# Koen Casteels

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> Source revision: 1355492227
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{{Short description|Belgian footballer (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Koen Casteels
| image = FC Salzburg gegen VfL Wolfsburg (CL-Gruppenphase 20. Oktober 2021) 75.jpg
| caption = Casteels playing for [VfL Wolfsburg](/source/VfL_Wolfsburg) in 2021
| full_name = Koen Casteels<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Squad List: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Belgium (BEL) |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=18 December 2022 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|6|25|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/koen-casteels|title=Koen Casteels – Player Profile|publisher=Bundesliga|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=25 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125171113/https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/koen-casteels|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| birth_place = [Bonheiden](/source/Bonheiden), Belgium
| height = 1.97 m<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/teams/first-team/players-and-staff/spieler-profil/koen-casteels|title=Koen Casteels|publisher=VfL Wolfsburg|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>
| position = [Goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football))
| currentclub = [Al-Qadsiah](/source/Al_Qadsiah_FC)
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 1996–2002
| youthclubs1 = KAC Betekom
| youthyears2 = 2002–2009
| youthclubs2 = [Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk)
| years1 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = [Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk)
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2011–2014
| clubs2 = [TSG Hoffenheim II](/source/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim)
| caps2 = 32
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2011–2015
| clubs3 = [TSG Hoffenheim](/source/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim)
| caps3 = 39
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2015
| clubs4 = → [Werder Bremen](/source/SV_Werder_Bremen) (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2024
| clubs5 = [VfL Wolfsburg](/source/VfL_Wolfsburg)
| caps5 = 238
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = [Al-Qadsiah](/source/Al_Qadsiah_FC)
| caps6 = 65
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = [Belgium U15](/source/Belgium_national_youth_football_team)
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2008
| nationalteam2 = [Belgium U16](/source/Belgium_national_youth_football_team)
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2008–2009
| nationalteam3 = [Belgium U17](/source/Belgium_national_under-17_football_team)
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2009–2011
| nationalteam4 = [Belgium U19](/source/Belgium_national_under-19_football_team)
| nationalcaps4 = 20
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2011–2013
| nationalteam5 = [Belgium U21](/source/Belgium_national_under-21_football_team)
| nationalcaps5 = 9
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| nationalyears6 = 2020–2024
| nationalteam6 = [Belgium](/source/Belgium_national_football_team)
| nationalcaps6 = 20
| nationalgoals6 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [football](/source/Association_football)}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|BEL}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[FIFA World Cup](/source/FIFA_World_Cup)}}
{{Medal|3rd|[2018](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup)|}}
| club-update = 21 May 2026 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 
}}
'''Koen Casteels''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈkun kɑsˈteːls}}; born 25 June 1992) is a Belgian professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who plays as a [goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football)) for [Saudi Pro League](/source/Saudi_Pro_League) club [Al-Qadsiah](/source/Al_Qadsiah_FC).

Formed at [Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk), Casteels spent most of his professional career in Germany with [TSG Hoffenheim](/source/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim), [Werder Bremen](/source/Werder_Bremen) (loan) and [VfL Wolfsburg](/source/VfL_Wolfsburg), joining the latter in 2015. He made 283 total [Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga) appearances, mostly for Wolfsburg, where he won the [2015 DFL-Supercup](/source/2015_DFL-Supercup). In 2024, he departed Wolfsburg, joining Saudi side Al-Qadsiah.

Casteels made 37 appearances for Belgium up to [under-21](/source/Belgium_national_under-21_football_team) level. He was first called up for the senior team in 2013 and was part of their squad that came third at the [2018 FIFA World Cup](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup). He was later chosen for the [2022 FIFA World Cup](/source/2022_FIFA_World_Cup) and [UEFA Euro 2024](/source/UEFA_Euro_2024), and was first-choice at the latter. He retired from international football in March 2025, following a dispute  relating to [Thibaut Courtois](/source/Thibaut_Courtois).

==Club career==
Casteels was developed at [K.R.C. Genk](/source/K.R.C._Genk) where he was a teammate of fellow goalkeeper [Thibaut Courtois](/source/Thibaut_Courtois). He was initially regarded as better than Courtois, but while he and several of the club's other goalkeepers were injured, Courtois broke into the team.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Terreur |first1=Kristof |title=Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois: from clumsy boy to top of the world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/20/chelsea-thibaut-courtois-profile |access-date=12 July 2018 |work=The Observer |date=20 September 2014}}</ref>

Casteels was signed by [VfL Wolfsburg](/source/VfL_Wolfsburg) from [TSG Hoffenheim](/source/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim) in January 2015, but spent the first six months of the three-and-a-half-year contract on loan at [Werder Bremen](/source/Werder_Bremen).<ref>{{cite news|title=Casteels über Werder nach Wolfsburg|language=de|url=http://www.weltfussball.de/news/_n1411722_/casteels-ueber-werder-nach-wolfsburg/|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=Weltfussball.de|date=21 January 2015}}</ref> He played for Wolfsburg in the [2015 DFL-Supercup](/source/2015_DFL-Supercup), saving from [Xabi Alonso](/source/Xabi_Alonso) in the [penalty shoot-out](/source/Penalty_shoot-out_(association_football)) as his team won after a 1–1 draw.<ref name=supercup>{{cite news|last1=Dunbar|first1=Ross|title=Bendtner leads Wolfsburg over Bayern Munich on penalties in German Super Cup clash|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/bendtner-leads-wolfsburg-over-bayern-munich-on-penalties-in-german-super-cup-clash-080115?vid=null|access-date=3 August 2015|work=Fox Sports|date=1 August 2015}}</ref>

When [Diego Benaglio](/source/Diego_Benaglio) left Wolfsburg in June 2017, Casteels signed a new three-year contract with the club and was given the number 1 shirt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Keeper Casteels verlängert in Wolfsburg|language=de|url=http://www.weltfussball.de/news/_n2795372_/keeper-casteels-verlaengert-in-wolfsburg/|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=Weltfussball.de|date=22 June 2017}}</ref> He appeared in all of the club's 34 Bundesliga matches during the 2017−18 season. 

thumb|260px|Casteels in action for Wolfsburg against Bayern Munich, March 2019
On 2 September 2023, Casteels announced that he would leave Wolfsburg at the end of the [2023−24 Bundesliga season](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Bundesliga).<ref>{{cite news |title=Departing after nine years |url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/newsdetails/news-detail/detail/news/departing-after-nine-years |date=9 February 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |publisher=VfL Wolfsburg}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2023 |title=Casteels to leave Wolfsburg at the end of the season |url=https://bulinews.com/news/18608/casteels-leave-wolfsburg-season |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Bulinews}}</ref>

On 10 June 2024, Casteels joined newly promoted [Saudi Pro League](/source/Saudi_Pro_League) club [Al-Qadsiah](/source/Al_Qadsiah_FC) on a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/belgium-keeper-casteels-joins-al-qadsiah-free-transfer-2024-06-10/|title=Belgium keeper Casteels joins Al-Qadsiah on free transfer|publisher=Reuters|date=10 June 2024|access-date=10 June 2024}}</ref> He won the league's [Golden Glove](/source/Saudi_Pro_League) in his [first season](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_Saudi_Pro_League), having kept 14 clean sheets.<ref name=SPL/>

==International career==
Casteels was first called up to the senior [Belgium](/source/Belgium_national_football_team) team in May 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belga |title=Thorgan Hazard, Maxime Lestienne et Koen Casteels appelés par Marc Wilmots |url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/diablesrouges/2013/05/16/thorgan-hazard-maxime-lestienne-et-koen-casteels-appeles-par-marc-wilmots-5LPUYX5ZBFG6BNNFD74RFPLUYQ/ |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=DHnet |language=fr}}</ref> He was going to be part of Belgium's [2014 FIFA World Cup](/source/2014_FIFA_World_Cup) squad but failed to recover from an injury and was replaced by [Silvio Proto](/source/Silvio_Proto) and then [Sammy Bossut](/source/Sammy_Bossut).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/other-sports/news/belgium-keeper-casteels-fails-in-fitness-bid/aj83sar7bt8m1l2113nd98lsz|title=Belgium keeper Casteels fails in fitness bid |date=3 June 2014 }}</ref>

Manager [Roberto Martínez](/source/Roberto_Mart%C3%ADnez) often chose four goalkeepers in his international selections, and as the [2018 FIFA World Cup](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup) only permitted three, Casteels battled with [Matz Sels](/source/Matz_Sels) for the final space behind [Thibaut Courtois](/source/Thibaut_Courtois) and [Simon Mignolet](/source/Simon_Mignolet).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Poissonnier |first1=Niels |title=Casteels: "Je voelde een bepaalde angst" |url=https://www.hln.be/sport/voetbal/belgisch-voetbal/rode-duivels/casteels-je-voelde-een-bepaalde-angst~ab7f76c1/ |access-date=12 July 2018 |publisher=HLN |date=3 June 2017 |language=nl}}</ref> He was eventually chosen for the final 23-man squad to go to Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup 2018: Belgium include Vincent Kompany but Christian Benteke misses out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44353673 |access-date=12 July 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2018}}</ref>

Casteels made his full international debut on 8 September 2020, in a 5–1 win over [Iceland](/source/Iceland_national_football_team) for the [UEFA Nations League](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_UEFA_Nations_League_A).<ref>{{cite news |title=Belgium v Iceland |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54002963 |access-date=8 September 2020 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2020}}</ref>

Casteels was part of the Belgium squad at the [2022 FIFA World Cup](/source/2022_FIFA_World_Cup), but again did not play a minute.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Belgian FA |url=https://www.rbfa.be/en/news/day-life-koen-casteels |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.rbfa.be}}</ref>

After Courtois fell out with national team coach [Domenico Tedesco](/source/Domenico_Tedesco), Casteels was chosen as first choice, with Tedesco describing him as one of the best in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Domenico Tedesco believes Koen Casteels is a top 20 goalkeeper in the world |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/domenico-tedesco-believes-koen-casteels-is-a-top-20-goalkeeper-in-the-world-38205648 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=OneFootball }}</ref> Casteels played in all of Belgium's games at [UEFA Euro 2024](/source/UEFA_Euro_2024) and impressed, making important saves and also recording an assist in their 2–0 win over [Romania](/source/Romania_national_football_team).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Despite concerns over Thibaut Courtois' absence, Koen Casteels has been Belgium's best player at Euro 2024 |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/despite-concerns-over-thibaut-courtois-absence-koen-casteels-has-been-belgiums-best-player-at-euro-2024-39700553 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=OneFootball}}</ref>

On 10 March 2025, Casteels announced that he had quit the national team in frustration over the decision to bring Courtois back into the squad.<ref>{{cite web |last=Garrett-Stanley |first=Fred |date=10 March 2025 |title='I am no longer available' - Belgium No.1 Koen Casteels QUITS national team in protest against 'red carpet' Thibaut Courtois return |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/i-am-no-longer-available-belgium-no-1-koen-casteels-quits-national-team-protest-against-red-carpet-thibaut-courtois-return/blt2877bbe207734307 |accessdate=10 March 2025 |website=Goal}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{{updated|match played 21 May 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Koen Casteels » Club matches|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe131531/koen-casteels/club-matches/|website=WorldFootball.net|access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [DFB-Pokal](/source/DFB-Pokal), [King's Cup](/source/King's_Cup_(Saudi_Arabia))}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[TSG Hoffenheim II](/source/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim_II)
|[2011–12](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_Regionalliga)
|[Regionalliga Süd](/source/Regionalliga_S%C3%BCd_(1994%E2%80%932012))
|23||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||0
|-
|[2012–13](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Regionalliga)
|[Regionalliga Südwest](/source/Regionalliga_S%C3%BCdwest)
|7||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||0
|-
|[2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_Regionalliga)
|Regionalliga Südwest
|2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!32!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!32!!0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[TSG Hoffenheim](/source/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim)
|[2012–13](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_TSG_1899_Hoffenheim_season)
|[Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga)
|16||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=BPO|Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs}}||0||18||0
|-
|[2013–14](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_TSG_1899_Hoffenheim_season)
|Bundesliga
|23||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!39!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!2!!0!!43!!0
|-
|[Werder Bremen](/source/SV_Werder_Bremen) (loan)
|[2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_SV_Werder_Bremen_season)
|Bundesliga
|6||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||0
|-
|rowspan="10"|[VfL Wolfsburg](/source/VfL_Wolfsburg)
|[2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|13||0||1||0||2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [UEFA Champions League](/source/UEFA_Champions_League)}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [DFL-Supercup](/source/DFL-Supercup)}}||0||17||0
|-
|[2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|20||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=BPO}}||0||24||0
|-
|[2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|34||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=BPO}}||0||39||0
|-
|[2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|26||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||0
|-
|[2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|26||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League)}}||0||colspan="2"|—||32||0
|-
|[2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|32||0||3||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||37||0
|-
|[2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|28||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||34||0
|-
|[2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|34||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||0
|-
|[2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_VfL_Wolfsburg_season)
|Bundesliga
|25||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!238!!0!!18!!0!!14!!0!!5!!0!!275!!0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[Al-Qadsiah](/source/Al_Qadsiah_FC)
|[2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_Al-Qadsiah_FC_season)
|[Saudi Pro League](/source/Saudi_Pro_League)
|33||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||0
|-
|[2025–26](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_Al-Qadsiah_FC_season)
|Saudi Pro League
|32||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in [Saudi Super Cup](/source/Saudi_Super_Cup)}}||0||36||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!65!!0!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!1!!0!!73!!0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!380!!0!!28!!0!!14!!0!!8!!0!!427!!0
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{{updated|match played 17 November 2024}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31038|title=Koen Casteels|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=29 September 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[Belgium](/source/Belgium_national_football_team)
|2020||1||0
|-
|2021||2||0
|-
|2022||1||0
|-
|2023||4||0
|-
|2024||12||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!20!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Genk'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Projects |first=Sanmax |title=Algemene info {{!}} KRC Genk |url=https://www.krcgenk.be/nl/club/algemene-info |access-date=8 November 2020 |website=krcgenk.be |language=nl}}</ref>
* [Belgian First Division](/source/Belgian_First_Division): [2010–11](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_Belgian_Pro_League)
* [Belgian Cup](/source/Belgian_Cup): [2008–09](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_Belgian_Cup)

'''VfL Wolfsburg'''
*[DFL-Supercup](/source/DFL-Supercup): [2015](/source/2015_DFL-Supercup)

'''Belgium'''
*[FIFA World Cup](/source/FIFA_World_Cup) third place: [2018](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup)

'''Individual'''
*''[kicker](/source/Kicker_(magazine))'' Best Goalkeeper of the Bundesliga: [2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_Bundesliga)<ref>{{cite web |date=5 June 2024 |title=Koen Casteels – Doelman bij VfL Wolfsburg |url=https://www.koencasteels.be/ |website=koencasteels.be |language=nl}}</ref>
*[Saudi Pro League Golden Glove](/source/Saudi_Pro_League): [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_Saudi_Pro_League)<ref name=SPL>{{cite news |url=https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/750871/benzema-blanc-al-dawsari-ronaldo-honoured-at-spl-awards |title=Benzema, Blanc, Al Dawsari, Ronaldo honoured with SPL Awards |publisher=Saudi Pro League |date=29 May 2025 |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{RBFA player}}
*{{UEFA player}}

{{Al-Qadisiyah FC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Belgium squads
| bg = #E20E0E
| fg = #FDDA25
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{Belgium squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Belgium squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Belgium squad UEFA Euro 2024}}
}}
{{2017–18 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Casteels, Koen}}
Category:1992 births
Category:Living people
Category:Footballers from Bonheiden
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:KRC Genk players
Category:TSG 1899 Hoffenheim players
Category:SV Werder Bremen players
Category:VfL Wolfsburg players
Category:Al Qadsiah FC players
Category:Bundesliga players
Category:TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II players
Category:Regionalliga players
Category:Saudi Pro League players
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers
Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Belgium men's international footballers
Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 2024 players
Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia
Category:21st-century Belgian sportsmen

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Koen Casteels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koen_Casteels) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koen_Casteels?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.