View source for Guy Thys

{{short description|Belgian footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Guy Thys
| image = Guy Thys (1976).jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Guy Thys pictured in 1976
| fullname = Guy Jean Léonard Thys
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1922|12|6}}
| birth_place = [[Antwerp]], Belgium
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|8|1|1922|12|6}}
| death_place = [[Antwerp]], Belgium
| height =  {{convert|1.82|m|abbr=on}}
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 1934&ndash;1939
| youthclubs1 = [[K. Beerschot V.A.C.|Beerschot]]
| years1 = 1939&ndash;1950
| years2 = 1942&ndash;1943
| years3 = 1950&ndash;1954
| years4 = 1954&ndash;1958
| clubs1 = [[K. Beerschot V.A.C.|Beerschot]]
| clubs2 = → [[Daring Club de Bruxelles|Daring Bruxelles]] ([[Loan (sports)|loan]])
| clubs3 = [[Standard de Liège|Standard Liège]]
| clubs4 = [[Cercle Brugge]]
| caps1 = 143
| caps2 = 26
| caps3 = 104
| caps4 = 107
| goals1 = 60
| goals2 = 12
| goals3 = 46
| goals4 = 41
| totalcaps = 380
| totalgoals = 159
| nationalyears1 = 1952&ndash;1953
| nationalteam1 = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1954&ndash;1958
| manageryears2 = 1958&ndash;1959
| manageryears3 = 1960&ndash;1963
| manageryears4 = 1963&ndash;1966
| manageryears5 = 1966&ndash;1969
| manageryears6 = 1969&ndash;1973
| manageryears7 = 1973&ndash;1976
| manageryears8 = 1976&ndash;1989
| manageryears9 = 1990&ndash;1991
| managerclubs1 = [[Cercle Brugge]]
| managerclubs2 = [[K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen|Lokeren]]
| managerclubs3 = Wezel Sport
| managerclubs4 = Herentals
| managerclubs5 = [[KSK Beveren|Beveren]]
| managerclubs6 = [[R. Union Saint-Gilloise|Union Saint-Gilloise]]
| managerclubs7 = [[Royal Antwerp FC|Royal Antwerp]]
| managerclubs8 = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
| managerclubs9 =  [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|BEL}} (as manager)}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[UEFA Euro 1980|1980]]|}}
}}

'''Guy Jean-Leonard Thys''' (6 December 1922 &ndash; 1 August 2003) was a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[football (soccer)|football]] manager, mostly known for being the most successful manager in the history of the [[Belgium national football team]] as he managed to lead the national side to their only [[UEFA European Championship]] final in [[UEFA Euro 1980|1980]] and a fourth–place finish at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="obituary">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1437904/Guy-Thys.html|title=Guy Thys|work=The Telegraph|date=4 August 2003|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref> With 114 games between 1976 and 1991, he is the longest-serving national coach in the history of the Red Devils to date.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 March 2025 |title=Bondscoach Guy Thys (1976 – 1989 en 1990 – 1991) |url=https://www.rbfa.be/nl/bondscoach-guy-thys-1976-1989-en-1990-1991 |access-date= |work=rbfa.be |language=}}</ref>

==Career==

=== Player career ===
Thys was born in [[Antwerp]] as son of Belgian international [[Ivan Thys]]. He started his career in the 1940s and 50s as a football player with Beerschot, Daring Molenbeek and Standard. Because of the [[World War II|war]], nearly five years of his career were lost.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Colin |first=François |date=1 August 2023 |title=Vandaag 20 jaar terug overleed Guy Thys |trans-title=Today Guy Thys passed away 20 years ago |url=https://dewitteduivel.com/vandaag-20-jaar-terug-overleed-guy-thys/ |access-date= |work=dewitteduivel.com |language=}}</ref> In 1952 and 1953 he played two matches with the ''Red Devils'', the [[Belgium national football team|Belgium national team]].<ref>{{cite web |date=14 May 2019 |title=General Information about the player Guy Thys |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/25871/Guy_Thys.html |access-date= |work=national-football-teams.com/ |language=}}</ref>

=== Manager career ===
He combined the activities of player and trainer for [[Cercle Brugge K.S.V.|Cercle Brugge]] from 1954 until 1958. In 1959 he performed the same functions for [[K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen|Racing Lokeren]]. He became a full-time trainer with Wezel the same year, followed by [[K.F.C. Herentals|Herentals]], [[K.S.K. Beveren|Beveren]], [[R. Union Saint-Gilloise|Union Sint-Gillis]], and [[R. Antwerp F.C.|Antwerp]]. Under Thys' leadership Antwerp was a finalist in the [[Belgian Cup]] and twice finished second in the championship.  

=== International management ===
Thys was appointed [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] manager in 1976 and remained in the job until 1989, managing the team for 101 games, 45 of which were victories.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 May 2019 |title=General Information about the coach Guy Thys |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/coach/25871/Guy_Thys.html |access-date= |work=national-football-teams.com |language=}}</ref> 
[[File:Training_Belgisch_elftal_in_Brussel_trainer_Guy_Thijs_(voorgrond)_en_links_Lamb,_Bestanddeelnr_929-4065.jpg|thumb|260px|Thys during a training of the Belgian national team, October 1977]]
Under his lead the ''Red Devils'' participated twice in the European Championship, and three times at the World Cup. In 1980, Belgium narrowly lost the [[1980 European Football Championship|European Championship]] final to [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in [[Rome]]. In the opening game of the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]], Belgium surprised the world by beating the reigning world champions [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] 1–0.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2017 |title=Het kanon van Erwin Vandenbergh: zes keer Belgisch topschutter en eeuwige glorie met treffer tegen Argentinië |trans-title=Erwin Vandenbergh's cannon: six times Belgian top scorer and eternal glory with goal against Argentina |url=https://www.hln.be/rode-duivels/het-kanon-van-erwin-vandenbergh-zes-keer-belgisch-topschutter-en-eeuwige-glorie-met-treffer-tegen-argentinie~ad93a291/ |website=[[Het Laatste Nieuws]] |language=nl}}</ref> In 1986 Belgium finished fourth in the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in [[Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web |date=31 May 2021 |title=Vandaag 35 jaar geleden, start Wereldkampioenschap voetbal 1986 in Mexico |url=https://gisterennogvandaag.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/vandaag-35-jaar-geleden-start-wereldkampioenschap-voetbal-1986-in-mexico/ |access-date= |work=gisterennogvandaag.wordpress.com |language=nl}}</ref> His team beat [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] and the [[USSR national football team|Soviet Union]], but was defeated by [[Diego Maradona]] and his Argentine team in the semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2022 |title=Why Diego Maradona against Belgium was his most complete display at the 1986 World Cup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3540424/2022/12/15/diego-maradona-belgium-1986-world-cup/ |website=nytimes.com |language=}}</ref>

[[Walter Meeuws]] succeeded as coach in 1989 him and Thys became a kind of technical director. However, Meeuws was fired after one defeat and two ties. Eight months after stepping down as manager Thys was re-appointed in early 1990 in order to take charge of the team for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |date=4 March 2022 |title=Italia 1990 - Belgium preview |url=https://italia1990.com/uefa/group-7/belgium/preview/ |access-date= |work=italia1990.com |language=}}</ref> The side duly qualified through the group stage and was knocked out by the [[England national football team|England national team]] in the second round of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 June 2024 |title=England v  Belgium {{!}} Round of 16 {{!}} 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy |url=https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/england-v-belgium-round-of-16-1990-fifa-world-cup-italy-highlights/c5ca9a00-cad9-44d8-9958-8ed7e3c7c422?gl=be |access-date= |work=plus.fifa.com |language=}}</ref> Thys retired again in 1991.<ref name=":0" />

==Death==
Guy Thys died on 1 August 2003.<ref name="obituary"/>

== Honours ==

=== Player ===

; Standard Liège'''<ref name="eurosport32">{{cite web|title=Standard de Liège {{!}} Palmares|url=https://standard.be/fr/palmares}}</ref>'''

* [[Belgian Cup]]: 1953–54

=== Player/Manager ===

==== Cercle Brugge ====

* [[Belgian Third Division]]: [[List of winners of Belgian Third Division|1955–56]]<ref name="eurosport5">{{cite web|title=Cercle Brugge {{!}} Geschiedenis|url=https://www.cerclebrugge.be/nl/geschiedenis-2|access-date=15 October 2020|archive-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102101900/https://www.cerclebrugge.be/nl/geschiedenis-2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Manager ===

; Beveren'''<ref name="eurosport322">{{cite web|title=SK Beveren {{!}} Geschiedenis|url=https://www.waasland-beveren.be/club-2/}}</ref>'''

* [[Belgian Second Division]]: 1966–67

; Royal Antwerp'''<ref name="eurosport323">{{cite web|title=FC Antwerp {{!}} Palmares|url=http://www.rafcmuseum.be/palmares/palmares.php}}</ref>'''

* [[Belgian Pro League|Belgian First Division]] Runner-up: [[1973–74 Belgian First Division|1973–74]], [[1974–75 Belgian First Division|1974–75]]
* [[Belgian Cup]] Runner-up: 1974–75

;

=== International ===
'''Belgium'''

* [[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 1980|1980]] ([[UEFA Euro 1980 Final|runners-up]])<ref name="eurosport">{{cite web|title=UEFA Euro 1980|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/seasons/1980/matches/}}</ref>
* [[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]] ([[1986 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Third place play-off|fourth place]])<ref name="eurosport2">{{cite web|title=FIFA 1986 World Cup|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605153554/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2016}}</ref>
* [[Belgian National Sports Merit Award|Belgian Sports Merit Award]]: 1980<ref name="eurosport4">{{cite web|title=Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20191107_04705232}}</ref>

=== Individual ===

* [[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer Magazine]] Manager of the Year: [[World Soccer (magazine)#Men's World Manager of the Year|1986]]<ref name="eurosport3">{{cite web|title="World Soccer" Awards|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wsoc-awards.html}}</ref>
* Coach of the [[:nl:Belgische Gouden Schoen 2003|Platina 11]] (Best Team of 50 Years Golden Shoe Winners): 2003<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=15 January 2004 |title=Aruna voted Belgium's finest |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/member-associations/BEL/news/0199-0f8452c4cff9-ecec98bb3aad-1000--aruna-voted-belgium-s-finest/ |access-date=8 November 2020 |website=[[UEFA]]}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*{{ill|Guy Thys Awards|lt=Guy Thys Awards|nl|Guy Thys Awards}}: From 2011<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Felice Mazzu wint de Guy Thys Award: "Heel belangrijk, want erkenning vanuit de voetbalwereld" |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2022/09/10/felice-mazzu-wint-de-guy-thys-award-heel-belangrijk-want-erkenning-vanuit-de-voetbalwereld~1662802627216/ |website= |publisher=[[Sporza]] |language=nl |publication-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>
*[[Royal Belgian Football Association|RBFA]] 125 Years Icons Team Coach: 2020<ref>{{cite news |title=Guy Thys désigné sélectionneur de l’équipe idéale des Diables Rouges |language=fr |url=https://www.lesoir.be/347741/article/2021-01-08/guy-thys-designe-selectionneur-de-lequipe-ideale-des-diables-rouges-video}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{RBFA player}}
* {{WorldFootball.net}}
* [http://home.scarlet.be/~tsd51501/THYS%20GUY.htm Profile at cerclemuseum.be]

{{S-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|BEL}} [[Jozef Vandercruyssen]]|title=[[Cercle Brugge#Top league goalscorers per season|Cercle Brugge top scorer]]|years=1955|after={{flagicon|BEL}} [[Frans Loos|François Loos]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|BEL}} [[Frans Loos|François Loos]]|title=[[Cercle Brugge#Top league goalscorers per season|Cercle Brugge top scorer]]<br><small>alongside [[Frans Loos|François Loos]]</small>|years=1957|after={{flagicon|BEL}} [[André Perot]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Belgium squads
|bg = #D4071A
|fg = #FFCE4A
|bordercolor = Black
|list1 =
{{Belgium Squad Euro 1980}}
{{Belgium Squad 1982 World Cup}}
{{Belgium Squad Euro 1984}}
{{Belgium Squad 1986 World Cup}}
{{Belgium Squad 1990 World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Guy Thys managerial positions
|list1=
{{Cercle Brugge K.S.V. managers}}
{{Royal Antwerp FC managers}}
{{Belgium national football team managers}}
{{Royale Union Saint-Gilloise managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thys, Guy}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Belgian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Belgium men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Belgian football managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1980 managers]]
[[Category:1982 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1984 managers]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Antwerp]]
[[Category:Cercle Brugge K.S.V. players]]
[[Category:Royale Union Saint-Gilloise managers]]
[[Category:Cercle Brugge K.S.V. managers]]
[[Category:Royal Antwerp F.C. managers]]
[[Category:K. Beerschot V.A.C. players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:Belgium national football team managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:R. Daring Club Molenbeek players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League managers]]
[[Category:K.S.K. Beveren managers]]
[[Category:K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian sportsmen]]