Former Belgium international Toni Brogno dies at 53 after a two-year battle with cancer

Death announced by his daughter

Toni Brogno died aged 53, and his family announced it on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. His daughter Olivia posted the news on Facebook, according to La Libre and Le Soir. RTBF says he had been ill with liver cancer since late 2024, while Le Soir describes a cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts, so the reports differ on the type of cancer. Le Soir says he had fought the disease for two years, with multiple complications in the months before his death.

“We have the deep sadness of announcing the death of the best dad and husband in the world.”

His final weeks

Le Soir reports that a few days before his death, his oncologist told him there was no hope left and that he would be moved to palliative care. Brogno stayed calm, according to the same paper, and worried more about his family's future than his own. His body, already weakened, could no longer withstand the complications. Le Soir's account is available to subscribers only, so the details of those conversations come from that single outlet.

Club career at Charleroi and Westerlo

Brogno came from Charleroi and began his career in the 1990s at Marchienne au Pont, alongside his brothers Dante and David, according to RTBF. He then spent one season at Sporting Charleroi, where he played seven matches, before two seasons at Olympic Charleroi from 1995 to 1997. He moved to Westerlo in 1997 and stayed three seasons, scoring 30 goals in 1999-2000. RTBF says he shared the league's top scorer title with the Norwegian Olé Martin Arst, while De Morgen says he was the top scorer in the Pro League. RTBF counts 75 goals in 206 top-flight matches over his career.

Red Devils career and Euro 2000

Coach Robert Waseige picked Brogno for Belgium between November 1998 and April 2000. De Morgen and RTBF both put his caps at seven, while La Libre gives six. He was selected eleven times and never scored for the national team. RTBF reports that Waseige included him in the provisional squad for Euro 2000, hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, but dropped him at the last moment along with Danny Boffin from the list of 22 players. Waseige called it "the greatest disappointment of my career", according to RTBF.

Later career and retirement

After his 1999-2000 season, a transfer took Brogno to Sedan in France for 2000 to 2002. He then returned to Westerlo (2002-2004), had a second spell at Sporting Charleroi (2004-2006) and played in the second tier for Oud-Heverlee Leuven from 2006 to 2008. He finished his career at Olympic Charleroi in 2008-2009, and De Morgen says he retired at the age of 36.