Vital Borkelmans (60) won titles and cups, was active at European and World Championships and was a trainer at home and abroad. He worked as an assistant to Marc Wilmots on the field with world stars such as Hazard, Courtois and De Bruyne, but now works with the interprovincial U16 of amateur club FC Knokke. Respect and appreciation were sometimes lacking for the former Red Devil, who is currently having anything but an easy time in his private life. However, it is not easy to destroy a former miner. “I’ve had to fight all my life.”