Georges Meuris

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Georges Meuris

| image = Lillois1933.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Meuris (standing, 3rd from the left) in 1933

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1907|03|14|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Forest, Belgium

| death_date = {{death date and age|1984|09|08|1907|03|14|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bruges, Belgium

| height = 1.73m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1924–1927 | clubs1 = La Forestoise | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1929–1934 | clubs2 = Olympique Lillois | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 1934–1935 | clubs3 = Montpellier | caps3 = | goals3 =

| years4 = 1935–1936 | clubs4 = Valenciennes | caps4 = | goals4 =

| years5 = 1936–1942 | clubs5 = Red Star | caps5 = | goals5 =

| years6 = 1942–1947 | clubs6 = Angers | caps6 = | goals6 =

| years7 = 1947–1949 | clubs7 = CS Jean-Bouin Angers | caps7 = | goals7 =

| nationalteam1 = France

| nationalyears1 = 1937

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1942–1947

| managerclubs1 = Angers

| manageryears2 = 1947–1949

| managerclubs2 = CS Jean-Bouin Angers

| manageryears3 = 1951–1958

| managerclubs3 = Gent

| manageryears4 = 1958–1960

| managerclubs4 = Beringen

| manageryears5 = 1960–1963

| managerclubs5 = Herentals

| manageryears6 = 1963–1966

| managerclubs6 = Cercle Brugge

| manageryears7 = 1967–1969

| managerclubs7 = Waterschei SV Thor

}}

Georges Meuris (14 March 1907 – 8 September 1984) was a Belgian-born French footballer who played as a midfielder for Olympique Lillois, Montpellier, and Red Star in the 1930s.{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/29177/Georges_Meuris.html |title=Georges Meuris (Player) |website=www.national-football-teams.com |access-date=20 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sco1919.com/index.php?r=joueurs%2Fjoueurs&idJoueur=398 |title=Georges Meuris |website=www.sco1919.com |access-date=20 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/6755-meuris-georges/fiche.html |title=Georges Meuris |language=fr |website=www.fff.fr |access-date=20 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/georges-meuris/ |title=Georges Meuris |website=www.worldfootball.net |access-date=20 January 2025}} He also made one appearance for the French national team in 1937.{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=13855 |title=Georges Meuris, international footballer |website=eu-football.info |access-date=20 January 2025}}

Playing career

Born in Forest, Belgium, Meuris began his football career at La Forestoise in 1924, aged 17, where he remained for three seasons, until 1927. In 1929, he joined the French club Olympique Lillois, where he stayed for the next five seasons, standing out as a midfielder, being described as a "tacky half with the courage of a lion".{{Cite web |url=https://www.footuniversal.com/post/tableau-noir-l-olympique-lillois-1932-1933-premier-champion-de-france-professionnel |title=L'Olympique Lillois 1932–1933, premier champion de France professionnel |trans-title=Olympique Lillois 1932–1933, first professional French champion |language=fr |website=www.footuniversal.com |date=19 May 2023 |accessdate=20 January 2025 }} Together with Robert Défossé, Georges Beaucourt, and Georges Winckelmans, he was a member of the OM team that won the inaugural edition of the French professional championship in 1932–33.

After a short stint, Meuris joined Red Star, remaining there for six seasons, until 1942, and playing a major role in helping Red Star win the 1942 Coupe de France, beating Sète 2–0 in the final.{{Cite web |url=https://www.redstar.fr/2000-01-01/les-grands-noms/georges-meuris/ |title=Georges Meuris |language=fr |website=www.redstar.fr |date=1 January 2000 |accessdate=20 January 2025 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.om4ever.com/CoupeFrance/1940/Coupe1941-1942.html |title=Saison 1941-1942 Red Star Vainqueur |trans-title=Season 1941-1942 Red Star Winner |language=fr |website=www.om4ever.com |accessdate=20 January 2025 }}

Meuris then worked as a player-coach for Angers for five years, from 1942 to 1947, and a further two years as a player-coach at CS Jean-Bouin Angers, from 1947 to 1949.

Managerial career

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Meuris coach several Belgian teams, such as Gent (1951–58), Beringen (1958–1960), Herentals (1960–63), Cercle Brugge (1963–66), and Waterschei SV Thor (1967–69).