorer of the Belgian League with 20 goals (along with Paul Van Himst) in 1968 while playing for Standard Liège.^[1] He played 17 times with the Belgium national team between 1961 and 1968, scoring seven goals. Claessen made his international debut on 20 May 1961 in a 2–1 defeat to Switzerland, and he scored.

Roger Claessen

Claessen for Belgium in 1962
Personal information
Date of birth	(1941-09-27)27 September 1941
Place of birth	Warsage, Belgium
Date of death	3 October 1982(1982-10-03) (aged 41)
Place of death	Liège, Belgium
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1954–1956	Etoile Dalhem
1956–1958	Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1958–1968	Standard Liège	210	(124)
1968–1970	Alemannia Aachen	44	(11)
1970–1972	Beerschot	7	(3)
1972–1974	Crossing Schaerbeek	58	(2)
Total		319	(140)
International career
1961–1968	Belgium	17	(7)
Managerial career
	RJS Bas-Oha
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Due to his lifestyle, he was nicknamed "Roger-La honte" (Roger-the shame).^[2] He played for other teams, like Alemannia Aachen^[3] Beerschot and Crossing Schaarbeek^[4] before retiring from football in 1974.

Claessen died aged 41.^[2]

He was voted Standard Liège player of the century by supporters.

Honours

Standard Liège^[5]

• Belgian First Division: 1960–61, 1962–63
• Belgian Cup: 1965–66, 1966–67
• European Cup: 1961–62 (semi-finals)^[6]

Beerschot^[7]

• Belgian Cup: 1970–71

Individual

• Belgian First Division top scorer: 1967-68 (20 goals)^[8]
• European Cup Winners Cup top scorer: 1966–67 (ten goals)^[9]