| Height | 1.89 m[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 16 October 1990 (age 35) |
| Birth place | Westerlo, Belgium |
| Currentclub | ASV Geel |
| Clubnumber | 22 |
| Position | Defensive midfielder |
| Youthyears 1 | 1997–2010 |
| Youthclubs 1 | Westerlo |
| Years 1 | 2010–2016 |
| Clubs 1 | Westerlo |
| Caps 1 | 147 |
| Goals 1 | 10 |
| Years 2 | 2016–2018 |
| Clubs 2 | Waasland-Beveren |
| Caps 2 | 49 |
| Goals 2 | 5 |
| Years 3 | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs 3 | Pafos |
| Caps 3 | 25 |
| Goals 3 | 6 |
| Years 4 | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs 4 | Eupen |
| Caps 4 | 73 |
| Goals 4 | 3 |
| Years 5 | 2022 |
| Clubs 5 | Al-Riyadh |
| Caps 5 | 7 |
| Goals 5 | 1 |
| Years 6 | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs 6 | Lierse |
| Caps 6 | 24 |
| Goals 6 | 1 |
| Years 7 | 2024–2025 |
| Clubs 7 | Jong Westel |
| Caps 7 | 18 |
| Goals 7 | 1 |
| Years 8 | 2025 |
| Clubs 8 | → Houtvenne (loan) |
| Years 9 | 2025– |
| Clubs 9 | ASV Geel |
| Caps 9 | 12 |
| Goals 9 | 1 |
| Nationalyears 1 | 2011 |
| Nationalteam 1 | Belgium U21 |
| Nationalcaps 1 | 2 |
| Nationalgoals 1 | 0 |
| Pcupdate | 12 May 2024 |
Jens Cools (born 16 October 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Belgian Division 3 club ASV Geel. He gained two caps for the Belgium under-21 team.
Career
Westerlo
In the 2009–10 season, Cools was promoted from the youth academy to the first team of Westerlo, the club from the municipality where he grew up.[2] He made his professional debut one season later. After having played for six seasons in the first team, Cools' contract expired at the end of the 2015–16 season, as a result of which he left Westerlo on a free transfer.[2] A key player of the club during his time there, Cools managed to make 161 appearances for the club, in which he scored 12 goals.[1]
Waasland-Beveren
On 1 July 2016, Cools moved Waasland-Beveren after having been convinced by their manager Stijn Vreven. Cools signed a two-year contract.[3] He made 51 appearances for the club during his two seasons there, in which he scored two goals.[1]
Pafos
After two seasons, he chose to accept an offer from Cypriot club Pafos.[4] He experienced a strong season there in which he scored six goals in 25 appearances.[1]
Eupen
After playing in Cyprus for one season, Cools expressed a wish to return to his home country.[5] On 16 July 2019, Eupen announced that he had signed a three-year contract with them.[6] In his first season there, he made 27 appearances and scored one goal.[1]
In October 2020, he tested positive for SARS‑CoV‑2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Despite being sidelined for some time with the disease, Cools made 26 appearances and scored one goal during the 2020–21 season,[1] as Eupen finished mid-table in a disappointing 12th place.[8]
Al-Riyadh
On 26 July 2022, Cools joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Riyadh.[9][10] In December 2022, he was released by the club due to repeated injuries.[11]
Lierse
On 7 January 2023, Cools signed a year-and-a-half contract with Lierse.[12]
International career
Cools was called into the Belgian under-21 squad in March 2011. He made his debut for the Belgium under-21s on 24 March, replacing Luis Pedro Cavanda in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 win against Scotland.[13][14]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Westerlo | 2010–11 | Pro League | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Proximus League | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 3 | |
| 2013–14 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 33 | 5 | ||
| 2014–15 | Pro League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 4 | ||
| Total | 147 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 161 | 12 | ||
| Waasland-Beveren | 2016–17 | First Division A | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 37 | 4 |
| 2017–18 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 14 | 1 | ||
| Total | 49 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 5 | ||
| Pafos | 2018–19 | Cypriot First Division | 25 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 7 |
| Career total | 221 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 24 | ||
References
- ^
- ^ "Waasland-Beveren haalt Jens Cools weg bij Westerlo" (in nl-BE). Het Nieuwsblad. 2016-05-06.
- ^ Collard, Timothy (2016-06-17). "Één van de opmerkelijkste transfers in België: "Na 19 jaar was het tijd om de stap te zetten"" (in Dutch). Voetbalkrant.com
- ^ "Jens Cools 2 jaar naar Paphos" (in Dutch). RTV. 2018-08-05.
- ^ t'Sjoen, Arjan (2019-07-19). "Jens Cools is terug in België: "Ik wil met Eupen een goed seizoen draaien in 1A"" (in Dutch). Voetbalkrant.com
- ^ Elst, Maarten (2019-07-16). "Eupen haalt ervaren Jens Cools terug naar België" (in nl-BE). Gazet van Antwerpen
- ^ Wens, Nils (2020-10-22). "Het coronavirus vindt nu ook zijn weg naar KAS Eupen: middenvelder heeft positief getest" (in Dutch). Voetbalkrant.com
- ^ "Benat San José stopt bij Eupen, ex-speler Luis Garcia in beeld als opvolger" (in nl-BE). Het Nieuwsblad. 2021-04-26.
- ^ "جينس كولس يمثل #مدرسة_الوسطى"
- ^ "JENS COOLS HEEFT EEN NIEUWE CLUB GEVONDEN... IN DE WOESTIJN". 26 July 2022.
- ^ "الرياض يخالص كولس" [Riyadh released Cools] (in Arabic). arriyadiyah.com. KSA Sport. 28 December 2022.
- ^ "JENS COOLS NAAR LIERSE" (in Dutch). Lierse. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Belgium U21 1-0 Scotland U21". BBC. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Internationale wedstrijden – KBVB". RBFA. Retrieved 3 December 2022.