The former Muang Thong Utd management duo of Rene Desaeyere and Robert Procureur are two of the most successful and respected foreigners to have worked in Thai football. Here is a list of ten things that you probably didn't know about the pair, that I compiled in July, 2013, when they were both at BEC Tero.
1. Rene Desaeyere is named after the 17th Century philosopher Rene Descarte. The Belgian is a great fan of his namesake and can often be found in Bangkok coffee shops discussing the Cartesian Coordinate System (allowing reference to a point in space as a set of numbers, and allowing algebraic equations to be expressed as geometric shapes in a two-dimensional coordinate system) and Passions of the Soul (perceptions or sensations or excitations of the soul which are referred to it in particular and which are caused, maintained, and strengthened by some movement of the spirits) with anyone who cares to listen.
2. Robert Procureur is named after some bloke his dad knew at school.
3. Ear dye seen ‘ere is an anagram of Rene Desaeyere.
4. As a small child, Robert had an unfortunate accident involving a linesman’s flag, the memory of which has scarred him for life. To this day, whenever he sees an official waving a flag, he has a violent, uncontrollable reaction and feels compelled to run around like a lunatic.
5. The popular Coronation Street (UK TV soap opera) character Renee Roberts was named as a tribute to the duo.
6. When he was a schoolboy, Rene told his teacher that one day he would be more famous than (fictional Belgians) Tin Tin and Hercule Poirot.
7. The word “desaeyere” is Flemish for dishevelled.
8. The pair recorded and released a version of Soft Cell’s “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” as a single in their native Belgium. The track, with Rene on keyboard and Robert on vocals, reached number 49 on the local charts and lead to an appearance on Belgian TV pop show Tienerklanken.
9. In a recent Thai football magazine interview, Rene and Robert listed their own personal favourite double acts as: Ross & Rachel from Friends, Paul & Linda McCartney, Hinge & Bracket; Godley & Creme and Sooty and Sweep.
10. The duo are planning to star in a Belgian TV version of “ChuckleVision” when they retire from football.
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