Julien Kialunda (24 April 1940 – 14 September 1987) was a Congolese footballer. He was one of the first Congolese footballers to play professionally in Europe. He represented Zaire at the 1972 African Cup of Nations.
Club career Kialunda played for Union Saint-Gilloise, RSC Anderlecht and Léopold FC in Belgium. He was a four-time Belgian league champion with Anderlecht.
International career Kialunda represented Zaire at the 1972 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, starting in all five of his team's matches as Zaire finished fourth.
Post-career and death After his retirement, Kialunda served as the national coach of the Zaire national team, though without much success. He also owned a cafe in the Brussels neighborhood of Matonge, known for its predominantly African population. In 1987, after falling ill with AIDS, he returned to Belgium for treatment and died on 14 September of that year.
In his memory, the "Julien Kialunda Foundation" was established, dedicated to supporting worthy causes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The foundation is sponsored by professional players of African origin who play or grew up in Belgium, like the brothers Mbo and Émile Mpenza, Mohammed Tchité and Anthony Vanden Borre.
Honours Union Saint-Gilloise Belgian Second Division: 1963–64
Anderlecht Belgian First Division: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1971–72 Belgian Cup: 1971–72, 1972–73 Belgian League Cup: 1973 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runners-up: 1969–70
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