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My Favourite Shirt - Part Twenty Six

Part Twenty Six of My Favourite Shirt has Yorick Verlinden and his match worn Michel Preud'homme KV Mechelen Goalkeeper Shirt and life supporting Malinwa.

Yorick's prized possession. A match worn Michel Preud'homme shirt.

Why is this your favourite shirt? For me Michel Preud'homme was the best goalkeeper that has ever played for KV Mechelen. He played at the club from 1986 until 1994, these were the most successful years in the history of the club. He won many titles at KV Mechelen but also some individual awards. He won two times the Belgian golden boot (award for the best football player in the Belgian league) and four times the award for best goalkeeper in the Belgian league.

 

For me it’s really an honour to have a shirt worn by one of the KV Mechelen legends.

 

What a goalkeeper Michel Preud’homme was. How did you manage to get this shirt? The first time I saw this shirt was with another KV Mechelen collector. Of course at that time he wouldn’t sell me the shirt, it was given to him straight by the hand of Preud’homme himself. A few years later, I went to a website that sells Belgian match worn shirts, when a saw this shirt I didn’t hesitate and I immediately bought the shirt. Of course I don't regret my choice!

 

For all the readers could you tell us what happened in this match? (18/9/1990 Sporting (Clube de Portugal) – KV Mechelen)

After some successful years KV Mechelen played against Sporting in the First Round 1st Leg of the UEFA Cup. Unfortunately we lost the game 1-0, but Preud'homme made some great saves during the 90 minutes. In the return game we played 2-2 in our own stadium, so we got knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the First Round.

 

How many Mechelen shirts do you own? I have around 27 different Mechelen match worn shirts in my collection. Also 5 fanshop shirts signed. I collect more than just match worn shirts. Also old tickets (from European games), match pennants, old scarfs, match programmes... So actually everything that shows the history of KV Mechelen.

 

Are there any that you’re looking for in particular? Of course! There is one shirt on the top of my wanted list, but I don't think I will ever own one. The shirt is a match worn shirt from the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final. Ajax – KV Mechelen (11/5/1988). Mechelen won the final 1-0, by a header of the Dutchman Piet den boer. It’s one of the greatest moments in the club history.

 

But I am always looking for new Mechelen match worn shirts, old and newer shirts.

 

Why do you support Mechelen? We are a small club with a very rich history. I remember the first time I walked into the stadium, goosebumps! I fell in love with the charm of the old stadium, the incredible atmosphere… Since that day I have a season ticket and try to follow Mechelen as much as I can on away days, for years now.

 

What did you make of Mechelen’s season before the current break? We had a great season, came back from one year of playing in the Second Division. We managed to finish 7th in First Division. Normally we had to play one last game against Genk to decide who will get the 6th place and will play playoff 1.

 

Your best 1-11 in your time supporting the club? My best 1 to 11 of all time:

  1. Michel Preud’homme

  2. Lei Clijsters

  3. Pascal De Wilde

  4. Piet den Boer

  5. Eli Ohana

  6. Johnny Bosman

  7. Klas Ingesson

  8. Florian Urban

  9. Joachim Vandamme

  10. Sofiane Hanni

Erwin Koeman

Clik here to read other My Favourite Shirt Q&A's.

Interested in telling the world about your favourite shirt? Email topcornershirts@outlook.com and you will be sent the questions and asked to upload an image of you wearing or holding the shirt in your reply. You don't have that shirt? Not to worry! A picture of the shirt will suffice.

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