1. Early life and playing career
Eric Van Meir's football journey began in his youth, leading him to a distinguished professional career spanning several Belgian clubs and culminating in international appearances for his country.
1.1. Birth and youth career
Eric Van Meir was born on February 28, 1968, in Deurne, Belgium, although some sources indicate Brecht as his birthplace. He began his football education at a young age, joining youth clubs such as KSK Hoboken from 1976 to 1982, and later playing for Berchem Sport between 1982 and 1984. He had another brief stint at KSK Hoboken from 1984 to 1985 before embarking on his professional career.
1.2. Club career
Van Meir started his professional club career with Berchem Sport in 1985, playing as a defender for six seasons until 1991. During his time there, he made 124 appearances, scoring 9 goals. In 1991, he transferred to Sporting Charleroi, where he played for five years, making 117 appearances and scoring 14 goals. With Sporting Charleroi, he reached the final of the Belgian Cup in 1993, finishing as a runner-up.
His most successful period came after moving to Lierse SK in 1996. At Lierse, he became a key player during the club's golden era in the late 1990s, winning the Belgian First Division title in the 1996-97 season. He also secured the Belgian Cup in 1999 and the Belgian Supercup in both 1997 and 1999. Van Meir was notably prolific for a defender, becoming the club's top scorer in the 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-00 seasons. In the 1997 season, he was among the top three goal scorers in the Jupiler League. He also participated in European club football, including the UEFA Champions League in the 1997-98 season. He remained at Lierse until 2001, making 145 appearances and scoring an impressive 58 goals.
He concluded his playing career at Standard Liège, joining the club in 2001 and playing until his retirement in 2003. He made 35 appearances for Standard Liège, scoring 2 goals. Over his entire club career, Eric Van Meir played a total of 419 matches and scored 82 goals.
1.3. International career
Eric Van Meir represented the Belgium national team for nearly a decade, making his debut in 1993 and playing until 2002. He earned a total of 34 caps and scored 1 goal for the national team.
He was part of the Belgian squad for three consecutive World Cups: the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, and the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He also participated in UEFA Euro 2000, which was co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Despite being part of these major tournaments, he played only a few matches in each.
His international appearances by year are detailed in the table below:
| Year | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 5 | 1 |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 34 | 1 |
2. Managerial career
After retiring as a player in 2003, Eric Van Meir transitioned into a coaching and managerial career, primarily working with clubs and also contributing to the national youth setup.
2.1. Club management
Van Meir began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his former club, Lierse SK, immediately after his retirement in 2003, a role he held until 2010. In September 2010, following the dismissal of Aimé Anthuenis, he took over as the head coach of Lierse SK, assisted by Chris Janssens. His first tenure as head coach lasted until early 2011 when he was replaced by Trond Sollied.
In 2011, Van Meir briefly managed KV Turnhout. He returned to Lierse SK in 2013, first as an assistant coach and then briefly as head coach again in the same year. In 2014, he moved to manage K. Berchem Sport. He had another stint as an assistant coach for Lierse SK from 2014 to 2015, before taking on the head coach role for the club again from 2015 to 2017.
2.2. National youth team management
In March 2020, Eric Van Meir was appointed as an assistant manager for the Belgium U-19 national team, working under manager Wesley Sonck. This role marked his involvement in the national youth development system.
3. Honours and individual achievements
Eric Van Meir's career was marked by significant team successes and personal accolades, reflecting his impact as a prominent defender and goal-scorer.
3.1. Club honours
Van Meir achieved considerable success during his club career, particularly with Lierse SK:
- Belgian First Division: 1996-97
- Belgian Cup: 1998-99
- Belgian Supercup: 1997, 1999
He also reached the final of the Belgian Cup with Sporting Charleroi in 1993, finishing as a runner-up.
3.2. International honours
As a member of the Belgium national team, Van Meir was part of the squad that received the FIFA Fair Play Trophy at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
3.3. Individual achievements
Van Meir received individual recognition for his outstanding performances, particularly his unusual goal-scoring prowess as a defender:
- In 1997, he secured second place in the prestigious Belgian Golden Shoe award, which recognizes the best player in the Belgian First Division.
- He was the top scorer for his club, Lierse SK, in the 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-00 seasons.
- In 1997, he was among the top three goal scorers in the Jupiler League.
4. Legacy and recognition
Eric Van Meir's contributions to football, particularly at Lierse SK, have left a lasting legacy, ensuring his place in the club's history.
4.1. Team of the century recognition
In 2006, to commemorate Lierse SK's 100-year anniversary, supporters voted for players to be included in the "Lierse team of the century." Eric Van Meir was selected as a player in this honorary team, a testament to his historical importance and enduring recognition within the club.