Born in Namur, Émile Hanse’s family moved to Saint-Gilles, when he was still an infant. He won two Belgian Championship titles (1913, 1923) with Union Saint-Gilloise, twice winning the cup (1913-14). He started competitive football (soccer) at age 14. Three years later he joined the A-team for the first time and played 254 matches and scored 23 goals in Belgium’s First Division through 1926. During World War I he played for the Belgian military team, the Front Wanderers. Due to a knee injury he missed a complete season, undergoing the first meniscus operation ever performed in Belgium. He played 11 international matches for Belgium from 1920-26. At Paris in 1924 Hanse was a substitute but did not play. Later, he was a member of the selection committee for the national team. He served as president of his club from 1952-63. His brother Jules was mayor of Saint-Gilles.
Belgium