BRUSSELS, Belgium — Lei Clijsters, a former Belgium football international and the father of tennis great Kim Clijsters, died Sunday. He was 52.

Reports in Belgium said Clijsters dies after a yearlong bout with lung cancer.

Clijsters played in central defense for several Belgian clubs and captained FC Mechelen when it won the Cup Winners' Cup title in 1988 by beating Ajax in the final.

He played 40 matches for Belgium's national team, taking part in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup tournaments. In 1986, Belgium reached the semifinals.

After retiring in 1993, Clijsters concentrated mainly on managing his daughter's tennis career until her retirement two years ago. Kim Clijsters, who won the 2005 U.S. Open for her only Grand Slam title, has since married and become a mother.