The 26-year-old striker from Club Brugge was killed in a car accident on Thursday morning.

8 May 2008

BEVEREN - Club Brugge striker François Sterchele has been killed in a car crash. The 26-year-old careered off the road in his Porsche in Beveren in East Flanders on early Thursday morning.

The accident happened at 3 in the morning. The Club Brugge player was dead at the scene.

The crash occurred on the Antwerp Knokke express road. Sterchele lost control of the wheel and hit a tree. He was travelling alone at the time.

Traffic experts say the first indications suggest that the soccer player was speeding in his Porsche. He suddenly veered to the right and drove into a ditch by the side of the road.

His sports car was then catapulted onto a tree. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.

François Sterchele was completing his first season at Club Brugge. Earlier, he played for Charleroi and Germinal Beerschot.

Sterchele was 2007's top scorer in the Belgian First Division.

He played for Belgium on four occasions.

A life in five seasons
Sterchele first came to prominence in 2004. Playing for fourth division Kelmis, he was the season's top scorer in that division scoring 24 goals.

In 2005, Sterchele helped OH Leuven to reach the second division.

Charleroi coach Jacky Mathijssen recognised a winner. In 2005, he gave Sterchele his first break. But it was only the following season at Germinal Beerschot that the Liègeois really came into its own.

Once again, he became the top scorer making 21 goals.

Last summer, three clubs tried to sign the player - Anderlecht, Standard de Liège and Heerenveen of The Netherlands.

In the event, Sterchele signed a five year contract with Club Brugge.

[flandersenews.be / ANP / Expatica]