Career

During his career, Van der Elst never went far from his birthplace Genk, always playing for a team in or close to the Limburg region. Van der Elst first grew through the youth ranks of Winterslag and Genk, to eventually feature in the first team during the 1999-2000 season in the Belgian First Division. Still a youngster, Genk loaned him out to Dutch side MVV Maastricht and newly promoted team Beringen-Heusden-Zolder during the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons respectively, before allowing him to leave to Beringen-Heusden-Zolder permanently.

Thereafter he moved to Belgian Second Division team Ohio Leuven, followed by a three season spell at Tongeren in the Belgian Third Division.

Thereafter he moved to Genk based team Eendracht Termien in the Belgian Provincial leagues.